824 
BRUISES OF THE CLAWS IN CATTLE AND SHEEP. 
necrosis. In the toe, thin fluid pus develops, and the bone of the claw 
becomes necrotic ; in the bulbs severe cellulitis is set up, the flexor tendons 
become necrotic, and the pedal-joint is attacked. When the injury is still 
deeper seated, the skin, subcutis, tendons, and tendon sheaths often 
become violently inflamed, the process sometimes extending to the knee 
01 hock-joint. The animals lie continuously, and die of septicaemia. 
The primary cause of the above conditions is some mechanical injury, 
such as unequal distribution of weight in consequence of abnormal 
glowth of the claws, softening of the sole in stalled oxen, or in unshod 
oxen working on wet ground, bruises resulting from driving fat oxen over 
rough roads, wearing away of the sole from long journeys, careless 
shoeing, 01 the accumulation of dirt between the claws. If, as is almost 
unavoidable in cattle, the injured tissue becomes infected, there is scarcely 
anv limit to the possible complications. 
Symptoms and course. The condition usually appears during a 
journey, the animals gradually becoming lame, the stride being 
shortened, and the animals showing a tendency to lie, and to move 
the feet uneasily when resting. When the inner claw is alone affected 
oxen often stand with crossed legs. Once in their stalls they at once 
lie down, lefuse food, and are difficult to raise. An examination of the 
claws shows that in one or more pain is produced by pressure over the 
sole and bulbs of the foot. In severe cases the horn of the sole when 
cut appears reddened, and suppuration may have occurred, with discharge 
of pus at the bulb or coronet; in other instances the sensitive sole, or 
even the bone, may be necrotic. The coronet is then greatly swollen, 
painful, and, if not pigmented, shows an angry blush. In the later stages 
fever sets m, the animals lie continually, groan, grind the teeth, and 
finally die of septicaemia. To ensure a proper diagnosis at an early 
stage the sole must be carefully thinned. When bruising is slight, and 
the animals are at once rested and placed on soft bedding, recovery 
follows m a few days, but in suppuration under the sole or bulbs there is 
danger of the animals dying from decubitus. The possibility of purulent 
inflammation and necrosis of the sensitive bulbs of the foot and under¬ 
lying connective tissue constitutes a further danger. Such cases may 
be followed by purulent inflammation and necrosis of the perforans 
tendon, or be complicated with septic disease of the pedal-joint. 
The prognosis must, therefore, be guided by the degree of pain and the 
existent changes.. Necrosis of the tendon and purulent or septic inflam¬ 
mation of the joint is dangerous, but not absolutely hopeless, recovery 
sometimes following amputation of the claw; where several claws, and 
especially when several feet, are simultaneously attacked, however, there 
is little chance of the animal living. 
Treatment. Unless suppuration has set in, it is often sufficient to 
