828 
DISEASES OF THE CLAWS IN CATTLE AND SHEEP. 
though in disease of the pedal-joint, swelling is greatest around the 
interdigital space. The patient shows high fever, and the same symptoms 
as in panaritium profundum, but in an aggravated degree. Slight 
rotation of the claw produces great pain. It should, however, be 
remarked that in cattle the latter symptom is not so pathognomonic 
of arthritis as in the horse, because the swelling in and about the inter¬ 
digital space may render rotation very painful. But where little or no 
swelling exists, the symptom becomes particularly significant. Arthritis 
or necrosis of the coronet or pedal bone, as a rule, necessitates amputation 
(see succeeding pages). 
(2) Interdigital panaritium consists in infectious inflammation of the 
skin and deeper structures connecting the two claws, especially of the 
fatty tissue, which is so abundant in this region. It occurs oftenest 
when the claws are excessively separated, and when the oxen are worked, 
both of which conditions favour injury and infection of the interdigital 
skin. Ihe skin between the two claws appears swollen, and protrudes 
somewhat in the form of a snail—hence the origin of the French term 
“Limace.” Pain is marked, no weight can be borne on the foot, the 
animal lies continuously, and shows fever and loss of appetite. After a 
few days the skin between the claws breaks; sometimes the interdigital 
ligament is ruptured, and the swelling, increasing in size, causes the 
claws to recede from each other. 
Appiopiiate and early treatment is generally followed by recovery, 
though in cases the process extends to the os coronse or to the pedal- 
joint. As a rule, the latter danger is not so great as in panaritium of 
the toe, the pedal-joint not being so likely to become implicated from 
this point. Interdigital panaritium is not infrequently followed bv 
extensive proliferation of connective tissue, which is readily injured and 
leads to fresh attacks of inflammation. The growth may, however, be 
readily removed by operation. 
(3) Panaritium of the bulb of the foot generally attacks the inner bulb 
of one of the front feet; sometimes both bulbs are attacked, very seldom 
the external alone. The cellular inflammation rarely confines itself to 
the sensitive parts of the bulb, and to the connective and fatty tissue 
above them, but, as a rule, seizes on the flexor tendons, and often 
on the pedal-joint. Necrosis of the tendons sets in, with purulent or 
septic disease of their sheaths, at the point at which they pass over the 
navicular bone, for which reason this form might be described as 
panaritium tendineum. 
The symptoms consist of severe pain on attempts to place weight on 
the foot, and on pressure over the diseased bulbs, which are greatly 
swollen. Necrosis of the flexor tendons and disease of their bursae are 
shown by the claws being extended; in arthritis, rotation of the claw is 
