PHYSIOLOGY IN THE STUDY OF DISEASE 95 



condifyion was made clear, and the proper treatment 

 indicated. 



The second example shows how the work of 

 physiologists proved the essential nature of the 

 condition and pointed out the line of treatment, 

 but has still definitely to solve some parts of the 

 problem. 



Let me now give an example of how physiological 

 study has advanced our knowledge of disease, but 

 has so far failed to clear up the problem completely 

 or to discover the method of treatment. It has 

 given us an advanced post from which further 

 progress should be possible. 



III. Tetany 



Few of you have heard of the disease tetany — 

 not tetanus, a very different condition. It chiefly 

 afiects young children, and very specially those 

 suffering from rickets. In an investigation into 

 the social conditions associated with the develop- 

 ment of that still mysterious disease. Miss Ferguson 

 found no evidence of tetany in any of the non- 

 rickety children studied, while it was or had been 

 present in 42 per cent of the children with rickets. 



When fully developed, tetany is characterised 

 by a peculiar rigidity of the muscles chiefly of the 

 hands and feet, which leads to the hand being fixed 

 in a peculiar position and to the feet being strongly 

 bent with the toes pointing downwards. The other 



