530 



Scientific Proceedings (132) 



amined. There was irregularity in the calcification, with the 

 spaces rilled with granulation tissue, hemorrhage, and separated 

 areas of degenerated cartilage cells. There were what appeared 

 as subperiosteal hemorrhages on the pleural surface of the ribs 

 in one pig. Histologically, however, there was in this area a 

 proliferation of tissue with apparent formation of osteoid tissue. 



The kidneys showed hyperemia of the glomeruli, albumin casts 

 in the convoluted tubules with slight cloudy swellings, dilation 

 of the collecting tubules, with lymphocytes and fibroblasts be- 

 tween the tubules in the zona radiata of the cortex. Routine 

 clinical examinations of the blood showed no leucocytosis and 

 no anemia. The dilation of the collecting tubules in the kidneys 

 was most likely due to retention of urine for long periods, on 

 account of inability to rise. The renal condition suggested a pos- 

 sibility that the animals were poorly housed. The fact that the 

 condition was corrected by feeding alfalfa shows that the etiol- 

 ogy is to be looked for in the diet. 



It is quite evident that lack of minerals was concerned with 

 the development of the trouble in the summer of 1922, and the 

 fact that cod liver oil as well as added minerals cured, suggests 

 rickets as the specific trouble. On the other hand, the large num- 

 ber of cases of trouble produced in the winter of 1922-23, de- 

 spite added lime and phosphorus, indicates that a mere lack of 

 them is not the only factor involved. The constancy of hemor- 

 rhage found on histological study suggests the possibility ot 

 scurvy being concerned. However, the bone lesions also indi- 

 cated a deficiency of calcium assimilation suggestive of rickets. 

 It seems possible that both of these specific diseases may be con- 

 cerned in the external symptoms noted. 



