280 



FOSSIL BONES. OSTEOMALACIA. 



BOOK I. 



Fossil bones contain a smaller quantity of organic 

 matter than recent bones. This appears, however, to 

 yield normal gelatin on boiling. They contain the 

 same mineral matters as recent bones. 



Composi- 

 tion of fossil 

 bones. 



ANALYSES OF VAEIOUS FOSSIL BONES. (FEEMY. 1 ) 



THE CHANGES WHICH BONE UNDERGOES IN DISEASE. 



Changes of 

 the bone in 

 Osteomalacia 

 or Malacos- 



teon. 



Osteomalacia-. 



By the name of Mollities Ossium, Osteomalacia 

 or Malacosteon, a disease is designated in which 

 the bones become deprived of a large part of their 

 mineral matter and liable to bend or to break. 

 Not only are the mineral matters removed, but the 

 organic basis undergoes marked structural alterations ; the medullary 

 cavity of long bones is enlarged and is often filled with hyperaemic 

 red marrow ; in some cases a yellow, in others a mucoid, marrow is 

 found. 



In some cases of Osteomalacia the bones do not yield gelatin when 

 boiled ; in other cases they do. 



1 Fr6my, Op. cit. page 88. 



