1104 DISEASES OF THE CLAWS IN CATTLE AND SHEEP. 



abscess is discovered, and can be reached with the knife, it should 

 be opened, the wound being antiseptically treated and washed out 

 with 10 per cent, chloride of zinc solution, or injected with 3 per 

 cent, of creolin. Esser recommends using the curette, washing out 

 the parts with 5 per cent, carbolic solution, applying an iodoform 

 dressing which is smeared with tar, and allowing it to remain in 

 position for eight to ten days. To keep the horn soft, moist dressings 

 are best. Necrotic tissue should, as far as possible, be removed with 

 the knife and curette. 



The opening of abscesses is least dangerous in interdigital 

 panaritium, and Harms recommends completely dividing the skin 

 between the claws, if it has not previously been ruptured. In panari- 

 tium of the bulb the bulbs themselves should be spared as much as 

 possible ; they should never be completely divided in the longitudinal 

 direction of the claw, as their further growth would be interfered 

 with. In panaritium of the toe the skin is divided perpendicularly, 

 the diseased point laid open, and free exit given to discharges. 



Dressing the parts calls for particular care. In panaritium of 

 the toe and interdigital panaritium the space between the claws is 

 filled with tow or jute, soaked in carbolic solution, to such an extent 

 as to prevent the claws moving. Both claws are then included in 

 one dressing and surrounded by a bandage or cloth rendered water- 

 proof by a free use of tar. 



As a rule, pain soon disappears after the abscess breaks or is 

 punctured. The dressing may then be left in position for several 

 days, but the above precautions should be taken when it is renewed. 

 If granulation appears too free, astringents like sulphate of copper 

 may be applied, or the parts can be dusted with dried alum. 



Digital Dermatitis. In oxen, the skin at the front of the interdigital space 

 sometimes becomes inflamed, but the process remains confined to the 

 cutis, and pain is less severe than in panaritium of the toe, though healing 

 is difficult on account of the inevitable movement of the claws. The 

 skin appears somewhat swollen and painful, and an inflammatory dis- 

 charge flows from the surface, which, in drying, produces crusts, while 

 the coronary edge of the horn becomes locally separated. Neglect of 

 these symptoms may be followed by the development of panaritium. 

 The animals should therefore be placed on dry straw, the diseased spot 

 carefully cleansed, powdered with iodoform, and a triangular piece of 

 wood corresponding to the width of the interdigital space placed between 

 the claws and fixed in position by strong tape passed round the claws. 

 This prevents movement of the claws, which interferes with healing. 

 To ensure the tape remaining in position, a couple of shallow grooves may 

 be made with the knife or rasp around the lower part of the claws. 



Vaeth suggests the use of chloride of zinc dissolved in water and made 

 into a paste with an equal quantity of flour for treating inflammatory 



