to the blood might probably tend to carry further
the materials, which form calcareous or bony particles, or to convey them
in more dilute solution. She took twice a day twenty grains of extract of
bark, twenty grains of soda phosphorata, and ten grams of chalk, and ten of
calcined hartshorn mixed into a powder with ten drops of laudanum; with
flesh food both to dinner and supper; and port wine and water instead of
the small beer, she had been accustomed to; she lay on a sofa frequently in
a day, and occasionally used a neck-swing.

15. _Rachitis._ Rickets. The head is large, protuberant chiefly on the
forepart. The smaller joints are swelled; the ribs depressed; the belly
tumid, with other parts emaciated. This disease from the innutrition or
softness of the bones arose about two centuries ago; seems to have been
half a century in an increasing or spreading state; continued about half a
century at its height, or greatest diffusion; and is now nearly vanished:
which gives reason to hope, that the small-pox, measles, and venereal
disease, which are all of modern production, and have already become
milder, may in process of time vanish from the earth, and perhaps be
succeeded by new ones! See the preceding species.

16. _Spinae distortio._ Distortion of the spine is another disease
originating from the innutrition or softness of the bones. I once saw a
child about six years old with palpitation of heart, and quickness of
respiration, which began to have a curvature of the spine; I then doubted,
whether the palpitation and quick respiration were the cause or consequence
of the curvature of the spine; suspecting either that nature had bent the
spine outwards to give room to the enlarged heart; or that the malformation
of the chest had compressed and impeded the movements of the heart. But a
few weeks ago on attending a young lady about ten years old, whose spine
had lately began to be distorted, with very great difficulty and quickness
of respiration, and alarming palpitation of the heart, I convinced myself,
that the palpitation and difficult respiration were the effect of the
change of the cavity of the chest from the distortion of the spine; and
that the whole was therefore a disease of the innutrition or softness of
the bones.

For on directing her to lie down much in the day, and to take the bark, the
distortion became less, and the palpitation and quick respiration became
less at the same time. After this observatio