Mollities ossium : (malakosteon, osteo-malacia, osteo-sarcosis, Knochen-Erweichung, rachitismus adultorum, rickets, or softening of the bones in the adult) / by Joseph Jones.

Jones, Joseph, 1833-1896.

Date:: 1869

Credit: Mollities ossium : (malakosteon, osteo-malacia, osteo-sarcosis, Knochen-Erweichung, rachitismus adultorum, rickets, or softening of the bones in the adult) / by Joseph Jones. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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$4S only very slowly, precisely the contrary was the case in the family above mentioned; for in every instance that occurred in it the fracture was very speedily consolidated, so that generally the callus was pei fectly firm at the end of three weelcs. When the same bone has been broken a second time, it has never occurred at the seat of the callus.1 We are justified by these cases in assuming the position that there is a state of the osseous system correctly indicated by the term fragilitas ossium, which cannot be referred to the syphilitic, scrofulous, or cancerous cachexia, and which exists with perfect health, and the repeated fractures are rapidly united by callus. CHAPTER IV. RELATIONS OF MOLLIFIES OSSIUM TO RICKETS (RACHITIS). Upon a superficial view, rickets and mollities ossium appear to be closely connected on account of the flexibility of the bones and the fractures upon slight causes which characterize both diseases. Some authors, led by these general resemblances, have regarded the latter disease as rickets attacking the adult. A careful analysis and comparison of the phenomena of the two diseases, however, will show that the resemblances of the two affections are far exceeded by their differences. A deficiency, actual and relative, of phosphate of lime in the osseous system, characterizes both mollities ossium and rickets; in the former, however, the skeleton, originally normal in structure, loses its earthy matter, becoming fragile, soft, and pliable; in the latter, the osseous structure is abnormal from the first or from an early age. Gubrin found that of 346 cases of rickets, 209 were affected between the first and third year, these were congenital; 84 occurred between the ages of four and twelve; 148 were males and 198 females. Cases of congenital rachitis have been mentioned by Hippocrates and other writers. 1 Dublin Hospital Gazette, Feb. 1st. 1S46. Ranking’s Half-Yearly Abstract,$