■ REMARKS ON OSTEO-POROSIS. 
211 
REMARKS ON OSTEO-POROSIS. 
By N. B. Rhodes, D.V.S., Tampa, Florida. 
To the Editor of the A merican Veterinary Review : 
Early in the winter of 1893-4 the idea began to take pos¬ 
session of my mind that the dreaded disease, Osteo-porosis, was 
due to micro-organism. I came in contact with an alarming 
number of animals suffering with this malady, both in the horse 
and mule. In some cases the disease would attack an animal 
and run its course to a fatal termination in a very short time, 
say two to four months. Other cases would linger on for 
months, with occasional periods in which the animal would 
seem to improve, then the disease would seem to take a fresh 
hold, and progress with renewed energy to a fatal termination ; 
in some rare cases the disease would seem to be checked, or 
held in abeyance, as it were, the animal doing moderate slow 
work all the while, with little or no show of discomfort. 
Carefully investigating numerous cases, I found that scarcely, 
without exception, these animals showed more or less febrile 
disturbances, the temperature never reaching a very high point, 
but nearly constant. I think 102 3-5 0 F. is the highest point in 
my record. One to two degrees is about the average. Early in 
the spring of 94 I was called to see a horse, some twelve miles 
west of the town, belonging to a widow lady. It was a case of 
Osteo-porosis in an advanced or inflammatory stage. I advised 
the destruction of the animal; a week later the horse was de¬ 
stroyed, and the lady came to town to purchase another, and 
secured my service in examination for soundness. A beautiful 
bay gelding, six years old, was selected, and found to be sound 
after a very thorough examination and severe test. This horse 
was given the same stable that the previous one occupied, and 
in three months had contracted “ Big Head.” This horse was 
traded for another, placed in the same stable, and he also con¬ 
tracted the disease. This animal was disposed of, the stable 
