AMPUTATION OP THE CLAWS IN OXEN. 
831 
Y.—ABNORMALITIES OF THE HORNY CLAW. 
Fissuring, &c., of the horn, though very common in horses, is rare in 
oxen, and when occurring usually assumes the form of a crack extending 
from the bearing surface to the coronet of the outer claw in working 
oxen. The bearing surface of the claw usually shows contraction. 
Disease of the substance of the horn is very rare, but the claw is 
sometimes so thin that the animal is useless for work on hard ground, 
on account of the sole continually being bruised and causing lameness. 
Excessive growth of the toe is very common in stalled oxen. In 
consequence of the absence of wear the toe grows upwards, forming a 
kind of horn, while excessive weight is thrown on the bulbs, causing local 
bruises and pain. The animals avoid standing, eat less than usual, and 
lose condition. Shortening the toes relieves all these conditions. 
Oxen with excessively turned-in or turned-out limbs necessarily have 
asymmetrical claws, just as similarly formed horses have irregularly 
shaped feet. Flat or dropped soles unfit working oxen for labour, on 
account of their becoming bruised. 
A peculiar deformity consists in the point of one of the claws over¬ 
lapping the other; the point of the inner claw often covers a considerable 
portion of the outer. The claws do not separate when the animals walk, 
and the opposed margins of the claws are bruised or the lateral ligaments 
of the joint are strained. The overlapping portions should be pared 
away. 
In-and-in breeding results in some races in the claws becoming too 
small and the horn too thin, rendering the animals useless for draught. 
The cause indicates the remedy. 
YI.— AMPUTATION OF THE CLAWS IN OXEN. 
When purulent or septic inflammation of the pedal-joint occurs in 
consequence of any of the above-described forms of panaritium, or of 
injury from picked-up bodies, or when extensive necrosis attacks the 
phalanges, it is best to amputate the affected claw. Failing this, pain 
continues, and the animals die from decubitus, or from septicsemia. 
Even in the few cases which recover, the animal’s general condition 
suffers very greatly, before anchylosis of the joint becomes complete. 
The experience of Harms and others encourages the performance of 
this operation, very little disturbance being caused, and recovery being 
comparatively rapid and complete. 
Esser looks on amputation as the last resort in extensive necrosis of 
the phalanges. Provided the animal is still able to stand and has not 
suffered much in condition, he prefers conservative treatment. 
