956 



Osteomalacia, 



marrow much reddened and studded with punctiform hemor- 

 rhages; if cachexia already exists the bone marrow is pale, 

 gelatinous, even watery (marrow-fluid). The flat and short 

 bones are also brittle 'or flexible; owing to the dilation of 

 the marrow spaces the spong}- structure of these bones is em- 

 phasized and may contain fair-sized marrow spaces. The sound 

 of the bones is duller than that of normal bones. 



In osteomalacia of equides 

 and hogs a considerable bulg- 

 ing of the skull bones is also 

 often observed. It is less fre- 

 quent in goats and dogs. All 

 skull bones appear enlarged 

 sAnnmetrically on both sides 

 ._^^ .^ ,^^-. --,-i.,M„-. , vxj ai^<^^ ^^16 periosteum is easily 

 r<"';f-,Vi'yiJ '.Vr^' ''^^t'^S^ifc pealed off. The surface of the 

 fc^'!i>i^^^'','vtf i " .vflwBSSil l)ones is reddened, at times 



discolored dark- or blue-red 

 and contains numerous small 

 holes which are often con- 

 fluent ; the outer lamella of the 

 bones is soft and easily cut. 

 These changes are particu- 

 ig in the superior 

 'liicli may bulge out 

 that the molars are 

 in the reddish, 

 fibrous bone mass down 

 isticating surfaces, 

 of the macerated 

 lally much dimin- 

 ished (in horses 400-1160 gm., 

 as compared with the nonual 

 weight of 4000 gm. [Marcone]) ; 

 only if the bulging is excessive 

 is the normal weight main- 

 tained after maceration. The 

 bone cavities are small or en- 

 tirely obliterated. 



In consequence of atrophy 

 and softening of the bony tis- 

 sue the bones are subject to 

 all sorts of deformities. These 

 are most striking in the pelvis, the acetabula of which appear 

 pressed inward, while the ilia are much bent (Figs. 165 and 

 166) ; on the vertebral column scoliosis, kyphosis and lordosis 

 are to be noted and the depression of the ribs causes the thorax 

 to become narrow and the sterum to protrude. The pelvic 

 bones, and still more the long bones and the ribs often show 

 recent or old fractures, callus formation, and circumscribed 



Fig. VQl. Ofiteomnlacla. Supei-ior max- 

 illa of a goat 20 months old. n. ])eriosteuin 

 with numerous osteoblasts in the deeper 

 layer ; b. trabeculae becoming gradually- 

 more narrow; c. narrow trabeculae sur- 

 rounded by numerous osteoblasts ; d. rem- 

 nants of trabeculae in tlie cellular-fibrous 

 tissue ; e. vascular cellular-fibrous tissue ; 

 f. giant cells, partially in the vicinity of 

 remnants of trabeculae. Magnif. 100. 

 After Bassett. 



