covered with the cheesy substance typical of canker, and they bled on friction.  Down the wall of the off fore-foot some blood had trickled, which may be seen in Fig. 138.  The frogs of all four feet bulged backwards, and were badly affected.  The soles were covered with normal horn, but I did not resort to paring to see if they were affected.  One very curious feature about the case was the fact that all the callosities (ergots and chestnuts) seemed to participate in the morbid process, and they, too, were covered with a thin layer of soft cheesy horn.  The animal used to bite at his coronets and also the callosities above the knees and hocks until they bled, which they did quite easily.  The owner would not go to the expense of having him treated, so he was destroyed.[A]

[Footnote A:  Henry Taylor, Veterinary Record, vol. xvii., p. 311.]

CHAPTER X

DISEASES OF THE LATERAL CARTILAGES

A. WOUNDS OF THE CARTILAGES.

To a consideration of this we shall devote but little space.  It is sufficient to say that any wound in the region of the coronet should always be given the most careful attention.  More particularly should this be so when it is ascertained that the wound has involved one of the lateral cartilages.  Wounds of non-vascular bodies such as these are always slow to heal, and, by reason of their slowness, invite septic infection.  In many cases, in fact, it happens that they do not heal at all.  Instead, the injured part becomes necrotic, is unable to cast itself off, and remains as a centre of infection in the depths of the wound, thus constituting what is known as a quittor.

Apart from this, it will be remembered that the internal face of the cartilage is in intimate contact with the pedal articulation, especially anteriorly.  Wounds in this situation are, therefore, likely to penetrate the joint, giving us as a complication of the injury the conditions of synovitis and arthritis.

Immediately a wound is inflicted in this position, attempts should be made to insure thorough asepsis of the part.  When possible, by far the better way of accomplishing this will be to wholly immerse the foot in a tub of cold antiseptic solution, and keep it there for an hour three times daily.  During the time the foot is out of the solution the wound should be protected with a pad of carbolized tow or other suitable dressing, and wrapped in a linen bandage or clean bag.  If unable to use the bath, then antiseptic solutions of more than moderate strength should be freely applied to the wound and the adjacent parts, a carbolized or other antiseptic pad placed over it, and the bandage adjusted as before.  Repeated injuries to the cartilages, even if not attended with an actual wound, are apt to bring about their ossification and end in the formation of side-bones.

B. QUITTOR.