Blood Diseases. 143 



subsequently by friction with towels, &c., being quickly 

 removed to sheltered places, free from direct draughts, 

 and having a normal temperature. 



The complication, valvular disease of the heart, will 

 be referred to under diseases of the circulatory system 

 in Chapter XII. 



Rickets or Rachitis. — The deformities which charac- 

 terise this aifection are the evidences of an abnormal 

 state of the digestive and assimilative functions. Flesh 

 and fat may be greedily partaken of, but the power to 

 convert earthy or calcareous matters into true, solid 

 bone structure is absent. The disease is not so common 

 or widespread as generally supposed. Many crooked, 

 bow, or bandy legged dogs, especially whelps, are met 

 with, but these form a totally distinct class, often deriving 

 their characteristics from the irregularities of their 

 mongrel descent. The ricketty whelp is sickly, weak, 

 and ailing, always morbid, and rarely worth the trouble 

 which the apparent gravity of the case demands. 



The symptoms are briefly as follow. The bones are 

 the seat of the principal abnormalities, swellings of 

 variable size being present on the limbs, sometimes in 

 connection with the joints, attended with more or less 

 inflammatory action, pain, and lameness. The latter is 

 so pronounced in some cases as to render the animal 

 incapable of rising from the bed. The legs are thus 

 deformed by bends, or twists, the weight of the body 

 being instrumental in their production. Bulging of the 

 facial bones, or jaws is also somewhat common. The 

 spine and ribs are more rarely affected, but the same 

 want of earthy material is evident with more or less 

 softening after death. The coat stares, the flanks are 

 hollow, the loins narrow, and the whole vertebrae develop 

 the razoi back appearance. The mucous membrane and 

 the " white " of the eye, are singularly pale, and the 

 creature as a whole is a miserable and profitless being. 



Treat metit.-'^MZQ.t^s attends only upon those cases in 

 which the disease is of a recent or slight nature, and 

 when fresh air, light, suitable food and freedom from 

 cold and damp are ensured. The food should contain 



