RICKETS. 181 



great care must be taken that it be fed repeatedly, thougli mode- 

 rately, during the day. 



The constitutional treatment must be directed to the con- 

 dition of the digestive apparatus. A very gentle aperient 

 might at first be given with advantage, such as four ounces of 

 castor oil — or a dose corresponding to the age of the patient — 

 made into an emulsion, with two drachms of the bicarbonate of 

 potash or soda, and a sufficiency of water. This should be 

 succeeded by small quantities of lime-water, say half a pint, 

 two or three times a day, in the same quantity of milk ; and 

 when the acid condition of the bowels has passed away, w^hich 

 will be indicated by absence of the sour or acid smell and 

 better colour of the fseces, the preparations of iron will be found 

 of great service, more especially the syi'up of the phosphates, 

 great care being taken that the digestive organs are not again 

 thrown out of order. As a rule, the mother possesses an abun- 

 dant quantity of milk ; but should it be otherwise, the patient's 

 food must be made sufficient for its wants by an additional 

 supply of milk or of linseed tea, — a very good substitute, and 

 often a desirable variety. Cod-liver oil may be given with 

 advantage ; and if the animal be valuable, the expense will be 

 amply repaid by a successful issue. 



The curvatures in the limbs are to be supported by slight 

 but firm splints of wood, applied to the concave aspect of the 

 curves, taking care that they are of sufficient length to reach 

 the unbent portions of the limbs, both above and below the 

 curves. A moderately firm bandage round both splint and leg 

 will cause the latter to approach the straight line, the bones 

 at this age being elastic and pliable. The splints must be so 

 padded as not to bruise the prominent parts of the legs, and 

 when properly and skilfully applied, may remain on for some 

 weeks. If there be much pain and lameness, fomentations and 

 frictions must be repeatedly made use of, and the splints removed 

 from time to time. 



The pathological anatomy of rachitis is thus given by 

 Eokitansky : — " The texture of the bones is affected in two 

 ways, of which sometimes one predominates, sometimes the 

 other. In the first case the bone is rarefied and increased in 

 size — expanded, in fact. A pale yellowish-red jelly is effused 

 into its enlarged canals and cells, into the medullary cavities, 



