Trattfitlon of Phofphate of Lime into the Animal Syfun. 20t 



been fed without mixture. The bones of thofe fowls which had been habitually fed with 

 the mixture were eviilently more folid, and their epiphyfes were rnuch lefs perceptible. ■ 

 Simple infpeflion was fufficient to Qiew thefe differences when the bones were mixed 

 together. 



" I had fed feveral young fowls of the fame incubation according to another plan. Some 

 were fed on a fimple pafle, without mixture; for others it was mixed with pulverifed 

 madder-root ; and a third conipofition w'as made of this laft. pafle and calcarsous phofphate. 

 This was alfo given habitually to other fowls. When after two months I examined the 

 progrefs of otTification in the bones of thefe different animals, I eafily perceived the red 

 traces of the madder in the olhlied parts of all thofe which had ufed it ; but I obferved that 

 the offification was not more advanced by the fimple mixture of this root than by the ordi- 

 nary food : on the contrary, the bones of thofe fowls which had fwallowed the phofphate 

 mixed with madder were much more folid than the others. The red colour ferved admira- 

 bly to diftinguilh the extremities of the long bones from their epiphyfes. After an exaft 

 comparifon, there could be no doubt of the efficacy of calcareous phofphate in favour of 

 the progrefs of ollification. The virtue of the madder feemed confined to that of giving 

 colour to the ofTifled parts." 



From thefe experiments, it was natural to make the trial of calcareous phofphate in ad- 

 dition to the remedies made ufe of in the treatment of rachitic fubjefts. Here follows 

 what the Author himfelf fays, after having fpoken of the exaggerated praifes given by 

 Haen to the ufe of oytler-fhells (oflracodermata) in the treatment of rachitis. 



" Without pretending," fays he, " to a refult fo brilliant as that announced by Haen, I 

 can affirm that tlie calcareous phofphate has fucceeded very well in the greatefl number of 

 rachitic fubjefts to whom 1 have given it. I fhall not multiply my accounts of fuccefsful 

 cafes in this place, but fhall relate only two remarkable inflances. 



" The daughter of Mr. Ranchon, watch-maker, aged two years and a half, walked with 

 a feeble and tottering pace, and the extremities of all her bones prefented epiphyfes very 

 prominent. In this fituation flie exhibited the appearance of imperfcft rachitis, or the firft 

 period of this diforder. Alkaline lotions, which I immediately advlfed, were attended with 

 a good efTeft. Her fleep became more firm ; and as the firfl pafPages were in a good flate, 

 1 gave, without internal preparation, one fcruple of a mixture of equal parts of phofphate 

 of lime and phofphate of foda twice a day. In the courfe of three weeks her legs were 

 perfeftly reflored ; and this amiable infant has ever fince had the fatisfaflion to run with 

 fpirit and agility. 



" A female infant, of the name of Boiard, aged four years, had experienced from her 

 birth the mofl decided fymptoms of rachitis. The protuberance of the epiphyfes and 

 tumcfa£lion of the abdomen firfl indicated the difeafe. The impoffibility of fupporting 

 hcrfclf and walking at the ufual age confirmed thefe unfortunate fymptoms. By degrees 

 the glands of the neck and of the mefcntcry became fwclled ; the teeth were blackened, 

 became carious, and were not repl.iccd. This fituation bctame fllll more afflii^Hng by 

 crifcs almofl periodical at an interval of three or four weeks. At thefe afHi£llng periods, 

 a fever of confulcrable flrength, cardialgia, and even c?nvulfions, particularly in the .night, 

 were 6bfervcd. The termination of each paroxyfm was announced or afcertained by 

 abundant ftools, and the ev.ncuation of urine firongiy charged with an earthy ftdiment. The' 



Vor. I. — .^L■Gus■^ 1797. H d imprudent 



