DISEASES OF CATTLE 435 



(subperiosteal abscess) . It may lead to necrosis of the bone or a fis- 

 tulous track from the bone to the surface. There is usually much 

 pain and fever present, and the odor from the wound is offensive. 



Treatment. In this form of periostitis the periosteum should 

 be freely incised, followed either by continuous irrigation or fre- 

 quent injection of the wound with antiseptic solutions. 



FIBROUS PERIOSTITIS. 



This form of the disease consists in the thickening of the outer 

 layer of the periosteum from the inflammation reaching it from 

 neighboring structures. This newly formed fibrous tissue may be- 

 come ossified or may transmit the inflammation to the deeper bony 

 structures. It is frequently seen in cases where there has been an 

 intense inflammation of the skin close to an underlying bone. 



Treatment. The treatment should follow that recommended 

 for aseptic periostitis. 



RICKETS. 



This disease, also called rachitis, is an inflammatory affection 

 of young, growing bones, and involves the ribs and long bones of 

 the legs mostly. It consists in a failure of the organism to deposit 

 lime salts in bone, and for this reason the bones do not ossify as 

 rapidly as they should. The cartilaginous ends of the bones grow 

 rapidly, but ossification does not keep pace with it. The bones be- 

 come long and their ends bend at the joints, the legs become 

 crooked, and the joints are large and irregular. All the bones af- 

 fected with this disease are thicker than normal, and the gait of the 

 animal is stiff and painful. A row of bony enlargements may be 

 found where the ribs articulate with the cartilages connecting them 

 with the breastbone and is called the beaded line. A catarrhal con- 

 dition of the digestive tract is usually observed. The disease may 

 result from an inherited weakness of constitution, poor hygienic 

 surroundings, or improper diet. Calves and foals are less frequently 

 affected with rickets than dogs and pigs. 



Treatment. The affected animal should be given nourishing 

 food containing a proper amount of lime salts. Outdoor exercise and 

 plenty of fresh air are indispensable. Limewater should be given 

 once daily for drinking purposes and ground bone meal mixed with 

 the food. Phosphorus, one-fortieth of a grain, and calcium phos- 

 phate, 1 dram, given twice daily to a 2-months-old calf, and propor- 

 tionally increased for older animals, has proved efficacious in this 

 disease. In some cases the long bones of the limbs are too weak at 

 birth to support the weight of the animal and temporary splints, 

 carefully padded and wrapped on with some soft bandages, become 

 necessary. 



OSTEOMALACIA ( CREEPS). 



This is a condition of bone brittleness or softening of bone found 

 usually in adult life. It consists of the decalcification of mature 

 bone, with the advancing diminution of the compact portion of bone 

 by absorption. The periosteum strips very easily from the bone. 

 This disease is seen in milch cows during the period of heavy lacta- 

 tion or in the later stages of pregnancy, and the greater the yield of 



