bones: diseases and accidents. 273 



birth to sui:)port the weight of tlie animal and temporary splints, 

 carefully padded and wrapped on with some soft bandages, become 

 necessary. 



OSTEOMALACIA (CREEPS). 



This is a condition of bone brittleness or softening of bone found 

 usually in adult life. It consists of the decalcification of mature 

 bone, with the advancing diminution of the compact portion of bone 

 by absorption. The periosteum strips very easily from the bone. 

 This disease is seen in milch cows during the period of heavy lacta- 

 tion or in the later stages of pregnancy, and the greater the yield of 

 milk the more rapid the progress of the disease. Heifers with their 

 first calf are frequently affected, as these animals require a consider- 

 able quantity of animal salts for their own growth and for the 

 nourishment of their calves. 



SympioTns. — In marked cases there is a gradual emaciation and 

 symptoms of gastro-intestinal catarrh, with depraved appetite, the 

 animal eating manure, decayed wood, dirt, leather, etc. Muscular 

 weakness is prominent, together with muscle tremors, which simulate 

 chills, but are not accompanied by any rise of temperature. The 

 animal has a stiff, laborious gait: there is pain and swelling of the 

 joints, and constant shifting of the weiglit from one leg to another. 

 The restricted movements of the joints are frequently accompanied 

 by a crackling sound, which has caused the name of " creeps '' to be 

 applied to the disease. The coat is dull and rough and the skin dry 

 and hidebound. The animal is subject to frequent sprains or fracture 

 of bones without apparent cause, as in lying down or turning around, 

 and when such fractures occur they are difficult to unite. The bones 

 principally involved are the upper bones of the legs, the haunch bone, 

 and the middle bones of the spinal column. The disease in this 

 country is confined to localized areas in the Southwest, known aS the 

 " alkali districts," and in the old dairy sections of New York. The 

 cause of this affection is the insufficiency or total absence of lime salts 

 in the food, also to feeding hay of low, damp pastures, kitchen slops, 

 and potatoes, or to overstocking lands. It occurs on old worn-out 

 soil devoid of lime salts, and has also been observed to follow a dry 

 season. 



Treatment. — This should consist in a change of food and the artifi- 

 cial feeding of lime salts, such as magnesium and sodium phosphate. 

 Foods containing mineral salts may be given, such as beans, cowpeas, 

 oats, cottonseed meal, or wheat bran. Cottonseed meal is one of the 

 best foods for this purpose, but it should be fed carefully, as too large 

 quantities are injurious to cows. Phosphorus may also be given in 

 one-fourth grain doses twice daily, together with a tablespoonful of 



16'.)23°— 12 18 



