648 ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



their fancy. The term "Osteoporosis" implies that after macerating 

 and drying the bone is porous and light. "Osteomalacia" implies 

 fragility of the bones or that they break easily. Osseus cachexia" 

 is a state of profound misery in which the ijatient is not able to 

 take the necessary amount of nourishment. In swine, it is known 

 as gout or foot disease. 'Sniffles' is a term often applied to it in 

 swine when the nasal cavities are restricted by the increased thick- 

 ness of the vomer and the other bones of the head which restrict the 

 air passages and cause loud breathing. 



In horses it is sometimes called "Bran Disease" because it develops 

 often in Switzerland and Germany in miller's horses, which are fed 

 freely on bran. 



We prefer the term "osteomalacia" because the partial or total 

 softening of all the bones of the body described by the first observer, 

 is always present. We believe that it is logical to reserve this ancient 

 designation until the true cause of the disease is discovered and it 

 can be given a more precise and suitable name. 



The list of predisposing causes is rather long. One iSinds, as in 

 all infectious diseases, circumstances for diminishing the resistance 

 of the organism. The determinate cause of osteomalacia is still un- 

 known. The solution of the problem should appear soon for the 

 reason that Mousau has reproduced the disease experimentally in 

 swine and goats. Mousau and Charrin have reproduced it in a rabbit. 

 This was done, says Mousau, either by cohabitation with an affected 

 animal or by the subcutaneous inoculation of the bone marrow during 

 the beginning or the active period of the disease. 



In a preliminary communication to the Academy of Medicine of 

 Turin, February 2, 1906, Mori)ugo gave the reults of numerous experi- 

 ments on young and adult white rats. In these experiments which 

 were begun in 1898 and partially reported in diverse publications, 

 the author produced the disease at will, either by cohabitation or by 

 the inoculation of germs supposed to be diplococci isolated from sub- 

 jects that were affected with the disease. Observations are numerous 

 which indicate clearly the infectious nature of asteomalacia. 



In 1874 Paul Bouley summed up the many observations on the sub- 

 ject of osteomalacia in man and domestic animals. He wrote, at that 

 time, that the only theraupeutic proceeding that had rendered service 

 was emigration from the place where the disease developed or remov- 

 ing the animal to a richer locality. It is now know^n that the richness 

 of the soil has nothing to do with curing the disease. Captain Rob- 

 ertson, in an article on "Osteoporosis," in the Veterinary Record, 

 says in reference to affected horses, that they recover by simply re- 

 moving them from the infected district without even changing the 

 food. No treatment is effectual except a complete change of location. 

 He cites a village where it was proven that the disease was imported 

 by a race horse. Pecaud cites a similar case. At one time the disease 

 was recognized only in the Stafe of Dape Can, Indo China. The 

 afflicted animals were sent to Sontay where they improved or recover- 

 ed. For the past three years Sontay has been badly afflicted with the 

 disease. 



In the regions where the disease is epidemic it has been attributed 

 to the soil, climate, etc. At times droughts or too much humidity 

 may play a part, yet the disease is not found alone under these con- 

 ditions." 



No information was received on the subject of deafness. 



