Quittor, an obsolete disease

2012

Quittor was a disease of the pastern and crown area of the ungulates. It was quite common in the horse until the early twentieth century. It was characterized by necrosis manifested by a mass, outward symptom of a phlegmon, which ulcerated and expelled necrotic tissue. The hippiatric healers and early veterinarians generally recognized four forms, the most dangerous was the necrosis of fibrocartilages of the foot. Treatment involved excision of the latter which involved a spectacular operating manual. This action marked the beginning of the veterinary profession, until the disappearance of the disease that was a result of the mechanization of agriculture and transport. It is now very uncomm…