ANOMALIES AND DISEASES OP YOUNG PIGS 



219 



ilar bony enlargements may also occur elsewhere. The bulging of 

 the long bones of the front legs exerts undue pressure upon the ribs, 

 which results in disturbed respiration, and the vertebral column is 

 variously curved, upward, downward, or laterally. 



This disease is of a chronic nature and continues for months unless 

 death intervenes eai'ly, which is exceptional. Diagnosis is not difficult 

 after the changes in the bones are evident, while the chronic nature 

 of rickets is sufficient to differentiate this condition from articular 

 rheumatism. Tuberculous osteitis is differentiated from rickets by 



Fig. 45. RACHITIS. This illustration shows clearly the attitude of standing 

 far over on the toes, particularly of the front feet. 



the limited infection and the less extensive .tumefaction, and lack of 

 density of the affected bones. 



Rickets should be differentiated from paralysis due to disorder of 

 nerve-tissue, see page 267, and osteomalacia, see page 232. 



Treatment. — Treatment of rachitic swine is advised only in the 

 early stages of the disease. Those in the advanced stages should be 

 destroyed. The first thing to do is to place the animals in sanitarj'- 

 quarters, then medicinal treatment consists of administering lime in 

 some form. Prepared chalk may be used. Bone meal is also of 



