1112 DISEASES OF THE CLAWS IN CARNIVORA. 



not to remove too much and thus injure the last joint of the toe. 

 In the same way, the claws of cage-birds often grow to an excessive 

 degree, and require to be shortened. 



In dogs, the claw and its matrix are sometimes violently torn 

 off. Sometimes only a portion of the plate of horn is separated 

 from the last joint of the toe ; sometimes the greater part of it is 

 gone so that the claw only remains attached to the sensitive structures 

 by a shred ; sometimes it is completely lost. The accident is 

 commonest in large dogs, in consequence of the claw being caught 

 hi a cord, net, or similar object, is painful, and always causes lameness. 

 Pain is especially severe if the claw remain hanging, because it then 

 comes in contact with the ground at each step ; its complete loss 

 is less painful. Careful examination at once detects the character 

 of the accident. If only a small part of the horny plate be lost, the 

 parts may reunite, otherwise it is best entirely to remove the claw. 

 It can be snipped off with scissors ; if, however, the last joint of the toe 

 be also injured or otherwise diseased, and if extensive change have 

 taken place in the matrix, it is better to amputate the third phalanx 

 by exarticulation at the last joint of the toe, which lies a little behind 

 or above the upper edge of the nail. As a rule, strong scissors are 

 sufficient, and by making one rapid cut the operation is rendered less 

 painful. In the same way, a claw which is nearly separated from 

 its matrix may be removed. No particular after-treatment is required, 

 the wound merely requiring to be kept clean ; some dogs will bear a 

 dressing, others will not. A dressing is most useful when the claw 

 alone is removed, and the third joint of the toe left. If needful, the 

 wound or claw matrix may be smeared with tar. 



Loss of the claw. Chronic inflammation of the claw matrix, 

 gradually leading to complete loss of the claw, is not uncommon in 

 large dogs. Kutzbach described it as panaritium. Where it originates 

 in the coronary band, the horn of the claw is thickened and degenerated. 

 Sometimes, however, the " sole " becomes diseased, and then nothing 

 abnormal is seen on the claw, but the matrix, and particularly the 

 lower surface of the claw, discharges a turbid fluid. Horn production 

 is in abeyance, and, as a consequence, the claw is more or less loosened. 

 The changes in the matrix are sometimes so slight that nothing 

 whatever unusual can be detected with the naked eye ; in others, 

 chronic inflammation of the sensitive " sole " exists, leading to 

 suppuration or ulceration. The claw is thus loosened, and when 

 the process extends to the other portions of the horn-secreting mem- 

 brane, is completely lost, The process often affects the subcutis, 

 or even the periosteum, causing the toe to become three to four times 



