210 DISEASES OF METABOLISM OF BONES 



shafts of the bone beiit. The periosteum also proliferates 

 forming periosteal enlargements. 



Symptoms. — ^The symptoms of rachitis are those of deform- 

 ity of the bone such as enlargement in the region of the 

 joints and bending of the shafts particularly of the bones of 

 the extremities. The patient therefore appears coarse- 

 jointed, bow-legged, or on the other hand cowhocked or 

 knock-kneed. The deformity may also involve the back, 

 causing lordosis (sway back) or kyphosis (roach-back) or 

 scoliosis (bent sideward). The pelvis may also be deformed 

 and the bones of the face thickened and distorted. As 

 usually a chronic rhinitis attends the facial deformity there 

 is nasal discharge with wheezy respirations. This form of 

 rachitis is spoken of as the "sniffle disease" or "the snuffles." 

 Along the course of the ribs at their cartilaginous unions 

 appears a row of nodules. These are spoken of as the 

 " rosary." Occasionally rickets affects the phalangeal articu- 

 lations causing ring-bone-like enlargements. The patients 

 usually remain stunted, grow pot-bellied and are unthrifty. 

 They are quite often stiff and lame. The shedding of the 

 milk-teeth is postponed, teeth diseases are common and 

 eczemas of the skin frequent. While some of the young 

 animals retain their flesh as a rule they grow thin and 

 emaciated. 



Prognosis. — ^The disease is rarely fatal but often leaves the 

 patient unthrifty and more or less deformed. 



Treatment. — One of the commonest treatments for rachitis 

 in animals is phosphorus. It should be given in the form of 

 the oil of phosphorus in small doses (H. & C. gr. |-| and S. 

 gr. ^V) • For small animals pills (gr. y^) may be substituted. 

 Powdered carbonate of lime fed with milk is also recom- 

 mended. Usually unless the disease has advanced too far, 

 turning the animal out to pasture and allowing plenty of 

 good nutritious food sufflce not only to check but cure it. 



OSTEOPOROSIS. OSTEOMALACIA. 



Definition. — Osteoporosis is a disease marked by increased 

 softness of the bones so that they become frangible and brittle 

 in consequence of a resorption of the lime content. 



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