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BONK DISORDER IN COWS. 
BONE DISORDER IN COWS. 
We have frequently seen accounts, in various papers, of 
“ bone disorder in milch cows.” The bony structure of ani¬ 
mals is composed of vital solids studded with crystallisations 
of saline carbonates and phosphates, and is liable to take on 
morbid action similar to other textures. Disease of the bones 
may originate constitutionally, or from derangement of the 
digestive organs. We have, for example, mollifies ossium , 
(softening of the bones.) The disease, however, is very rare. 
It may be known by the substance of the bones being soft 
and yielding, liable to bend with small force. 
We have also fragilitas ossium , (brittleness of bones.) This 
is characterised by the bony system being of a friable nature, 
and liable to be fractured by slight force. We have in our 
possession the fragments of the small pastern of a horse, the 
bone having been broken into seventeen pieces by a slight 
concussion, without any apparent injury to the skin and 
cellular substance: not the slightest external injury could be 
perceived. 
.There are several other diseases of the bones which, we 
presume, our readers are acquainted with; such as exostosis , 
caries , &c., neither of which applies to the malady under con¬ 
sideration. We merely mention these for the purpose of 
showing that the bones are not exempt from disease any 
more than other structures; yet it does not always follow, 
that a “ lack of the phosphate of lime in cow’s milk is a sure 
sign of diseased bones.” 
Reader, we do not like the term “ bone disorder:” it does 
not throw the least light on the nature of the malady; it 
savours too much of “horn ail” “tail ail” —terms which 
only apply to symptoms. We are told also that, in this dis¬ 
ease, “ the bones threaten to cave in — have wasted away” If 
they do threaten to cave in, the best way we know of to give 
them an outward direction is, to promote the healthy secre¬ 
tions and excretions by a well-regulated diet, and to stimulate 
the digestive organs to healthy action. If the bones “ have 
wasted away,” we should like to have a few of them in our 
collection of morbid anatomy. That the bones should waste 
away, and be capable of assuming their original shape simply 
by feeding bone meal, is something never dreamt of in our 
philosophy.* Besides, if the cows get well, (we are told, they 
* Whenever there is a deficiency of carbon, bone meal may assist to snpport 
combustion in the lungs, and by that means restore healthy action of the different 
