Blood Diseases. 143 
subsequently by friction with towels, &c., being quickly 
removed to sheltered places, free from direct draughts, 
and having a normal temperature. ; 
The complication, valvular disease of the heart, will 
be referred to under diseases of the circulatory system 
in Chapter XII. 
Rickets or Rachitis.—The deformities which charac- 
terise this affection are the evidences of an abnormal 
state of the digestive and assimilative functions. Flesh 
and fat may be greedily partaken of, but the power to 
convert earthy or calcareous matters into true, solid 
bone structure is absent. -The disease is not socommon 
or widespread as generally supposed. Many crooked, 
bow, or bandy legged dogs, especially whelps, are met 
with, but these form a totally distinct class, often deriving 
their characteristics from the irregularities of their 
mongrel descent. The ricketty whelp is sickly, weak, 
and ailing, always morbid, and rarely worth the trouble 
which the apparent gravity of the case demands. 
The symptoms are briefly as follow. The bones are 
the seat of the principal abnormalities, swellings of 
variable size being present on the limbs, sometimes in 
connection with the joints, attended with more or less 
inflammatory action, pain, and lameness. The latter is 
sO pronounced in some cases as to render the animal 
incapable of rising from the bed. The legs are thus 
deformed by bends, or twists, the weight of the body 
being instrumental in their production. Bulging of the 
facial bones, or jaws is also somewhat common. The 
spine and ribs are more rarely affected, but the same 
want of earthy material is evident with more or less 
softening after death. The coat stares, the flanks are 
hollow, the loins narrow, and the whole vertebra develop 
the razor back appearance. The mucous membrane and 
the “white” of the eye, are singularly pale, and the 
creature as a whole is a miserable and profitless being. 
Treatment..—Success attends only upon those cases in 
which the disease is of a recent or slight nature, and 
when fresh air, light, suitable food and freedom from 
cold and damp are ensured, The food should contain 
