156 
A. ZUNDEL. 
months, can in the majority of cases be cured in about fifteen 
days. 
The prognosis, however, varies and depends on the complica¬ 
tion. When there is caries of the ligaments, inflammation of the 
articulation of the foot, or of the sesamoid sheath, the extirpation 
of the cartilage itself, done with the greatest dexterity, is not 
even a warranty of recovery. It remedies only the necrosis of 
the cartilage, but leaves the other diseased processes to progress 
in such a manner that the animal remains worthless if he has not 
to succumb to them. The pain is, besides the other signs, one of 
the most important points to consider: very acute, it is generally 
a discouraging omen, and points to the existence of serious com¬ 
plications. 
VI.— Etiology .—Heavy draught horses are more frequently 
affected, on account of their peculiar work. The most common 
cause is a bruise, a blow, a burn, a prick, any wound exposing 
the cartilage; it is most common on horses drawing trucks loaded 
with stones, which may drop on their feet and crush the fibro-car- 
tilage. The same cause exists for horses working in extensive 
works of buildings; in the construction of railroads; and in 
the shops of mechanic construction. 
Owing to these conditions it is also more common in large 
cities than in the country, and more frequent in stony and tem¬ 
porary roads than in those which are smooth and flat. Flat feet, 
with low heels, are more exposed than others, as well as those 
whose hoofs are soft. Quittor is more frequent in the fore than 
the hind feet, the fibro-cartilages of the fore feet being more de¬ 
veloped and more flexible, and because their heels are generally 
lower than in the hind legs. In some, it is more common on the 
internal than the external quarters, while with us, it has been 
the contrary. 
It is often a complication of suppurative corn; of punctured 
wound of the foot, of canker, of simple and sub-horny quittor, of 
grease, etc., which are then the determining causes of the dis¬ 
ease. 
{To be continued .) 
