830 
DISEASES OF THE CLAWS IN CATTLE AND SHEEP. 
As a rule, pain soon disappears after the abscess breaks or is punc¬ 
tured. The dressing may then be left in position for several days, but 
the above precautions should be taken when it is renewed, if granula¬ 
tion appears too free, astringents like solution of alum or sulphate of 
copper may be applied, or the parts can be dusted with charcoal. 
In oxen, the skin at the front of the interdigital space sometimes 
becomes inflamed, but the process remains confined to the cutis, and pain 
is less severe than in panaritium of the toe, though healing is difficult 
on account of the inevitable movement of the claws. The skin appears 
somewhat swollen and painful, and an inflammatory discharge flows 
from the surface, which, in drying, produces qrusts, while the coronary 
edge of the horn becomes locally separated. Neglect of these symptoms 
may be followed by the development of panaritium. The animals should 
therefore be placed on dry straw, the diseased spot carefully cleansed, 
powdered with iodoform, and a triangular piece of wood corresponding 
to the width of the interdigital space placed between the claws and fixed 
in position by a strong cord or wire passed round the claws. This 
prevents movement of the claws, which interferes with healing. To 
ensure the cord or wire remaining in position, a couple of shallow 
grooves may be made with the knife or rasp around the lower part of 
the claws. 
Yaeth suggests the use of chloride of zinc dissolved in water and 
made into a paste with an equal quantity of flour for treating inflamma¬ 
tory new growths and warts in the skin of the interdigital space. The 
material is smeared on the diseased spot and a dressing applied over it. 
Yaeth treats warts by laying them open and rubbing in chloride of zinc, 
after which they fall off in a few days. 
Delmer describes in oxen a disease of the podophyllous membrane, 
which resembles canker in horses. The sole of the left claw of the near 
fore foot was entirely lost, except near the bulb, where it was as thin 
as paper. The sensitive sole was studded with small, greasy-looking, 
stinking grey masses, showing an indistinct^ lamination. The sensitive 
sole below was swollen and bluish in colour; it bled readily. The 
papillae, however, showed no tendency to exuberant granulation. Treat¬ 
ment consisted in removing the diseased and broken-down horn and 
applying an antiseptic dressing. Recovery occurred in fourteen days. 
Imminger described, under the title of “ canker of the claw,” a disease 
of the claw matrix accompanied by a tendency to necrosis. It seemed 
* due to the presence of the bacillus of necrosis (Fliigge), and should 
probably be included under the heading of panaritium. 
