A CASE OF A SYNDACTYLOUS CAT 



75 



the left foot there are but two digital pads, (fig. 15, b, c,). The 

 metatarsal pads in each case are three lobed (fig. 15, /) as is 

 normal (fig. 16, /). 



There exists then, a definite correlation between the variations 

 of the bones, muscles, and pads. 



In this cat a condition of malnutrition existed in the post- 

 foetal life. The difficulty was not so much one of non-assimila- 

 tion as of actual starvation. The cat ate very little after it was 

 brought into the laboratory and this was obviously followed by 



00 



15 



16 



Fig. 15 Diagram of the pads on the hind teet of the abnormal cat. b, c, e, 

 digital pads, /, metatarsal pads. 



Fig. 16 Diagram of the pads on the right hind foot of a normal cat. h, c, d, e, 

 digital pads, /, metatarsal pad. 



much discomfort. At death the body was exceedingly emaci- 

 ated. It was thought that there might be some clogging of the 

 intestines but a dissection of the complete length of the aliment- 

 ary canal revealed no mechanical obstruction. The stomach 

 was quite empty and the intestines contained very little, a few 

 wads of hair, three small thread worms, and several small quanti- 

 ties of waste material. Both the small and large intestine were 

 greatly shrunken, although the lumen remained open. Owing 

 to this, the diameter of the large intestine was less in proportion 

 than is normal. Malnutrition undoubtedly caused the death 

 of the kitten, but it is difficult to see how it could have factored 



