OSTEITIS DEFORMANS IN MONKEYS

Abstract

Osteitis deformans, or Paget's disease, is a chronic constitutional process usually involving all the bones of the adult skeleton. It affects most severely the bones of the cranial vault and the long bones of the extremities. In contrast, the small bones of the face, hands, feet and joints are little, or not at all, involved. It is characterized by extensive absorption of compact bone and an excessive production of abnormal bone substance, fibro-osteoid tissue which, while soft and spongy, shows on roentgen-ray examination a definite calcification, and on chemical analysis a high calcium and inorganic content. Paget¹ described this condition in 1876 in a paper that is still the most impressive on record. Following his communication many single and groups of cases were reported, until today approximately 350 cases are on record. As a fully developed entity it is still, however, classed among the rarer diseases of mankind. Jefferson Hospital