14 INFECTIOUS CELLULITIS 



indurated, the skin thick and dr}', and later it would crack, 

 usually but not always, below the dew claws, and a thick creamy 

 pus would be discharged. After discharging, the swelling 

 subsided and the normal condition was rapidly restored. The 

 time necessary for the suppurative process and recovery to 

 take place varied in different animals, but as a rule from ten 

 to fifteen days were required. The exceptions were largely in 

 those cases where the inflammator}- process extended down to 

 the coronary cushion. In these there was more or less slough- 

 ing of the hoof. It is in these cases that the disea.se is most 

 serious. 



In the so-called foot-rot of sheep, we have, in the cases 

 which have come to our notice, conditions similar to those found 

 in the cattle which were suffering from suppurative cellulitis. 

 It may be of interest to cite a specific case with the result of 

 the bacteriological examinations. 



May, 1899, two sheep that were suffering from so-called 

 foot- rot were brought to Dr. Law's clinic. They came from a 

 large flock in which forty or more animals were reported to be 

 similarl}^ affected. 



No. I. An adult female in very poor condition. All four feet and 

 legs were affected and the nails on one foot were quite loose. There was 

 a purulent discharge from openings either between the claws or in the 

 skin just above the hoof. The microscopic examination of the pus from 

 this opening showed a number of bacteria but streptococci were especially 

 numerous. They were not isolated in pure culture. The left knee was 

 badly swollen and from the lower side of the swelling there was a dis- 

 charge of thin purulent substance which contained streptococci in large 

 numbers. A few other bacteria, mostly micrococci, were associated with 

 them. 



No. 2. An adult female, black, emaciated, but in much better flesh 

 than No. i. The two fore feet and the left hind one were affected. The 

 hind foot and the right fore one were discharging. The left fore foot 

 was badly swollen above the hoof but the swelling did not extend high 

 up the leg. Fluctuation was marked. The skin was shaved, washed, 

 disinfected and the abscess opened. A thick creamy pus was expressed. 

 From this a number of tubes of media were inoculated and in each a 

 streptococcus developed in pure culture. The pus from the discharging 

 feet contained a streptococcus with other bacteria. The feet were treated 

 locally with disinfectants by Dr. Law. In recovering there was consid- 



