1100 I. is CASES OF THE CLAWS IN CATTLE AND SHEEP. 



II.— WOUNDS OF THE SOFT TISSUES OF THE CLAW. 



On account of the comparative thinness of the horny wall, the 

 soft tissues of the claw are often wounded in shoeing. They may also 

 be injured by picked-up nails, glass, splinters, or other foreign bodies 

 penetrating the sole. Such wounds generally affect the posterior 

 parts of the sole and the bulbs of the heel, and are therefore as dangerous 

 in cattle as in horses, the perforans tendon and pedal-joint being 

 readily injured in either; pricks in shoeing seldom injure more than 

 the sensitive lamina?. The toe may be injured when the hoof is 

 shortened, the matrix or even the bone of the claw being injured by 

 the knife or saw. In heavy draught the point of the toe sometimes 

 breaks off or cracks across, and is pressed inwards, severely bruising 

 the soft tissues. These facts should be borne in mind in forming 

 the prognosis. 



Symptoms. Lameness usually sets in suddenly. Sometimes 

 it is only slight, sometimes severe. Before examination the claws 

 must be thoroughly cleansed. When the flexor tendons are injured 

 pain is acute, and little or no weight can be placed on the foot, while 

 the animals show great pain on dorsal flexion of the claw. Implication 

 of the joint is shown by excessive pain, especially on rotation of the 

 claw, and by swelling of the coronet, most marked above the toe. 

 Not infrequently purulent synovia is discharged. 



Treatment requires the removal of any foreign body, cleansing of 

 the injured .spot, furnishing of a proper opening for discharge of pus 

 (the above-mentioned precautions being borne in mind), and finally 

 provision against infection. Clean, dry straw should be provided 

 and a dressing applied. Injuries or secondary affections of the flexor 

 tendons are treated on the lines laid down under panaritium. 



III.— LAMINITIS IN OXEN. 



Working oxen used on hard roads, and fat beasts which consume 

 large quantities of highly-nutritious food, often suffer from a disease 

 of the claws which closely resembles laminitis in horses. The hind- 

 feet suffer more frequently than the fore, though the fore or, indeed, 

 all four feet are occasionally attacked. 



The disease is caused either by mechanical injury or by over- 

 feeding. 



The symptoms closely resemble those in the horse. In anterior 

 laminitis the fore-feet are extended in front, resting on the points of 

 the claws, the hind-feet being carried well forward. In posterior 



