Class I. 2. 2. 14. OF IRRITATION. 71 



14. bmufritlo ojfmm. Innutrition of the bones. Not only 

 the blood effufed in vibices and petechia, or from bruifes, as well 

 as the blood and new vefTels in inflamed parts, are reabsorbed by 

 the increafed action of the lymphatics *, but the harder materials, 

 which constitute the fangs of the firft fet of teeth, and the ends 

 of exfoliating bones, and fometimes the matter of chalk-Stones 

 in the gout, the coagulable lymph, which is depofited on the 

 lungs, or on the mufcles after inflammation of thoie parts, and 

 which frequently produces difficulty of breathing, and the pains 

 of chronic rheumatifm, and laitly the earthy part of the living 

 bones are diflblved and abforbed by the increafed actions of thisr 

 iyftem of verTels. See Seel. XXXIII. 3. 1. 



The earthy part of bones in this difeafe of the nutrition of 

 them feems to fufFer a folution, and reabforption ; while the 

 Secerning vefTels do not fupply a Sufficient quantity of calcareous 

 earth and phofphoric acid, which constitute the fubftance of bones. 

 As calcareous earth abounds every where, is the want of phof- 

 phoric acid the remote caufe ? One caufe of this malady is 

 given in the Philoibphic Transactions, where the patient had 

 been accuftomed to drink large quantities of vinegar. Two cafes 

 are defcribed by Mr. Gouch. In one cafe, which I faw, a con- 

 iiderable quantity of calcareous earth, and afterwards of bone- 

 afhes, and of decoction of madder, and alfo of fublimate of 

 mercury, were given without effect. All the bones became folt, 

 many of them broke, and the patient feemed to die from the 

 want of being able to diftend her cheft owing to the foftnefs of 

 the ribs. 



M. M. Salt of urine, called fal micro cofmi cum, phofphorated 

 foda. Calcined hartlhorn. Bone-alTies. Hard or petrifying 

 water, as that of Matlock, or fuch as is found in all limeftone 

 or marlv countries. The calcareous earth in thefe waters mieht 

 poiiibly be carried to the bones, as madder is known to colour 

 them. Warm bath. Volatile or fixed alkali as a lotion on the. 

 fpine, or efiential oils. 



The innutrition of the bones is often firft to be perceived by 

 the difficulty of breathing and palpitation of the heart on walking 

 a little fafter thanufual, which I fuppofe is owing to the foft- 

 nefs of the ends of the ribs adjoining to the Sternum ; on which 

 account they do not perfectly diltend the cheft, when they are 

 railed by the pe£toral and intercottal mufcles with greater force 

 than ufual. After this the fpine becomes curved both by the 

 foftnels of its vertebrae, and for the purpofe ot making room for 

 the disturbed heart. See Species 16 of this Genus. 



As thefe patients are pale and weak, there would feem to be 

 deficiency of oxygene in their blood, -mi m confequence a defi- 

 ciency 



