The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-02
BONES TURN TO JELLY.
A Very Peculiar Disease Which Il Seldom
Arrested.


Arrested.
MoIlities ossium, oSteomaiacia and
malacosteon are the formidable sound
ing names by which very peculiar s.
ease is technically known. To simplify
matters, and at the same time prove oe-
scriptive, the disease has very aptly
been called "jelly-bone disease"
The disorder Is of a constitutional
nature and is characterized by the
gradual softening of the bone sub
stance, thus rendering it liable to be
bent or broken with the greatest ease.
1t is as rare as il is extraordinary.
Very little is definitely known about it.
In some cases hereditary predispo-
sition has been traced. 1t occurs much
more frequently in females than in
males (the proportion is about twelve
to one) and is disease of adult life 1t
usually affects people between 30 and
so years old.
The popularity of the, disease is that
the inner portion of the bone, that is,
the marrow, is gradually destroyed or
converted into jelly-hke substance
The process extends from the mar
row outward, and gradually destroys
the solid or compact portion OF the
bone, until nothing but mere shell Is
left. When this happens there is great
danger of fractures, a simple muscular
contraction sometimes being sufficient
TO fracture large bone.
When the entire bone Is involved and
the softening process is complete, the
hone may be tied in q knot, the same
as a bone which has been decalcified
by macerting it in muriatic acid.
A celebrated case occurred in Eng
land several years ago. Upon post
mortem examination it was found tnat
both thigh bones could be bent and
twisted as If they were rubber.
A person afflicted with this disease
Is practically helpless, as there is
great danger of fractures or distortion
of bones. The principal theories ad-
-anced Us to the cause of this disease
ere an impoverished and acid condition
of the blood, laotic, carbonic or phos-
shoric aoid in the system, which dis
aolves the lime salts out of the bone
and produces the condition from which
the disease derives its name.
Another theory as to the cause, and
one which is more or less supported
by statistics, is that people who live
among filthy surroundings (the condi-
tons which predispose TO typhus and
other filth diseases) are much more
liable to this disease than those whose
sanitary environment is of a higher OF
DER.
Stale fruit, vegetables and other ar
ticles of diet are said to play an i'm
portant part in causing the disease.
A very peculiar feature Of this dis
ease is that, unlike cancer and other
bone diseases which usually attack one
bone, it attacks many bones-in fact,
the entire skeleton is more or less in
volved
There are eases recorded where peo-
pie have apparently been in the best OF
health 70 the last.
In these cases the disease is not the
actual cause of death. The change in
the bones progresses until finally the
ribs become so soft that as result of
atmospheric pressure the heart and
breathing apparatus are embraced,
thus putting an end to the patiently
existence.
Although the disease is usually con-
sidered incurable, there ore exceptions
10 this rule, and cures have been report
ed. The cases, however, were all reccg-
pized in the very early stages of the
disease.
One observer who reported a cure
said that preparations of lime, cod-liver
oil and good diet go far toward i'm
proving the condition and sometimes
effecting a cure, provided the disease
has not made too much Roadway.
When patient RECEIVERS there is al
ways loss Of stature.-N. Y. Herald.