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DISEASES OF THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



femur and tibia chiefly suffer; in horses, the bones of the fore 

 limbs. There is little tendency to union. 4. Softening of the 

 bones is seen, more especially in the flat bones of the head. This 

 happens often in the horse and pig. The face becomes much de- 

 formed, the jaw and facial bones are enlarged and tender, and 

 mastication becomes difficult. The course of the disease is slow, 

 — one to three months — and increasing emaciation, cachexia, and 

 decubitus foreshadow the end. Fractures frequently lead to speedy 

 destruction of the patient. Early treatment often proves curative. 



Treatment. — The use of commercial, phosphatic fertilizers and 

 bone meal on soils has proved a preventive means in the case of cat- 

 tle. The employment of food brought from regions where the di- 

 sease is unknown is desirable. Such foods as corn, oats, oil or cot- 

 tonseed cake, beans, rice, peas, bran and green clover and alfalfa are 

 particularly valuable. It is well to change the pasture and water sup- 

 ply if possible. Phosphorus is the most successful medicine. One- 

 half grain may be given thrice daily to large animals dissolved in 

 a few ounces of cottonseed oil. Cod-liver oil is advised but is 

 too expensive. A powder of bone meal and precipitated calcium 

 phosphate (each, C, §i; Sh. and Sw., oii), together with powdered 

 nux vomica and ferrous sulphate (each, C, 3ii; Sh. and Sw., gr. 

 xx ) may be given on the food thrice daily. Arsenic and quinine 

 have also been recommended. The local treatment of the painful 

 joints is not of much worth, but liniment of turpentine may be ap- 

 plied. There is a curious causative relation between pregnancy 

 and lactation and osteomalacia, so that if cows are not bred and 

 milking is stopped, recovery is greatly facilitated. Ovariotomy ac- 

 complishes the same result. Pica is relieved by subcutaneous injec- 

 tion of apomorphine hydrochloride once a week (C, gr. ii). 



Bossi has recently produced osteomalacia and phosphaturia in 

 sheep by the removal of one suprarenal gland. Conversely he has 

 cured osteomalacia in the human by intramuscular injections of 

 1-1,000 solution of adrenalin in doses of yi to 1 c. c. This de- 



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