394 DISEASES OF THE FEET. 



inter-digital substance, dislocation of the inter-phalangeal articu- 

 lations, caries of the articular extremities of the bones, synovial 

 discharge, necrosis of the canons, great suffering, and lameness. 

 Cattle, when so sorely troubled, will lie down, groan with pain, 

 and refuse to feed, the flesh quickly wasting ; great sores appear 

 upon the various parts of the body on wdiich they lie; and many 

 will give up the battle altogether, and die right away as if their 

 liearts were broken. Now, in such cases, whether the cause be 

 tubercular deposition or not, the only method of cure is by 

 amputation or disarticulation. I have performed these opera- 

 tions with the greatest success, and I am thus in a position to 

 suggest the best method. 



If the disease has not yet extended above the metacarpo- 

 phalangeal articulation, the foot and pastern may be removed 

 by disarticulation through the fetlock-joint ; but if this joint 

 be involved to any considerable extent, it will be necessary to 

 amputate through the canon bone. The operation is as follows: 

 — Before the animal is cast, the diseased limb must be protected 

 by a bandage, and when the animal is down removed from the 

 casting rope, fastened by a cord tied around the pastern, and 

 held in position by two assistants ; a tourniquet is then to be 

 applied above the seat of the intended section. Tlie knife must 

 be strong, with a narrow blade ; and care is to be taken that 

 sufficient skin be left to form a good flap, so that the exposed 

 end of the bone, as well as the soft parts, be completely covered 

 when the edges of the wound are brought together. When the 

 bone has been removed, the arteries are to be carefully taken up 

 and secured by ligatures, and the wiiole extremity of the limb 

 afterwards enveloped in carbolized lint or fine tow, firmly, but 

 not too tightly, bound with a bandage. If the discharge is not 

 very profuse, little after treatment is required, beyond cleanli- 

 ness and occasional readjustment of the dressings. The animal 

 must be well supported with nutritious food, and prepared for 

 the butcher as quickly as possible. 



Tumours between the claws of Cattle. — Hard nodules sometimes 

 grow from the skin between the digits, causing a varying degree 

 of lameness. They should be removed with the scalpel as early 

 as possible. 



