EFFECTS ON THE SKELETON 



!43 



Pfaundler ('22). Some of these changes are shown in Figs. 43 and 52. Similar 

 lesions have been described by numerous investigators in various animals, espe- 

 cially puppies and rats, during experimental rickets. 



Although it is often stated that the growth of the skeleton is retarded during 

 rickets, but few data are available upon the fresh weight of the skeleton to sup- 

 port this view. Trousseau and Lasegue ('50) noted a dry weight of only 1 

 kilogram in the skeleton of a rachitic dwarf of 8 years, the normal weight being 



Fig. 52. — The skeleton of a female dwarf, aged 42 years, 4 feet and 2 inches in height; 

 showing extreme deformities as a result of rickets during early life. The lateral curvature 

 of the humeri is probably due to the use of crutches. (Seibold, 1827.) 



7 or 8 kilograms. Friedleben ('60) confirmed Virchow's ('54) finding of con- 

 tinued growth (especially subperiosteal) of bone during human rickets and con- 

 cluded: "Von Bedeutung ist es, dass der Gesammtknochen betrachtlich massen- 

 hafter und dicker erscheint, als der normale, was einestheils von der lockeren 

 porosen Beschaffenheit der frischem Auflagerungsschichten, anderntheils von 

 einer betrachtlichen Zunahme des Wassergehalts herriihrt." Especially in late 

 rickets, however, the skeleton may share in the general retardation in growth of 

 the body as a whole, as stated in Chapter V. Wohlauer ('n) stated that in 



