ANOMALIES AND DISEASES OF YOUNG PIGS 



217 



to become affected. The disease is of economic importance, because 

 if affected pigs are not properly treated the disease becomes chronic, 

 complications arise, the pigs will not develop and death of a large 

 percentage of the affected animals is not at all unusual. 



Etiology. — Rickets is apparently caused by disturbance of nutri- 

 tion. The specific cause has not been discovered. The condition is 

 the result of insufficient lime salts in the bones. Some have claimed 

 that rickets occurs in animals that consume foods deficient in lime 



Fig. 43. RACHITIS. Showing the general attitude of the animal. Standing 

 on the extreme tips of his toes makes walking difficult. 



salts. Intoxication due to digestive derangements and intestinal para- 

 sitism have also been given credit for producing rickets. Still other 

 investigators have maintained that rickets is due to infection. It is 

 possible that disturbances of some internal secretion may be the cause 

 of rickets. Improper feed and insanitary surrounding are uu- 

 doubtedly predisposing factors that should be taken into considera- 

 tion in the control of the disease. 



Lesions. — The condition is not confined to any particular type or 

 group of bones; however, the lesions are usually most pronounced 



