MOLLITIES OSSIUM, OR OSTEOMALACIA.
Bossi, finding that the removal of one suprarenal capsule in the sheep was followed by softening and brittleness of the bones, has tried Adrenalin injections in human usteomalacia and reports complete cure. If this result he confirmed much of the mystery in the pathology and treatment NVIII he cleared up. Phosphorus has been extensively tried and found valueless except as a palliative when employed with Cod-Liver Oil in cases where the disease occurs during prolonged lactation. The disease is often associated with pregnancy, as in Puerperal Osteomalacia, so frequently seen in its endemic form in the Valley of the Rhine, and the question of inducing very early labour will often thrust itself upon the physician, though the fact must not he lost sight of that where the disease is still in progress the pelvis is almost certain to be dilatable. Unfortunately, however, if the gestation he permitted to go to full time the pelvic outlet may be found dilatable, whilst the brim is unyielding, in which case Caesarean section may he demanded. After delivery it has been recom
mended and successfully carried out that both ovaries should he removed in order to arrest the disease which is certain to rapidly advance if preg nancy again occurs. By performing Porro's modification of the Caesarean section the body of the uterus and appendages are removed after the extraction of the child, the placenta being taken away in situ along with the body of the uterus, so that a second operation is unnecessary.
Oophorectomy has been occasionally successfully performed indepen dent of pregnancy when the disease in a well-marked form has attacked girls at puberty, but often it has signally failed under such circumstances.