384 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



due to inherited tendency. When, however, there is no here- 

 ditary taint, and the disease probahly depends upon indigestion, 

 bitters and alkaline salts, as bicarbonate of potassium and 

 sodium, are frequently useful. Easily digestible nutritious food 

 is always necessary. 



It is not often that an animal manifests rickets at birth ; the 

 diseased condition usually becomes manifest as the young 

 creature develops. We have not seen the disease in old oxen ; 

 but in them a similar disorder is said to occur sometimes, and to 

 be due in such instances to a deficiency of lime in the drinking- 

 water. 



Very many lambs die from the effects of the disease called 

 rickets every year that comes, although, of course, the number of 

 those which fall victims depends upon the character of the 

 season, the nature of the locality, and the general management to 

 which they are subjected. 



yV lamb afflicted with this disease may, when about three weeks 

 old, walk with an uncertain gait, be perhaps slightly lame on its 

 hind-legs, and manifest some difficulty in rising from the 

 recumbent posture. After another week or two have elapsed, 

 the hind-legs may become quite unmanageable, and, as each day 

 comes, the animal experiences greater and greater difficulty in 

 rising, and if the lambs which are aflfected are suddenly startled 

 they will, if they are not already lying upon the ground, fall 

 down helplessly. As we have said, the weakness increases, 

 and before long the animal has not the power of following its 

 mother, nor can it partake of her milk. In fact, it is reduced 

 to feeding upon any grass which may be within reach, and this 

 being very limited in amount, it pines away and at length dies. 

 Indeed, it is often the best plan to slaughter the lambs when 

 they are in the early stages of the malady. 



The disease is probably occasioned by a deficiency of food or 

 of earthy salts in the food, or by the milk of the mother being 

 defective, or taken in insufficient quantity. The bones of the 

 hind-limbs soften and bend, not being able to support the weight 

 of the animal. Moreover, the malady may break out after the 

 animals have been too much confined, or it may show itself as 

 a sequel to other illnesses. In all probability it is capable of 

 being transmitted hereditarily. Hence rams which have been 

 the sires of lambs sufi*ering from rickets should not again be 



