Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/159

* RICKETS. 139 RICOCHET. to and fro). A disease of nutrition, the cliicf feature of which is an alteration in the groulli of the bones by which thej' lioeome enhir^ed at their extremities and so soft that they are bent and distorted by niusenlar aetion and the weiglit of the body. It is essentially a disease of cliil- dren, oeeurrins; as a rub' between the ajjes of nne and two years. The causes are improper and in- sufficient food, and bad hygienic surroundings. The faults of diet from which infants are likely to develop rickets are: (1) deficient quality of milk from ill health, and malnutrition of the nursing mother or unduly prolonged lactation; (i) the substitution for the mother's milk of artificial foods which contain a high percentage of starch and too little fatty and proteid matter. The symptoms develop gradually and almost imperceptibly. The child is restless at night and during sleep perspires profusely about the head _ and neck. It is very sensitive to pressure upon the limbs, often screaming when merely touched. The muscles are soft and tlabby and gastric indi- gestion and intestinal disturbances set in, ac- companied by swelling of the abdomen and colic. Characteristic and remarkable changes in the bones develop. The joints become thickened, and nodules form at the junction of the ribs with the costal cartilages, constituting what is called the 'rosary' or 'beading of the ribs.' Defective ossi- fication is also .seen in the skull, where the fonta- nelles are large and slow in closing. The teeth do not appear until the eleventh or twelfth month, instead of the sixth or seventh, and pre- sent many irregularities in the order of their eruption. As the disease progresses the bones grow softer and various deformities of the head, spine, limbs, chest, and pelvis are brought aljout by muscular contraction and the superincumbent weight of the body. The child becomes 'pigeon- breasted' and bow-legged. (See Leg.) The ner- vous system may be seriously afi'ected, and rick- ety children are peculiarly liable to convulsions, and a spasmodic ali'ection of the larynx known as laryngismus stri(Juli(s. Rickets is a recoverable disease in the sense that it does not directly cause death and the process of bone-softening ceases after a time, al- though it may have produced permanent de- formity. Rickety children are especially prone to severe bronchitic attacks by which death is often brought about. The treatment is essential- ly hygienic and dietetic. The child should be suitably clothed, and receive an abundant supply of fresh air and proper food. Starchy materials, for the digestion of which the infant's secretions are not yet prepared, should be excluded from the diet, and cow's milk, to which lime water and a little cream may be added, should constitute the sole food. As the infant approaches the second year, beef juice, chicken broth, or gravy may be added to the dietary, and at a later age a little meat, eggs, and custard may be given. The most valuable medicine is cod-liver oil. given two or three times a day after a meal, in doses propor- tioned to the child's age. Phosphorus, syrup of the iodide of iron, and preparations of lime such as the lacto-phosphate are also of value in certain cases. Yhile the bones are soft walk- ing should be discouraged. Deformities of the limbs remaining after the disease is cured may, if extreme, be remedied by surgical pro- cedures. Vol. XVtI.— lu. RICK'ETTS, .I.MES Brewkrtox {1817-37). An American soldier, born in New Vork Cilv. He griukiated at West Point in 18.'i!l, and after re- ceiving his eonunissioM as lieutenant of artlllerv served in the Jlexiean War. At the outbreak o'f the Civil War he participated in the defense of Washington and at Rull Run (.July 21, 1801) was wounded and taken prisoner. On liis release eight montlis later, he returned to duty with the grade of brigadier-general and took part in the second battle of Rull Run. Later lie led a di- vision in the Virginia and Maryland campaigns, and at Antietani lost a third of his troops. He participated in the Virginia campaign in the spring of 1864, but in ,Iuly was onlered north to join in the defense of Washington, which was then threatened by General Karly, and partici- pated, under Sheridan, in the pursuit of Karly through the Shenandoah Valley. At Cedar Creek (October 19, 1804), where he coninianded a corps, he received a wound which disabled him for the winter. He was lirevetted major- general in the Regular Army March 13, I8ti.5, and from July, 1805, until April. 1800, when he v;is mustered out of the volunteer service, he commanded a district in Virginia. In .January, 1807, he was retired from the regular service with the rank of major-general. RICK'MAN", TiioMA.s (1770-?). An English architect and writer on architecture. He was professor of architecture in the Liverpool Acad- emy, and is chiefly known from the fact that in his work. Attempt to Diserimiiiatc the iStylc.i of Architecture in England from the Von<iwsi to the Reformation ( 1817 ), he first gave to the jieriods of English mediaeval architecture the names Nor- man, Early English, Decorated, and Perpendicu- lar, which have been used ever since. RICO, re'ko, iLvRTiN (c.l850— ). A Spanish landscape and marine painter, born in Madrid. He was a juipil of Federieo de iladrazo in Madrid, where he obtained a scholarship which enabled him to study in Paris and Rome. There are two representative works by him in the Metropolitan Museum, Xew York City. "The Grand Canal, Venice." and an "Italian Garden." He painted in the manner of Fortuiiy. His pic- tures have fine architectural backgrounds, and his color is brilliant and pleasing. He received a second-class medal at the Paris Exposition of 1881.1, and the Legion of Honor in 1878. RICOCHET, rik'6-sha' (of uncertain etymol- ogy). In military fire tactics, this term descrilies a method of gun fire, in which the gun is fired at a low angle, and the missile rebounds from the flat surface over which it is traveling. In shelter trenches, rifle pits, redoubts, and other field forti- fications rocks and stones are very carefully cov- ered with earth to avoid the possibility of ilellect- ing the enemy's fire. It has been found that many of^the more "serious ritle-shot wiunids inflicted on both sides during the British-Roer War of 18!)!)- 1002 were the result of accidental ricochet fire, and not of explosive or duni-dum bullets, as at first charged. When spherical projectiles were used in naval guns they were allowed to strike short and ricochet rather than run any risk of going over the enemv. for sjihcrical projectiles are not deflected laterally by striking the surface of water at a low angle, nor do they tend to rise after ricochet. Rifled projectiles are sharply de- I