AMPUTATION OF THE CLAWS IN OXEN. 1105 



new growths and warts in the skin of the interdigital space. The material 

 is smeared on the diseased spot and a dressing applied over it. Vaeth 

 treats warts by laying them open and rubbing in chloride of zinc, after 

 which they fall off in a few days. 



Canker. Delmer described, in oxen, a disease which resembles canker 

 in horses. The sole of the left claw of the near fore foot was entirely lost, 

 except near the bulb, where it was as thin as paper. The sensitive sole 

 was studded with small, greasy-looking, stinking grey masses, showing 

 an indistinct lamination. The sensitive sole below was swollen and bluish 

 in colour ; it bled readily. The papillae, however, showed no tendency 

 to exuberant granulation. Treatment consisted in removing the diseased 

 and broken-down horn and applying an antiseptic dressing. Recovery 

 occurred in fourteen days. Imminger described, under the title of " canker 

 of the claw," a disease of the claw matrix accompanied by a tendency to 

 necrosis. It seemed due to the presence of the bacillus of necrosis (Flugge), 

 and should probably be included under the heading of panaritium. 



V.— AMPUTATION OF THE CLAWS IN OXEN. 



When purulent or septic inflammation of the pedal- joint occurs in 

 consequence of any of the above-described forms of panaritium, or of 

 injury from foreign bodies, or when extensive necrosis attacks the 

 phalanges, it is best to amputate the affected claw. Failing this, 

 pain continues, and the animals die from decubitus, or from septicaemia. 

 Even in the few cases which recover, the animal's general condition 

 suffers very greatly before anchylosis of the joint becomes complete. 



The experience of Harms and others encourages the performance 

 of this operation, very little disturbance being caused, and recovery 

 being comparatively rapid and complete. 



Esser looks on amputation as the last resort in extensive necrosis 

 of the phalanges. Provided the animal is still able to stand and 

 has not suffered much in condition, he prefers conservative treatment. 



Amputation may be effected either by exarticulation of the joint 

 of the claw, or by resection of the os suffraginis. Harms prefers 

 the first method, and lays great stress on the necessity for preserving 

 the bulbs in order to ensure regeneration. The navicular bone is 

 not removed. 



The animal is cast, firmly fixed, and an Esmarch's bandage applied 

 round the knee or fore-arm to prevent bleeding. Harms then removes 

 the horn in grooves at either side, and on the lower surface of the 

 claw, by means of a farrier's knife, the grooves thus made penetrating 

 as far as the soft tissues and converging to one point. The coronary 

 band is next separated, and the pedal bone removed along with 

 the horn of the claw. 



Eggeling first thins the horn over the posterior half of the outer 

 wall and of the bulb. With a curved knife he makes an incision 



