82 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OP 



portion of the lower jaw. You would, perhaps, think it was a slight 

 fibrous tumour at first, but it enlarges, becomes irritated, and matter 

 may form and discharge, and it goes on until it may destroy the 

 entire jaw, destroying the alveolar cavities, and allowing the teeth to 

 fall out. It is of a malignant character, to some extent. There is no 

 well-marked line of demarcation between the healthy and unhealthy 

 parts. It is said to occur more frequently in well-bred cattle. A con- 

 siderable change takes place in the bone ; it grows. Spicula are 

 formed, and also these cavities. 



Treatment. — Very little can be done for it. If you meet with a 

 tumour in this region, which tends to extend forward and inward, 

 and involving the bone, it is generally an early stage of osteo sarcoma. 

 It grows rapidly in some cases, perhaps, assuming the condition of the 

 specimen in some twelve or fifteen months. Or, it may remain about 

 one size for a considerable length of time. If you attempt to treat it, 

 use biniodide of mercury, iodide ointment, etc. It has been recom- 

 mended to use the knife, but by looking at the specimen present, you 

 can see that it would be absurd to attempt to remove it. If an animal 

 is in good condition, I do not think it interferes with the flesh as food, 

 but if in poor condition, and much discharge of matter, it would not 

 be very desirable as food. It is likely to cause death sooner or later. 



Rickets Richitis. — This disease may occur in all young animals, 

 but oftener it is seen in dogs than in any others. I think it is due to 

 a deficiency of the lime salts of the bone, and possibly the nutritive 

 powers of the bone tissues are also impaired, so that it cannot take 

 up the salts necessary for its nutrition. It generally appears at an 

 early age, and is more likely to occur in a weak, sickly animal, 

 especially one of a scrofalous diathesis, and it may be produced by a 

 scarcity of milk from the mother. If milk is withheld, the animal 

 does not receive the proper constituents for the tissues and the build- 

 ing of bone. I have seen some cases from a horse doing too much 

 serving, which tends to weaken the colt to a certain extent, and may 

 be the exciting cause of rickets. It may result from anything that 

 will tend to weaken an animal, especially if of the scrofulous diathesis. 



Symptoms are well marked. As the bones do not contain the proper 

 amount of earthly matter they bend readily. In the horse the bones 

 of the leg generally bend outwards ; they do not fracture, but bend. 

 In the dog the bones bend both ways, and the bowels are more or less 

 affected ; the head may be enlarged to a great extent. 



Treatment. — Examine the case carefully, and if you think the 

 digestive organs are out of order, it is in some cases advisable to give 

 a slight laxative, as linseed or castor oil, and attend to the matter 

 and see that your patient gets a regular and proper supply of good 

 milk, or your treatment will be of little use. If the mother is in 

 poor condition, or is overworked, see that the opposite takes place. 

 Use alkaline salts in very small doses, and you may give a dose of 

 sulphate of iron to build up the system. The great secret is to give 

 plenty of milk, as it has all the ingredients needed ; or you may assist 

 the strengthening of the limbs with a starch bandage or a porous 

 bandage (a preparation for broken limbs, etc.) — anything that will 

 tend to straighten the leg. Keep either in a comfortable box or in a 

 small pasture, and do not allow it to run around too much. Oatmeal 

 porridge is excellent for this in dogs and man. Bone filings are recom- 

 mended, or give the dog a bone to gnaw — it is excellent for dogs. Cod 

 liver oil is of benefit in dogs. 



Fra^ilitas Ossinm is a fragile condition of the bones. It is seen 



