DISEASES OF THE KIDNEYS AND BLADDER. 885 



788. Treatment. 



The depressing and destructive influence of the arrested urinary secre- 

 tions must be diminished, as much as possible, by exciting the activity of 

 the skin and bowels. Flannel cloths steeped in very warm water should 

 be at once applied to the loins, and covered with some waterproof mate- 

 rial to keep in the heat and moisture. A pint of oil with a scruple of 

 calomel may be given, and warm enemas should be administered. After 

 forty-eight hours the dose of oil may be repeated, if needed, in order to 

 produce moderate purgation ; but it is not probable that it will be 

 required. When the purgation has ceased, the calomel may be advan- 

 tageously repeated in half-drachm doses with one drachm of opium in a 

 ball night and morning for three or four successive days. Aloes should 

 riot be given, as it is apt to cause increased irritation in the kidneys. 

 Saline purgatives are also inadmissible. 



If the pain and straining are great, belladonna and camphor, in doses 

 of one drachm, or combined with opium, or opium alone may be given 

 twice a day for a period not exceeding two days. 



The functions of the skin should be stimulated by warm clothing and 

 hand-rubbing. Woollen cloths wrung out of very hot water and covered 

 with a waterproof sheet and a dry rug to delay evaporation may be 

 applied to the loins. The skin of a newly-flayed sheep with the flesh 

 side inwards, and changed for a fresh one every second day, will also be 

 beneficial. Care must be taken to avoid the occurrence of a chill, when 

 the cloths or skin are removed. With this view the parts may be rubbed 

 with an embrocation made of six ounces of oil, one ounce of the strong 

 solution of ammonia, and two ounces of tincture of opium. 



Mucilaginous drinks, such as linseed tea, hay tea, etc., should be 

 offered ; but if the animal will not take them, he should be supplied with 

 slightly tepid water, mildly acidulated by some mineral acid. The food, 

 which must be sparingly given, should consist of grass, carrots, or lucern. 

 Clover, vetches, and all varieties of the trifolium species are objection- 

 able, because they contain an acrid principle, which injuriously affects 

 the urinary organs. 



Irritants and counter-irritants, such as cantharides and turpentine, are 

 wholly inadmissible, because they are apt to become absorbed and to 

 exert an injurious effect on the kidneys. Clysters, however, of warm 

 water are useful, both in relieving the bowels and in acting as fomenta- 

 tions to the inflamed organ. 



As soon as the congestion is relieved by these measures, the kidneys 

 will again begin to resume their secreting functions. The urine, however, 

 at first secreted is always very acrid, and therefore causes great irritation 

 in the organ. In order to diminish this effect, every endeavour must be 

 made throughout the attack to get the horse to take mucilaginous drinks 

 or even water. Half an ounce of bicarbonate of soda given two or three 

 times a day in the drink will act very beneficially at this period in lessen- 

 ing the acidity of the urine. If there is much pain, a drachm of powdered 

 opium with half a drachm of camphor may be given in a ball, and re- 

 peated once or twice if necessary, at intervals of three hours. 



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