THE KIDNEYS. 311 



JAUNDICE, 



Commonly called THE YELLOWS, is a more frequent, but more tractable dis- 

 ease. It is the introduction of bile into the general circulation. This is usually 

 caused by some obstruction in the ducts or tubes that convey the bile from the 

 liver to the intestines. The horse, however, has but one duct, through which 

 the bile usually flows as quickly as it is formed, and there is no gall-bladder 

 in which it can become thickened, or hardened into masses so firm as to be 

 appropriately called gall-stones. Jaundice does, however, occasionally appear 

 either from an increased flow or altered quality of the bile, or obstruction even 

 in this simple tube. The yellowness of the eyes and mouth, and of the skin 

 where it is not covered with hair, mark it sufficiently plainly. The dung is 

 small and hard ; the urine highly coloured ; the horse languid, and the appetite 

 impaired. If he is not soon relieved, he sometimes begins to express consider- 

 able uneasiness; at other times he is dull, heavy, and stupid. A characteristic 

 symptom is lameness of the right fore leg, resembling the pain in the right 

 shoulder of the human being hi hepatic affections. The principal causes are 

 over-feeding or over- exertion in sultry weather, or too little work generally 

 speaking, or inflammation or other disease of the liver itself. 



It is first necessary to inquire whether this affection of the liver is not the 

 consequence of the sympathy of that organ with some other part, for, to a very 

 considerable degree, it frequently accompanies inflammation of the bowels and 

 the lungs. These diseases being subdued, jaundice will disappear. If there is 

 no other apparent disease to any great extent, an endeavour to restore the natu- 

 ral passage of the bile by purgatives may be tried, not consisting of large doses, 

 lest there should be some undetected inflammation of the lungs or bowels, in 

 either of which a strong purgative would be dangerous ; but, given in small 

 quantities, repeated at short intervals, and until the bowels are freely opened. 

 Bleeding should always be resorted to, regulated according to the apparent de- 

 gree of inflammation, and the occasional stupor of the animal. Plenty of water 

 slightly warmed, or thin gruel, should be given. The horse should be warmly 

 clothed, and the stable well ventilated, but not cold. Carrots or green meat 

 will be very beneficial. Should the purging, when once excited, prove violent, 

 we need not be in any haste to stop it, unless inflammation is beginning to be con- 

 nected with it, or the horse is very weak. The medicine recommended under 

 diarrhoea may then be exhibited. A few slight tonics should be given when 

 the horse is recovering from an attack of jaundice. 



THE SPLEEN is sometimes very extraordinarily enlarged, and has been 

 ruptured. We are not aware of any means by which this may be discovered, 

 except manual examination by means or the aid of the rectum. The state of 

 the animal would clearly enough point out the treatment to be adopted. 



THE PANCREAS. We know not of any disease to which it is liable. 



The blood contains a great quantity of watery fluid unnecessary for the nutri- 

 ment or repair of the frame. There likewise mingle with it matters that 

 would be noxious if suffered to accumulate too much. 



THE KIDNEYS 



Are actively employed in separating this fluid, and likewise carrying off a sub- 

 stance which constitutes the peculiar ingredient in urine, called the area, and 

 consisting principally of that which would be poisonous to the animal. The 

 kidneys are two large glandular bodies, placed under the loins, of the shape of a 

 kidney-bean, of immense size. The right kidney is most forward, lying under 

 the liver ; the left is pushed more backward by the stomach and spleen. A 

 large artery runs to each, carrying not less than a sixth part of the whole of tho 



