622 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 



Independent of the local lesions found in these two cases 

 there are general lesions characterized by the easy detach- 

 ment of the periosteum and a dark, reddish-blue color of 

 the bones beneath it. These lesions are the result of a gen- 

 eral morbid process that belongs more to clinical pathology 

 than to surgery, although in these cases there is no deforma- 

 tion in the bones of the head. 



2. Fractures. Fractures occurring without a percep- 

 tible cause, or even those due to accidents, are very fre- 

 quently due to osteoporosis. Formerly, it was admitted 

 that fracture may result from a previous osseous alteration, 

 but up to the present time it was supposed that the altera- 

 tion was limited to the bones fractured. The latest ideas 

 on this subject are furnished by Vivien and Marcone, who 

 attest the existence of a general osteitis of a diffuse and 

 rarefying character, of all of the bones of the skeleton. 

 When the morbid process in a bone reaches a state in which 

 its resistance is not equal to the required strength it will 

 fracture or its ligaments and tendons will detach. The 

 shape, strength or inclination of a bone may predispose to- 

 ward fracture, but the osteitis responsible for the accident 

 affects the fractured bone exclusively. The entire skeleton 

 presents the very same alterations in most cases, and the 

 mechanical forces produce the fractures at the predisposed 

 points. 



The most susceptible bones are the lumbar vertebrae, 

 the ribs and the metacarpals, but the fragility may manifest 

 itself by numerous fractures. In a case reported by Baits, 

 fractures in the course of repair were found in the eighth 

 and ninth ribs, and new fractures of all the ribs from the 

 eighth to the fourteenth. Marcone observed a fracture of 

 the ninth, tenth and thirteenth ribs on the right side. We 

 have observed analogous cases, and Blanc noticed numer- 

 ous fractures of most of the ribs resulting from a probable 

 osteoporosis. 



