32 
GEORGE C. FAYILLE. 
imperfectly masticated. The teeth seemed sore, although the 
gums showed no inflammation. About the middle of June 
she died, and I made a post mortem examination. 
The only lesions I could find were in the osseous system. 
The superior maxillary, nasal, and turbinated bones were 
greatly thickened. The periosteum was easily separated, and 
the whole bone was soft and spongy; I could readily press a 
small scalpel into the substance of the bone at any point. I 
made an attempt to clean them by boiling. I found them so 
soft I could keep them in no way except in alcohol. They 
seemed to have completely lost their osseous character. 
I found the long bones at their extremities showing the 
same condition to a greater or less extent. This case in its 
symptoms and development was typical of the disease as I 
have seen it. I carefully studied the condition under which 
this colt was kept. The food was of the best, good hay and 
grass, with a daily run at pasture during good weather, and 
dry, well-ventilated stabling at night and during bad weather. 
Every attention was given her in the hopes of producing a 
speedy mare. I can account for this case in no way except 
by assuming that there was some fault with the process of 
assimilation. Evidently all the necessary elements for bone 
formation were present in the food. Other colts, the same 
age, kept under the same conditions and fed in the same way, 
are thrifty and developing nicely. The digestive functions 
seemed to be perfectly performed. There certainly, in this 
case, was not—in fact 1 have never known of a case where 
there was—anything to indicate a hereditary diathesis. Un¬ 
doubtedly the material necessary for complete bone formation 
was present and in proper proportion for assimilation, but 
either are not assimilated, or, by some occult action after as¬ 
similation, are re-absorbed. 
In order to get the various views of our members, I pre¬ 
pared a series of questions regarding this disease which I 
sent to each member. Several replied that they had never 
seen cases of this disease in their practice in this State. 
The questions asked were as follows: 
ist. To what extent have you observed osteoporosis in 
this State ? 
