316 THE VITAMINES 



rachitic bone is recognizable by its abnormally small content of 

 alkaline earths. The deposit of calcium salts is prevented in that 

 part of the skeleton which takes those salts during normal growth; 

 in fact, according to Schmorl (1058), this happens in the entire skele- 

 ton. A greatly increased resorption of the already calcified bone 

 is not characteristic for rickets; rather does it characterize pseudo- 

 rickets. In the investigation of rickety bones, the preponderance 

 of the cartilage over the bone tissue is especially marked; for in- 

 stance, Dibbelt (1059) found, in normal bone, 29.4 per cent cartilage 

 and in rickety bones, 71.3 per cent. According to Schmorl (I.e. 1058), 

 there is an abnormal formation of osteoid tissue. Important changes 

 in the bone-marrow were found by Marfan, Bardouin and Feuille" 

 (1060). Marrow cells were discovered in places where they do not 

 occur normally. These cells were later substituted by fibroid cells 

 with outgrowth of cartilage cells; by this means, the disturbance in 

 the function of the osteoblasts is explained. Hutinel and Tixier 

 (1061) have confirmed the above findings. Kassowitz (1062) found, 

 in rapidly growing bones, an abundance of blood in the epiphyseal 

 ends, causing a proliferation of the cartilage cells and disturbing 

 the normal ossification. Heubner (1063) and Pommer (1064), how- 

 ever, found no inflammation but only a seemingly abnormal prolifer- 

 ation of the cartilage tissue. Ribbert (1065) also noted a marked 

 breaking down of cartilage cells. Besides the bone findings, muscular 

 dystrophy was noted in severe cases by Hagenbach and Burckhardt 

 (1066), Bing (1067) and also by Banu (1087a). According to Mohr 

 (1068), the central nervous system, besides the muscles, also is 

 affected. Of the endocrine glands, du Castel (1069) investigated 

 the thymus and found it hypertrophied. Stolzner (1070) found the 

 suprarenals small with a slight adrenaline content, while Cattaneo 

 (1071) was unable to confirm this. 



As for the chemical findings, Dibbelt (I.e. 1059) gave the following 

 composition for normal and rachitic bones: 



