I 
OSTEOPOROSIS. 
43 
appears, very easily gives rise to errors which may do the practitioners 
more harm than if the case had never rallied, referring to the com¬ 
plexity of the symptoms. The prognosis necessarily demands caution 
inasmuch that the character of the disease is more mild in some years 
than in others, also that those attacked in the beginning or middle of 
the winter do not have the same prospect of recovery, as those which 
fall the victim thereof towards spring. Lumbago has with but few 
exceptions—fatal consequences. Shoulder and hip lameness of the 
same type are very often restored. I may here mention that not a 
very few consider this ailment irrecoverable. 
Treatment. Change of food and locality; when circumstances 
are admissible I commend to have the animal run at large, where they 
have the opportunity to nibble at earth and eat grass even if it has no 
nutrient properties; in addition to the young tender grass, the warm 
spring atmosphere lias the power of exerting such curative influences, 
that those animals under these hygienic advantages with but few 
exceptions become serviceable. Spine, hip, or shoulder lameness are 
very readily dispersed, by applications of irritating liniments and 
salves, but very apt to make their appearance in other articulations; 
those having spine affection must be supported by slings; if the 
location of pain is in the coffin joint, I have a blister applied around 
the foot from the coronary band to metacarpo phalangeal articulation. 
When rupture of the flexor tendons has taken place the animal is des¬ 
troyed. An application of blistering salve, with iodide of potass, or 
biniodide of mercury salve has proved beneficial in checking the 
growth or effecting a partial reduction of the maxillary bone. 
Internally I administer for anorexia and partial constipation a 
purgative of pulv. aloes 10 to 11 drs., and calomel 2 drs., or pulv. aloes 
lOdrs., podophylin 30 grs. If the evacuation of the bowels after the 
purge has assumed a normal consistency, I follow up with the compound 
of P. Rad gentian, P. aloes P. sem. colchic, and resin pini; the rheumatic 
type of the lameness and impaired functions of the kidneys persuades me 
to select these ingredients. 1 must however acknowledge that I have not 
as yet obtained any satisfactory results; I ignore all specific remedies 
which would tend to arrest the pathological process going on in the 
bones. Iodide of potass so highly recommended by some, is, on account 
of the anorexia and impaired nutrition it produces, inadmissable. 
Owing to its numerous complications this ailment will never admit to 
a mode of cure which would answer in all its phases. 
