DISEASES. 107 



following will suffice at this time: A deficiency of lime-salts as a consequence 

 of disturbances of digestion; excessive formation of carbonic acid or lactic acid, 

 which would dissolve the lime- salts; an alteration of the general nutritive con- 

 dition on account of abnormal influences in young animals; enlargement and an 

 increase in the number and size of blood vessels in the bone tissues, so that the 

 lime-salts continue to circulate in the blood instead of being deposited in the 

 bones. It might be well to mention that at the present time the exact cause of 

 this disease is not known, but we do know, however, that rickets can be de- 

 veloped in the dog by deficient, improper food, by want of nitrogenous food, and 

 especially bones, as it has been demonstrated that animals with this disease If 

 given these articles of diet seem to improve in a short time. This disease gen- 

 erally makes its appearance in young animals in the first few months of their 

 lives, and for this reason also it is very often spoken of as hereditary. The dis- 

 ease seems to develop relatively in proportion to their growth; if the animal 

 grows quickly, the disease will appear quickly; if growth is slow, the disease 

 will come on gradually. 



"This disease is a peculiar disturbance of the bones of the whole system, 

 and seems to be a deficiency of lime-salts in the bones, making them soft and 

 flexible. The bones become soft enough so that they can be cut easily with a 

 knife, and the ends of the bones become much thickened, which accounts for the 

 peculiar enlargements mentioned above. It is very often that the enlargements 

 make their appearance on the bones of the face, which gives the animal that 

 peculiar expression. Deformed and distorted bones are very frequent occur- 

 rences in this disease, especially noticeable in the limbs, which no doubt comes 

 from the weight of the animal at the time the bones are soft. The disease as a 

 rule is chronic, and it takes a long course of treatment to bring them to a nor- 

 mal condition again, and \ery often the treatment is not satisfactory. I have in 

 mind a case now that entirely recovered from the disease, but it was a mild one, 

 and was treated before the bones were much deformed. If the disease is taken 

 early, it may be checked 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. It very frequently leaves them "bowlegged," or 

 with twisted limbs. 



"I would suggest that you feed plenty of nitrogenous food, such as meat, 

 and encourage digestion as much as possible. Give bones, and perhaps it would 

 be well to give small amount of lime water to drink. In the medicinal treatment 

 use syrupus calci lacto-phosphatis, in thirty drop doses, once daily." 



SEPTICEMIA PUERPERALIS, AND INFLAMMATION OF THE UTERUS. 



"This is common in bitches, and is the result of retention and putrefaction of a 

 dead fetus (pup,) or the introduction of putrid matter through the blood stream. 

 The symptoms are high fever, the nose and mouth are hot, the pulse is quick, 

 the respirations are increased, the eyes are injected, the extremities become cold, 

 and often insensibility and death occur. 



"If the treatment is to be of any avail it must be adopted at once. First, 

 remove the cairise, if possible, inject the uterus with warm, weak Condy's Fluid, 

 and give immediately 10 grains to 20 gra'ins of the hyposulphite of soda, in water 

 three times a day. Creasote given in 1 grain to 3 grain doses (made into a pill 

 with crumb of bread), three times a day is useful; salicylate of soda is also recom- 

 mended in 10 graims to 30 grains doses, in water, three times a day. The bowels 

 must be relaxed by means of doses of oil, and soap and water enemas. The 



