RICKETS. 



69 



RICKETS (RACHITIS), 



Is faulty development and softening (causing bending) 

 of the bones of young animals, depending on disordered 

 nutrition of the osseous (bony) tissue ; in fact, to the mal- 

 assimilation and non-development of the materials neces- 

 sary to the formation of 

 bone — namely, phosphate 

 and carbonate of lime. 



Rickets appears when 

 the patient is a few weeks 

 or months old, and is caus- 

 ed by constitutional debil- 

 ity, scrofulous taint, or by 

 external and preventable 

 causes. Thus we find it 

 in calves that are not al- 

 lowed to suckle their moth- 

 er, and in foals that suckle 

 but two or three times a 

 day, the mother being at 

 work. Young animals fed 

 on artificial food instead of 

 milk, and not allowed prop- 

 er exercise, or reared under 

 any unnatural conditions, 

 are liable to become rick- 

 etv. 



Fig. 13. Rickets in humerus of dog. 



Remedy. — Nourishing diet. Milk, crushed oats, with 

 linseed, for horses, cattle, sheep, swine. Milk, meat soup, 

 cod-liver oil for dogs. In sucking animals, see to quality 

 and quantity of milk. An aperient or antacids will rec- 

 tify digestive derangement. Calcium phosphate ; Parrish's 

 food ; iron salts ; healthy surroundings. Splints and ban- 

 dages if needed. (For doses,, see pages 13 to 29.) 



