QUARTERS.—The fore and hind parts of a horse are frequently so called; for instance, such a horse is beautifully formed in his FORE QUARTERS, but he is exceedingly _ill made_ behind; and some are well proportioned in the gascoins, the hip, the rump, and hocks, but are ill formed and low before. The FORE QUARTERS include the head, neck, breast, withers, and fore legs, to the girths; the HIND QUARTERS comprehend the hips, thighs, hams, hocks, and hind legs.
QUEST.—Hounds (beagles or harriers) are said to QUEST, when they first give tongue after coming upon _trail_. Spaniels are said to _quest_ also, when they give tongue in covert, upon coming up to the foot and scent of partridge, pheasant, hare, or cock.
OUICKSILVER—is an article of almost incredible medical utility; a full and explanatory description of which will be found under the head MERCURY.
QUITTOR.—The serious injury so denominated, is, in its origin, a painful and inflammatory formation of matter (arising from various causes) at the precise junction of the HAIR with the upper part of the HOOF: this, from the peculiar construction of the parts, particularly if injudiciously conduced, soon degenerates into a virulent, ill-conditioned ULCER, dangerous in its progress, and uncertain in its termination. Treads, blows, and bruises, EXTERNALLY, and a lodgment of gravel, or other extraneous substance, having insinuated itself INTERNALLY, from the bottom of the foot, and working upwards, are principally the means by which such misfortune is too frequently and unluckily produced. The practice too prevalent with FARRIERS (newly termed _veterinarians_) is to proceed with all possible _fire_ and _fury_ to a speedy and unrelenting destruction of parts: the introduction of a large portion of CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE is adopted to "_bring away the core_;" or BLUE VITRIOL, reduced to powder, and mixed with the OIL also, is used for the same: these frequently proving the REMEDY to be _worse_ than the DISEASE, the _knife_ is called in aid, and, by daily use, (after the patience of the owner is nearly exhausted, and his purse equally operated upon with the horse,) the subject becomes calculated for little _more_ or _less_ than the COLLAR MAKER, to whom such patients are in general ultimately consigned: unless they fall into the hands of judicious practitioners; who, knowing the properties of medicine, and the useful interposition of art, can patiently condescend to complete with the SYRINGE, what the less qualified can never perform with the KNIFE.