The mechanical and structural properties of bone in rats on a rachitogenic diet

In earlier investigations of bone strength (Bell, Cuthbertson & Orr, 1941; Bell & Cuthbertson, 1943) it was not found possible to produce changes in the quality of bone material either by reducing the calcium intake or by administering various hormones. Since in these experiments the percentage of ash in all the bones remained relatively constant it was decided to set up further experiments in which the ash content of the bones could be reduced by withholding vitamin D. Estimations of breaking stress as an index of bone quality were to be made at the, end of the experiment, and, in addition, the crystalline structure of the bone material was to be studied by X-ray diffraction technique.