H.EMATURIA OR BLOODY URINE 347 



Symptoms. — In addition to the excessive quantity and the frequency 

 with which the urine is passed, marked thirst is a prominent and lasting 

 symptom. The pulse is weak, the skin loses its gloss, becomes dirty and 

 closely "bound" to the parts beneath. The membranes of the eyes and 

 nose are pale in colour, the appetite capricious, and the breath sour- 

 smelling. The affected animal rapidly loses condition, and sweats under 

 comparatively slight exertion. Moreover, the capacity for work is largely 

 curtailed. The urine, besides being light in colour, has a low specific 

 gravity. 



Treatment. — In the early stage, and before excessive debility is 

 present, a mild aloetic aperient may be given as a preliminary measure, 

 and this should be followed by a demulcent diet, consisting largely of linseed 

 tea, with scalded oats of the best description, and good sound bran. The 

 so-called diuretic remedies should in no case be prescribed. Gallic acid 

 or powdered nutgalls, with nux vomica and quinine, may be recommended. 

 This failing, a course of iodide of iron should next be tried, and upon an 

 abatement of the symptoms may be advantageously replaced by a mixture 

 of nitro-hydrochloric acid and infusion of calumba. Belladonna, in the 

 form of extract or tincture, is recommended in cases of .some standing. 

 The food .should be of the best, and an unlimited quantity of drinking 

 water allowed. The patient will be benefited by a short period of walk- 

 ing exercise in the middle of the day. On no account should he be 

 exposed to wet, or to cold easterly or north-easterly winds. A warm 

 but well-ventilated stable should be provided, and the surface circulation 

 maintained by ample clothing. With proper treatment a few weeks suffice 

 to bring about complete convalescence. 



HiEMATURIA OR BLOODY URINE 



Urine may become contaminated with blood from various sources. In 

 all cases, however, this condition denotes broken blood-vessels, either as 

 the result of disease or accident. As to the precise seat of the lesion, 

 some sort of opinion may be formed by noting the manner in whicli the 

 blood is discharged. When coming from the kidney it is uniformly mixed 

 with the urine. . If the hemorrhage is from the bladder the blood-stained 

 portion of the urine will most frequently be the last passed in the act of 

 micturition, its greater specific gravity causing the blood to sink to the 

 lowest portion of the organ, and only to be expelled at the final muscular 

 contraction of the viscus. When the source of blood arises from injury to 

 the urethral canal, it is washed out with the first portion of fluid issuing 

 from the bladder. 



