Lines of Arrested Growth in the Long Bones in Childhood: the Correlation of Histological and Radiographic Appearances in Clinical and Experimental Conditions

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Abstract
Routine radiographic examination of a large number of still-born children occasionally reveals certain transverse lines in the metaphyses of the long bones. Four such cases (Fig. 19, a, b, c, and Fig. 20), are shown indicating that these lines of arrested growtth afford evidence of unknown conditions which must have interfered with the growth of the foetus. Ante-partum hæmorrhage, acute illness in the mother, intoxication from abortifacient drugs or many such causes might disturb the nutrition of the foetus. Fortunately, in one case presenting ante-natal lines of arrested growth it has been possible to obtain an accurate causal history. A mother was admitted to the ante-natal clinic with a history of four previous pregnancies. The first yielded a full-time child now alive and well. The second resulted in a babe born near term, but death supervened at the seventh month. During this pregnancy the mother had a cutaneous rash, sore throat, and syphilitic sores for which she received intravenous antisyphilitic medication. The third and fourth pregnancies terminated in the abortion of premature macerated foetuses. When seen during the fifth pregnancy the mother presented a positive Wassermann reaction and was placed on active antisyphilitic treatment consisting of the intravenous injection of novarsenobenzol over a period of eight weeks. A still-born foetus was delivered at the thirty-sixth week. The radiograms of the bones of the still-born babe (Fig. 20) show the progress of the disease in the fœtus in a unique manner.

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