1106 DISEASES OF THE CLAWS IN CATTLE AND SHEEP. 



starting from the interdigital space and keeping below the coronet, 

 w Inch exposes the pedal-joint, and takes the direction a to b to c (Fig. 

 582). The posterior end of the pedal bone (Fig. 582, c) being reached, 

 the incision is continued downwards at a right angle (Fig. 582, (/) to 

 prevent injuring the navicular bone. By pressing the toe down- 

 wards and backwards whilst making this incision, the pedal-joint 

 is opened, and the inner wall of the claw and interdigital ligaments 

 may be cut through. 



Moller repeatedly operated by this method, and recommends it. 



Fig. 582. — An ox's claw. The letters a to d correspond to those in Fig. 581, and 

 show the position of the pedal joint. 



The greatest difficulty lies in so directing the knife as exactly to 

 find the joint ; but by bearing in mind the topographical relations 

 given, and by using a very narrow, though not too weak a knife, the 

 difficulty is much diminished. Cadiot proceeds as follows : Having 

 thinned the horn over the seat of operation (Fig. 583), he discovers 

 by palpation, and by moving the claw from side to side, the exact 

 position of the joint., which lies about 1 inch below the coronet. This 

 he opens with a curved knife similar to that used in excising the 

 lateral cartilage (No. 4 in Fig. 569). Inserting the knife into the 

 joint he makes the incision A, B, C (Fig. 583), dividing the horn, 

 podophyllous tissue, lateral ligament of the joint, and the synovial 



