BRUISES OF THE CLAWS IN CATTLE AND SHEEP. 1099 



Symptoms and course. The condition usually appears during a 

 journey, the animals gradually becoming lame, the stride being 

 shortened, and the animals showing a tendency to lie, and to move 

 the feet uneasily when resting. When the inner claw is alone affected 

 oxen often stand with crossed legs. Once in their stalls they at once 

 lie down, refuse food, and show no inclination to rise. An examination 

 of the claws shows that in one or more pain is produced by pressure 

 over the sole and bulbs of the foot. In severe cases the horn of the 

 sole when cut appears reddened, and suppuration may have occurred, 

 with discharge of pus at the bulb or coronet ; in other instances the 

 sensitive sole, or even the bone, may be necrotic. The coronet is 

 then greatly swollen, painful, and, if not pigmented, shows con- 

 gestion. In the later stages fever sets in, the animals lie continually, 

 groan, grind the teeth, and finally die of septicaemia. To ensure a 

 proper diagnosis at an early stage the sole must be carefully thinned. 

 When bruising is slight, and the animals are at once rested and placed 

 on soft bedding, recovery follows in a few days, but in suppuration 

 under the sole or bulbs there is danger of the animals dying from 

 decubitus. The possibility of purulent inflammation and necrosis 

 of the sensitive bulbs of the foot and underlying connective tissue 

 constitutes a further danger. Such cases may be followed by purulent 

 inflammation and necrosis of the perforans tendon, or be complicated 

 with septic disease of the pedal-joint. 



The prognosis must, therefore, be guided by the degree of pain 

 and the existent changes. Necrosis of the tendon and purulent 

 inflammation of the joint are dangerous, but not absolutely hopeless, 

 recovery sometimes following amputation of the claw ; where several 

 claws, and especially when several feet, are simultaneously attacked, 

 however, there is little chance of the animal surviving. 



Treatment. Unless suppuration has set in, it is often sufficient to 

 allow a few days' rest, and plenty of soft bedding ; severe pain may 

 be combated by cold applications ; but when pus has formed, a 

 free exit must be provided, though with as little destruction of the 

 wall and sole as possible. The superficial form of inflammation 

 exhibits the same peculiarities as in the horse, and a comparatively 

 small opening is sufficient to allow the thin pus to escape. After 

 carefully cleansing the claws and injecting undermined portions 

 of horn, a dressing is applied, which by smearing with tar can be 

 rendered waterproof, so as to guard against the diseased spot being 

 soiled by manure, &c. Necrosis of the tendon or disease of the pedal- 

 joint necessitates amputation of the claw. 



