92 DISEASES OF THE GREYHOUND. 



RICKETS. ENLARGED JOINTS. 



This disease is also a frequent source of annoyance in the 

 puppy-kennel, and yet little or nothing has been written on the 

 subject. Every large breeder must have met with numerous 

 cases of puppies which have been returned to him at twelve 

 months old, or earlier, with one or two of their joints so enlarged 

 as to lame the animal, but with all- of them more or less 

 increased in size. Sometimes the stifle is as large as an orange, 

 being exactly in a similar condition to the white swelling of 

 the human knee. The disease arises partly from hereditary 

 weakness of constitution, but chiefly from bad rearing, and 

 confinement in an unhealthy and close kennel : either from a 

 deficient supply of phosphate of lime, or from the stomach and 

 bowels being so weakened as to be incapable of absorbing it, 

 the bones are imperfectly formed. In proportion to the phosphate 

 of lime too much gelatine is deposited, especially at the ends of 

 the bones forming the joints, and the consequence is that they 

 assume the large appearance so characteristic of the disease. 

 Many even experienced coursers are proud of a puppy with 

 large joints ; but I am quite sure that, though the enlargement 

 often disappears with increasing age and strength, yet that a well- 

 reared puppy should never have his joints larger in proportion 

 than the shafts of the bones. I am fond of seeing in young dogs 

 plenty of bone, large hocks, and good knees, but I also like to 

 see a corresponding development of the shafts of the bones 

 of the forearm and thigh, as well as the shank bone. This, I 



