THE 
VETERINARIAN, 
VOF.. XLII. 
No. 49(). 
APRIL, 1869. 
Fourth Series. 
No. 172. 
Communications and Cases. 
THE MICROSCOPE IN VETERINARY MEDICINE. 
Bv Professor Brown. 
{Continuedfromp. 77.) 
Disease of the Osseous Tissue of a Goat presenting the general 
character of ‘‘ Mollites OssiumJ’ 
Bone, like other structures of the animal body, is liable 
to certain changes, the result of abnormal conditions. In 
the animals which the veterinary surgeon has especially under 
his care, alterations of bony structure are very frequent; 
but, perhaps, owing in some degree to the physical character 
of the tissue, the various modifications have not been mi¬ 
nutely investigated. Development of bone in excess in many 
situations is well known to us under the term Exostosis. 
Enlargement of particular portions of the skeleton has been 
occasionally met with and described as Hyperostosis.^^ 
Loss of vitality not uncommonly happens to certain of the 
bones, and is distinguished as Necrosis."’^ Decay of bony 
texture is designated Caries.Brittleness from deficiency 
of animal matter is called simply Eragilitas ossium,^’ and 
an unnatural softness from deficiency of earthy constituents 
is known as Mollities ossium."’-’ All these terms relate to 
the obvious physical condition of the morbid parts, and with 
the amount of knowledge which is to be gained by a mere 
eye inspection of them, we have been generally content, 
notwithstanding that the few examinations whieh have 
XLII. 18 
