568 Veterinaiy Medicine. 



peraetnia of the cancellated tissue, and Wagner shows that this 

 condition can be induced by excess of phosphorus, but this excess 

 of phosphorus has not been found in the blood in ordinary cases, 

 and is not likely to occur in a great number of young, at the same 

 place and time, irrespective of food, as has been shown in breed- 

 ing studs in New Jersey, in the South and West. In particular 

 cases excess of phosphorus may operate, but it cannot be looked 

 on as universal or essential. 



Tho: 'pr&?,Q:\\QQ oi glycero-phosphoric acid is alleged by Trasbot, 

 but there is no proof of its constancy in rachitis, nor would its 

 presence explain the real cause of the disease. 



Lactic acid in the system, lyactic acid, in vitro, dissolves the 

 calcareous salts of the bones. Trasbot alleges that it oppo.ses the 

 precipitation of lime in the form of tribasic phosphate, as found 

 in bone. Siedamgrotzky and Hofuieister found that the salts of 

 the bone were lessened under the administration of lactic acid. 

 Heitzmann and Baginsky showed that by restricting the lime in 

 food and giving lactic acid, l)y the mouth or subcutem, the lime 

 salts in the bone were lessened relatively to the organic basis. 

 It should be noted tliat an exclusive diet of buttermilk is liable 

 to cause an attack of arthritic rheumatism. Lactic acid is un- 

 doubtedly a cooperative factor in certain cases, but though often 

 found in the diseased bone and urine of rachitic children (Ragsky, 

 Morehead, Simon. Lehmann), it is not shown to be constant. 



Oxalic acid. Acetic acid. Formic acid. Beneke found oxalic 

 acid in the urine in many cases of rachitis and attributed to it the 

 removal of the lime salts. Others have made the same charges 

 on acetic and formic acids which are sometimes found in the 

 diseased bone. 



It is quite plain that the process of normal ossification is easily 

 disturbed, and that the same agent (lime, phosphorus) will assist 

 or hinder according as it is present in small or large amount, and 

 that certain chemical agents like organic acids may act injuriously 

 even in the presence of an abundance of bone salts. 



Heredity. Rickety parents have often rickety offspring, the 

 weak somatic cells, failing in both cases to build healthy, strong 

 tissues, l)Ut as a rule also, both have been condemned to live in 

 similar luiwholesome surroundings. 



Unhygienic Conditions. Schneidemiihl notes that in animals 



