As histopathological change common to the three cases examined in the present investigation, it was noticed that the osseous tissue in the cortex of the diaphysis had not reached maturity as yet. Namely, no external basic lamellae had been formed. These changes were very distinct in the postrior parts of the tubular bones, mainly and especially in the middle portion of the diaphysis. In such areas, moreover, the abnormal and irregular development of osseous tissue was sometimes recognized. The osseous tissue was often hyperplastic in the cortex of a part opposite the part showing the abnormal development. This phenomenon must have been caused by a delay in maturity of the osseous tissue. In some bones, the osseous tissue was markedly hyperplastic even in the anterior part of the cortex. One of the authors, YAMAGIWA, and his associates have previously studied the thickleg disease. In their investigation, an irregular formation of intra-medullary bone tissue was recognized in cases No. 3 (White Leghorn, 250 days of age), No. 8 (White Leghorn, 250 days of age), No. 13 (White Leghorn, 250 days of age), and No. 17 ("Goto" Cornish, 435 days of age). In these cases, the birds were much older than those in the present study. Furthermore, in the authors' previous report, part I, on bone dysplasia of chickens, an abnormal, irregular intra-medullary development of osteogenous tissue, or the osseous tissue remaining in an incompletely mature state was observed. The case of autopsy exhibiting such findings were as follows: No. 882 (36 days of age), No. 891 (56 days of age), No. 874 (68 days of age), No. 886 (81 days of age), No. 879 (95 days of age), No. 860 (120 days of age), No. 861 (120 days of age), No. 862 (120 days of age), and No. 863 (120 days of age). In these cases, the birds were also older than those in this study. It seems that the osseous tissue in chicks 32 days of age may have come to maturity at least once. In the authors' previous report, part I, it was confirmed that the osseous tissue had already reached maturity as early as 36 days of age. In the present cases, however, it is thought that a delay in maturity of the osseous tissue may have been brought about by some reason, and that the bone tissue may have developed abnormally and intensely, although such changes occurred limitedly to some areas. Areas exhibiting such changes as mentioned above were found frequent in the cortex of the middle portion of the diaphysis, or in the cortex corresponding to the ossification center near the epiphysis. Clinically, the three cases studied showed deformity of the leg bone, bowleg (genu varum). The origin of this sign may be made clear by such histological changes of the osseous tissue as mentioned above. Namely, it is thought that the unnatural posture, bowleg, has developed, because the bone tissue did not reach such degree of hardness as to be proportional to an increase in weight (broiler chicks begin to exhibit a remarkable increase in weight already at 14 days of age) and that abnormal development progressed in the bone tissue irregulary. In this study, the frequency of occurrence of affected chicks was 16% of the birds of the same group when judged from the outward appearance. Of 192 individuals manifesting the symptoms, only three birds 32 days of age were examined histopathologically. These affected birds showed the same symptoms as mentioned above. Consequently, it may be considered that these affected chicks have occurred collectively on a poultry farm. Judging from the histopathological findings of the osseous tissue, the present cases can be classified into the same category as those at least once studied in the authors'previous report, part I. It must be noticed, however, that no abnormal development has been found out in the epiphyseal osseous tissue in the present cases, different from the authors' previous cases. [the rest omitted]
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