648 
DISEASE OF OSSEOUS TISSUE IN THE HORSE. 
which is soluble, and of course more readily acted on by the 
absorbents. 
“ It is not improbable that this is the first link in the 
chain of morbid action in some cases, where there is no 
original deficiency of the earthy salts. That there is no 
want of materia] in the system is shown by the undue se¬ 
cretion of phosphates by the kidneys under rachitis.” 
Thus we see the theories of these two great pathologists 
are to a certain extent allied. That of Monro, how r ever, is 
advanced, as far as the chemistry of the question is con¬ 
cerned. 
It may be interesting to some of our readers if we give the 
analysis of healthy bone, as well as that in an abnormal, 
softened condition. The following is the analysis of adult 
human healthy bone, by Lehman , (Holden’s f Osteology.’) 
Animal matter . . . .33 per cent. 
Earthy matter . . . . 67 „ 
100 
Analysis of the humerus of a healthy cart-horse, aged six 
years, by Yon Bibra. See vol. ii, page 403, Simon’s c Animal 
Chemistry.’ 
Earthy matter ..... 67*39 
Animal matter . . . . .32*61 
100 * 
The following analysis of a scapula, softened by rickets, 
is from vol. iii, page 181, of Rokitansky’s c Pathological 
Anatomy.’ 
Animal matter . 
Earthy matter . 
Analysis of a rickety bone, by Dr. 
c Osteology.’) 
Animal matter . 
Earthy matter .... 
It will be seen that the proportional differences in healthy 
bone, as compared with bone softened by rickets, is very 
great 5 and I have no hesitation in asseiting that some of 
the bones of the horses in question approximate in their 
proportional deficiency of earthy matter to these analyses. 
We regret that the urine was not examined from time to 
. 81*12 
. 18-88 
100 * 
Bosbek, (Holden’s 
. 79-75 
. 20-25 
100 * 
