FRACTURES OF THE BONES 325 



skoliosis). The most striking alterations are ol)served in the extremities. 

 The long bones are thickened at both ends and bent on account of the 

 softness of the bone and pressure of the weight of the body, when stand- 

 ing (Fig.. 102). The upper portion of the front legs bends inward, rarely- 

 outward, and the animals have a peculiar, unsteady, awkward gait. 

 The}' stand on the hind legs with the leg twisted under them, and in 

 aggravated cases, the bones are bent in a circle, the bend of the astragalus 

 coming down on the ground (Plate, Rachitis). As a consecpience of the 

 altered position of the bones, the ligaments Ijecome distended and stretched, 

 causing an inflammation of the joints and consequently more or less 

 enlargement of them. At the same time we ol^serve emaciation, loss of ap- 

 petite, and in some cases, catarrh of the stomach and air-passages, changes 

 in the shape of the teeth, which are aljnormally small and frequently 

 devoid of enamel, or placed irregularly in the gums. The disease, as a 

 rule, is chronic and the prognosis unfavorable. If the disease is taken 

 early, it may be checked to a certain degree by means of proper feeding; 

 but when the deformity is once formed, it is only in extremely rare cases 

 that it does not show as the animal grows to an adult age either in the 

 form of a peculiar bending or bow-legged appearance of the front legs, 

 or a twisting, or show halt-shape in the hind-legs. 



Therapeutic Treatment. — The treatment of rachitis consists of 

 improving all the nutritive conditions and encouraging digestion as 

 much as possible. Give the animal plenty of meat and bones, adding 

 to them certain amount of phosphate of calcium, egg-shells, and lime- 

 water in the drinking water. Phosphorus, while medicated, generally 

 causes irritation of the intestines. Improve the digestion as much as 

 possible by tonics, nux vomica, gentian, etc.; keep the animal in a clean, 

 dry place and see that there is good ventilation. If there is diarrhoea, 

 give bismuth subnitrate. To avoid bending of the articulations, the 

 animal must be prevented from taking unusual exercise, running, jump- 

 ing, etc. Splints are sometimes used to correct the curving of the long 

 bones. 



I^. Ferri lactis 5.0 



Calcium phos., 



Calcium carbonate, 



Saccharum lactis, aa 20.0 



F. M. pulv. 



Sig. — One small teaspoonful in the food twice daily. 



Fractures of the Bones. 



By a "fracture of the bone'' we mean a breaking or disunion of a 

 bone or a bony cartilage; fracture is quite common in the dog, particu- 



