9 Dec, 1907.] Diseases of Farm Animals. 7^5 



DISEASES OF FARM ANIMALS. 



5. S. Cameron, M .R.C .V .S.. Chief Veterinary Officer. 

 {Continued from page 649.) 

 DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS. 



Kidney Diseases : — Inflammation or Nephritis — Renal abcess- — Renal calculus. 

 Bladder Affections : — Inflammation or cystitis — Spasm of neck of bladder — 

 Gravel and bladder calculus — -Enlargement of prostate gland. Stone in the sheath 

 (Preputial calculus). Retention of urine — Bloody urine — Thick urine. 



Diseases of the kidneys are comparatively rare in the lower animals. 

 Thev are affected occasionally as a result of some other disease; for instance, 

 their activity may be increased beyond normal limits in affections of the 

 liver when they take on the function of excreting from the blood various 

 matters that are usually excreted in the bile; but, excepting nephritis and 

 renal ab.scess and calculi, the kidnevs are not prone to disease, and even 

 those mentioned are rare. 



KIDNEY DISEASES. 



Inflammation of the Kidneys (Nephritis). 



Although inflanrmation of the kidneys is a common diagnosis for obscure 

 lameness, and also in cases of colic and of partial loss of power in the 

 hind extremities, in point of fact it seldom occurs except as the result of 

 the administration of excessive dose of diuretic or staling medicine given 

 ignorantly with the object of " clearing the water." Odd cases have been 

 recorded as following on the blistering of a large skin surface, through the 

 irritation produced bv the absorption of cantharidine, the active principle 

 of a fly blister. 



Symptoms. — The active symptoms simulate those of colic, with total 

 suppression or diminution in amount of urine ; but, contrary to his action 

 in colic, the horse stands continuously, arches his back a great deal and 

 straddles stifily on being moved. Later on there may be unconsciousness, 

 convulsions, and other signs of ureamic poisoning. 



Treatment. — The liver, bowels and skin should be got to act fully by 

 the giving of purgatives and diaphoretics. Hot fomentations to the loins 

 and warm clothing of the body and limbs will be beneficial in distributing 

 the cinculation. Ten-drop doses of tincture of aconite may be given as a 

 febrifuge. To relieve the pain, which is at times intense, hypodermic 

 injections of morphia mav be given. 



Renal Abscess. 



Abscesses may occur in the kidne\ from pysemia. They are occasion- 

 ally seen in sheep affected with multiple abscesses, but they appear to 

 occasion few ill effects and no marked symptoms are shown. 



Renal Calculus. 



Stone in the kidney is occasionally found in horses and cattle, but dogs 

 and sheep appear to be most prone to it. The calculus usually forms in 

 the pelvis of the kidney, gradually increasing in size through the accretion 

 of salts deposited from the urine. As it grows it assumes the shape of the 

 cavity in which it lies, having projections on the surface corresponding to 



