"Hypophosphatasia"

IN VIEW of the complexities of growth of the various parts of the body, it is not surprising that developmental anomalies occur. Those affecting bone often may be recognized early, and we are all conversant with the well known clinical entities of osteogenesis imperfecta and achondroplasia. Recently a case was referred to the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, which belonged in this group of osseous anomalies but presented some unusual findings. REPORT OF A CASE J. S., a boy 3 weeks of age, was admitted to the hospital Dec. 6, 1946 and died on Jan. 21, 1947. He was born at full term on Nov. 14, 1946, following a normal seven hour labor. The child cried spontaneously and weighed 9 pounds 11 ounces (4,394.17 Gm.). In spite of fairly well taken breast feedings, the child lost weight steadily, his weight falling to 7 pounds 5 ounces (3,316.89 Gm.), on admission.