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76. Rickets. — This disease is due to a peculiar softening and 

 yielding condition of the bone, and may be looked upon as arising from 

 the imperfect assimilation of the lime elements through a want of earthy 

 salts, or an excess of animal matter, by the bony structure so that the 

 bones will scarcely support the weight of the body. Rickets is mostly 

 seen in young dogs and pigs, and not so frequently in foals and calves. 

 In the treatment of rickets the affected animal should be put into a 

 well-drained and ventilated box, and provided with a good comfortable 

 bed. Should any constitutional disturbance be present it ought to be 

 combated by giving fever medicines, followed up with tonics, and as 

 such, nothing is better than the Syrup of Phosphates of Iron, 

 Potash, Soda and Lime, and Glycerine or Cod Liver Oil, given 

 in doses of one tablespoonful twice a day in milk ; good well-boiled 

 oatmeal porridge, with plenty of milk and a wine-glassful of lime water, 

 night and morning, is also recommended. 



77. Mollities Ossium is real softening of the bone, which becomes 

 of a spongy red texture ; the treatment is much the same as for 

 Rickets, Another disease of the bone, which is thoroughly described 

 by Professor Williams in his " Principles and Practice of 

 Veterinary Surgery," is called Osteo-Porosis, and is a remarkable 

 softening and swelling of the bony structure. This is a very peculiar 

 complaint, from the description given of it by Professor "Williams. I 

 have not, however, in all my practice, come across such a case. 



78. Fragilitas Ossium or brittleness of the bone, is mostly seen in 

 aged animals ; as they advance in life the bones become firmer, and 

 lose their animal matter to a certain extent, so much so, that the bones 

 of an old horse, owing to their fragile condition, are very subject to 

 fracture. 



79. Osteo-Sarcoma, or bone tumour, is a malignant disease of the 

 bone, which at times implicates the flesh as well. It is very common 

 in finely bred cattle and horses, attacking generally the head and 

 frequently commencing in the inner corner of the eye ; the ribs are also 

 the seat of the disease. It creeps on very insidiously, producing little 



