Distal Foreleg Curvature in the Rabbit I . Manifestations and Course of the Bowing Deformity: Genetic Studies by Louise Pearce,* M.d

Among the morbid conditions of the rabbit observed in a breeding colony maintained for the study of constitutional factors in health and disease (1), bone abnormalities of various types were observed and certain of them were found to have an hereditary basis. The manifestations of the conditions varied greatly. In achondroplasia (2) and osteopetrosis (3), for example, there were widespread bone involvement and an early fatal outcome whereas in oxycephaly (4) the comparatively minor skeletal changes were limited in distribution and general health was well maintained. One of the less severe hereditary abnormalities described in this paper (5) comprised a "bowing" deformity of the lower or distal segment of the forelegs. The convexity of the curvature was directed inward toward the trunk, and the paws were held in a seal-like or "flipper" position pointing outwards away from the body. The condition was first observed in a family of pure bred Beveren rabbits and a little later in certain pure bred Belgian and French Silver stocks; several years afterwards it occurred in recently purchased Dutch stock. I t was not observed in other families of these four breeds or in some fifteen other pure breeds, or in a very large number of hybrid and mongrel rabbits examined over a period of twenty years. A brief description of the condition has previously been made (6). 1