488 VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS. 
were frequently seen by Germain. After a certain length of time, the 
maxillaries become thick ; the face is swollen, its normal shape gives place 
to a more or less marked enlargement. Respiration and specially masti- 
cation becomes difficult. The subject dies in, a state of marasmus. The 
different bones of the legs do not present any malformation during the 
life of the animal. In cattle, the head is rarely affected; the legs are, 
more commonly, and on that account the animal assumes the decubital 
position. With a capricious and diminished appetite, there is paresis of 
the hind legs, perhaps fractures of their bones may occur ; but it is excep- 
tional to meet with their softening or their deformation. 
The causes of these pathological conditions are about identical. A fact 
commonly noticed in bovines, is, that the disease attacks, ordinarily, ex- 
clusively cows in gestation or in full lactation ; which is attributed to the 
great deposition of lime salts demanded by the skeleton of the foetus. 
and the production of milk. Males are almost never affected. Another 
fact, as common, is the localization of the affection to some countries. It 
is invariably in regions where the ground is poor in phosphate of lime 
that the disease occurs. Cantiget has published the analyses of various 
soils, which are very demonstrative : 
Soil where cachexia Is at times Where it is. 
does not exist. prevailing. frequent. 
WItHOSEN i 0.5 asin veiorrnsrernine 7.184 3076 to 2164 3016 
Phosphoric acid........... 4.048 1280 to 1.32 940 , 
POtasslaicwsewswnorngree ss 14.688 5100 to 5.032 1.464 
TAME! 2a getetawe tase anaeuse 245.952 1.0752 to 2.5872 ‘9.148 
Inquiries as to the quantity of phosphoric acid contained in hay grown 
on each of those soils gives the following result : 
1st. 2 kilog. 500 gr. of hay from a soil where cachexia is frequent give 
about 170 grams of ashes containing 2 grams p. 100 of phosphoric acid ; 
’ ad. The same quantity of hay from soil where the disease is rare, gives 
about the same quantity of ashes, but 2 gr. 70 and 2g gr. 80 p. 100 of 
phosphoric acid are found ; 
_ 3d. From the soil free from the disease, there are less ashes (145 to 
150 grams), but those contain 3 gr. 85 p. 100 of phosphoric acid. 
These analyses, as weil as the results of the intervention they have given. 
rise to, show evidently that poverty of soil and hay in phosphates is the 
producing cause of bony cachexia. Hence, the indications to supply the 
soil with calcareous salts and specially with chemical manures rich in 
phosphates and superphosphates. The experiment needs no longer to 
be made ; it has been carried out by many practitioners, who all have seen 
the disease disappear. Youth, gestation, lactation are only predisposing 
