The internal softening and rarefaction of bones in mature animals has
been noted in dogs by Pillvax and Röll, in lambs by Haubner, in pigs by
Haubner and Anaker, and in goats by different observers. The genuineness
of these cases has been questioned by Cadiot and Leclainche, by Virchow
and by others, but in the present uncertainty as to the dividing lines
between rarefaction, rachitis and other diseases, they deserve notice in
this connection.
In _dogs_ the lesions are mostly in the young and are largely rachitic,
yet the enormous swelling of the facial bones, and especially of the
superior maxillary in the comparatively mature animal suggests
osteo-malacia. As in rachitis there are usually impaired digestion,
unthriftiness, slow, stiff movements and lack of life and vigor.
In _goats_ Virchow believes the disease to be neither rachitic nor
osteo-malacia, basing his opinion on the lesions in the bones: “On the
maxillary bones of goats there are often found peculiar formations in
which the parts that have already assumed osseous structure, have failed
to fix the earthy salts. The tumor, which forms a circumscribed swelling
on the upper or lower maxillary bone, is soft and easily cut with the
scalpel, with at certain points only, a hard resistant material. It is a
simple osteoid chondroma, though veterinarians for some reason associate
it with rheumatism.” Profuse salivation is present.
In _lambs_ it is according to Haubner an atrophy with destructive
ulceration of the bones of the face, complicated by purulent
infiltration of the medullary spaces. “The incisors, and later the
molars, fall one by one, because of the changes in the alveoli, the gums
swell, become violet, red, and ulcerate, the ulcers extending through
the hard palate into the nose, and causing a highly offensive discharge
from both nose and mouth.
In _pigs_ the disease has been mainly seen in connection with
insufficient or unwholesome food, and badly balanced rations, and
especially with fermented swill and an exclusive maize diet. The
symptoms are shown in the limbs and face, especially (“snuffles”), as
noted under rachitis.
_Prevention and treatment_ are to be sought in avoidance of the obvious
causes, and in applying the same line of tonic treatment as in the
larger animals.