NOTES ON OSTEO-MALACIA (BONE-CHEWING). 5 



identical with the local one; notably there is 110 mention, of the bone- 

 chewing propensity which is so marked a feature locally. 



The question of the identity or otherwise of the disease in the above- 

 mentioned and similar cases with the osteo-malacia affecting our South Coast 

 cattle is not under discussion in the present Bulletin, which is simply a 

 record of analyses made of soils and herbage found on the areas in which 

 the local disease is prevalent, and of bones of affected animals. 



A NOTE ON THE NATURE AND CAUSATION OF OSTEO-MALACIA 



IN N.S.W. 



MAX HENRY, M.R.C.V.S., B.V.Sc., Veterinarian, Stock Branch, 

 Department of Agriculture. 



Osteo-malacia amongst cattle in New South Wales has of late years become 

 rather prominent in certain areas, and some work has been carried out over 

 a rather lengthy period in the way of investigation, principally in the 

 direction of soil analyses. Only lately, however, has the close relationship 

 between the soils and the quality of the grasses grown thereon been shown 

 by the analyses of grasses by the Chemical Branch of the Department of 

 Agriculture, and although the grasses were obtained in connection with 

 other matters, their analyses have thrown much light on the problem of 

 osteo-malacia. 



Occurrence. 



As was shown in a short note* published previously, osteo-malacia is 

 fairly widely distributed throughout the coastal areas, but this investigation 

 was principally confined to the far South Coast, including the Pastures 

 Protection Districts of Broulee and Eden, the principal centres in each 

 district being respectively Moruya and Bega. Koughly speaking, the disease 

 is becoming more marked as time goes on, but the increase in severity is not 

 constant, as in good seasons it is distinctly milder. In 1907, when the 

 complaint in these areas was first observed by the writer, it was localised 011 

 smaller areas than at the present time. 



Etiology. 



Hutyra and Marckf state that " as in rachitis, so in brittleness -of the 

 bones of animals, a deficiency of lime in the organism is undoubtedly of the 

 highest importance," and it would certainly appear that the close correlation 

 of soils deficient in lime and phosphoric acid, as shown by the analyses made 

 by Mr. Guthrie and Dr. Jensen of soils within the affected areas, wou^d fully 



* " Osteo-malacia in Cattle in New South Wales" (Henry), Agricultural 

 Gazette of 'New South Wales. Oct., 1012. 

 f " Special Pathology and Therapeutics of the Domestic Animals," 



