CHAPTER X. 



NON-INFLAMMATORY DISEASES OF BONES. 



RICKETS — MOLLITIES OSSIUM — OSTEO-POROSIS FRAGILITUS OSSIUM — 



OSTEO-SARCOMA — EFFECTS OF MERCURIAL POISONING ON BONES. 



RICKETS. 



The terms "rickets" and "rachitis" are used to denote an 

 nnnatnral softness of the osseous system in young animals, 

 and is referable to disordered nutrition of the osseous tissue ; 

 in fact, to the mal-assimilation and non- development of the 



materials neces- 

 j/'^ \ sary to the forma- 

 tion of bone. 



Eickets may be 

 witnessed in foals, 

 calves, and young 

 dogs, more especi- 

 ally young spaniels 

 and pointers. In 

 foals and calves the 

 metacarpal bones 

 are those which 

 soonest bend; in 

 dogs, the lower 

 third of the hume- 

 rus ; giving to the 

 dog a dwarf-like 

 appearance : he 

 stands with his 

 fore legs wide apart, and M-alks with a peculiar rolling gait, 

 throwing the weight of his body from one limb to another in 



