THE HORSE’S FOOT. 
51 
suppuration, and there is a swelling, more or less hard, with a 
gradual diminution of the pain and other inflammatory symptoms. 
A more frequent complication is the suppurative inflammation 
of the tendinous sheaths, or even of the digital articulations. 
There may also be a diffused gangrene, with separation of the 
hoof and purulent infiltration under the horny box ; periostitis, 
and caries of the cartilage. This is the deep tendinous quittor in 
the most severe form. In this last case, especially if there is an 
accumulation of pus in the tendinous sheath, the tumor is very 
painful, the slightest touch giving rise to the manifestation of ex¬ 
tremely acute suffering, the hoof being constantly raised from the 
ground. The fever is violent, there is a complete anorexia, and 
the exercise of all functions is more or less disturbed. The com¬ 
pulsory resting upon the healthy legs may give rise to swelling of 
the hocks, and even to laminitis. In cattle, tendinous quittor be¬ 
comes more painful than in the horse, and is always accompanied 
by a swelling which may extend to the knee. Rumination stops, 
and the animal endures great anguish. The slough is followed 
by a wound of varying depth, which often exposes the diseased 
articular surfaces of the phalange. If this remains too long, the 
pus may affect the inter-digital ligament, complicate the disease, 
and even make it incurable. In this case the amputation of one 
of the digits may sometimes be performed. 
II. — Progress, Duration and Termination .—The duration is 
generally protracted; the disease often gives rise to chronic 
lesions difficult to remove. This will be easily understood, if we 
remember that the region affected is composed, between the skin 
and the bones, of synovial capsules, ligaments, tendons and apon¬ 
euroses, more or less cellular tissue, and of very strong nervous 
ramifications. If the disease is not very deeply seated or unilat¬ 
eral, complete recovery may be looked for; but if there are 
chronic lesions, if the articular surfaces become affected; especi¬ 
ally if particles of bone are sloughing, if the animal recovers it 
will be but imperfectly, and it will usually be accompanied by an¬ 
chylosis of the joint, and diffused gangrene is also a complication 
to be looked for. 
III. — Diagnosis .—We said at the beginning that tendinous 
