52 INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS. 



or of small, but repeated, doses of stimulant diuretics, such as 

 various resins, cantharides, &c. It is also a disease due to 

 the introduction of other irritant poisons into the body, and 

 especially of vegetable products possessed of much astringency. 

 The malady is not unfrequent in studs where grooms are 

 encouraged in drugging horses and giving diuretic balls, and 

 other favourite nostrums. 



Symptoms. The malady is characterised by colicky symp- 

 toms and considerable fever. The loins are very tender, and 

 the animal stands with its hind limbs wide apart and stiff, 

 back arched, and has no inclination to lie down. There is 

 a peculiarly stiff gait, and occasionally lameness in one of the 

 limbs. The secretion of urine is very scanty, and so concen- 

 trated that it irritates the bladder, and there are frequent but 

 ineffectual efforts to discharge urine. Sometimes blood and 

 pus are discharged with the urine. The general symptoms 

 increase in severity. The pulse is frequent, and the artery 

 feels wiry under the finger; the mouth is hot and clammy, 

 thirst intense, and bowels constipated. The breathing is 

 frequent but short, and in the latter stages the expired air is 

 very offensive. The skin is dry, coat staring, and in very 

 acute cases there are partial sweats, and a strong urinous 

 odour emitted with the perspiration. 



If the animal is not relieved, signs of exhaustion, listless- 

 ness, and even coma supervene. The animal falls, struggles 

 at intervals, and dies. 



Post-mortem appearances. One kidney is, as a rule, more 

 especially affected. It is enlarged, of a dark colour, and with 

 red streaks or spots of congestion dispersed through its sub- 

 stance. Whenever there is a spotted redness, it is found due 

 to the congested state of the malphigian tufts. Occasionally 

 the inflammation attacks a part of one kidney, and wherever 

 the organ is affected it is found red, with inflammatory 



