SECTION IX. 
AFFECTIONS OF THE BONES AND JOINTS. 
CHAPTER I. 
RICKETS. 
RIcKETS is a constitutional disease of puppyhood, characterized by general 
debility and defects of nutrition, chiefly in the bones and cartilages, but also in 
the muscles and other anatomic structures, causing imperfect development of the 
bones and consequent deformities. 
Debilitated or rachitic sire or dam may transmit a taint to the offspring; 
or rickets may arise from improper feeding or insufficient food, and other faults 
of management, which include a deprivation of sunlight and pure air, unclean- 
liness and exposure to noxious emanations, dampness, etc. In some instances 
it is developed rapidly after other diseases, which have left the system in a state 
of debility. 
It has generally been accepted that this disease is either due to a deficiency 
of lime in the food or to imperfect absorption of lime salts, in consequence of 
stomach or intestinal disturbances. Beyond doubt there are forms of diet which 
predispose to it ; and they do so chiefly because they are either defective in some 
ways or do not supply in adequate proportion certain very essential elements. 
When the mother’s milk is poor in quality as the result of previous ill health, 
insufficient nourishment or unsuitable food, her pups are very likely to suffer 
from rickets in consequence, particularly if they are of large breeds. A lack of 
a goodly proportion of meat and an excessive amount of farinaceous foods greatly 
favor the occurrence of the disease, the latter especially, through the fermenta- 
tive process set up by the starch, and thereby the production of lactic acid; 
which is believed to be an active agent in the causation of rickets, it being sup- 
posed to form a soluble salt by union with the lime of the bones, and thus remove 
it from the system. 
Another popular theory is, that this disease is very liable to be developed 
when the system is deprived of an adequate amount of fat. In support of this 
there is considerable experimental proof; and it certainly is easily accepted in 
light of the fact that the happiest results follow the judicious use of oil in treat~ 
ing rachitic patients. 
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