386 T^AYIX ox THE HORSE. 



the liver ; the left with the spleen and stomach. The kidney 

 is not a solid body, but it has a funnel-shaped cavity, or hollow, 

 in it, which opens into a tube leading to the bladder, called the 

 ureter. A large artery is sent to each kidney, by which a large 

 part of the blood is caused to circulate through it. 



The office of the kidneys is to secrete the urine, or water. 

 In this I'troccss a very poisonous substance, called urea, is sep- 

 arated from the blood ; also, several other substances wdiich 

 would be injurious to the system, if left in the blood. Along 

 with these a large quantity of water is also separated from the 

 blood. 



The kidneys are liable to inflammation and some other dis- 

 -eases not very well understood. 



The urine, or water, is subject to very great changes in quan- 

 tity, appearance, and composition, even in health, and much 

 more so in disease. There are many medicines which act on 

 the kidneys, increasing the flow of water and changing its 

 •character. These medicines are called diuretics. They are 

 very useful in treating the diseases of the horse. 



Kidneij Staggers. — This is a type of staggers met with in 

 some parts of the world. It is frequently met with in Ireland 

 "but, as it seldom, if ever, occurs in this country, I shall merely 

 give the history of one case which came under my observa- 

 tion, and which will give a sufficiently accurate idea of the 

 disease. 



My father had a mare that took this disease a few days 

 after being used to haul turf about half a mile. There was 

 no obstruction in the way from the jilacc where the fuel was 

 got to where it was hauled. When the mare was attacked, 

 she commenced walking back and forth, just as she had done 

 when at work, but at a heavy, staggering gait, and at noon 

 would go to the place where she had been fed, but would eat 

 nothing, and after awhile renew her accustomed walk between 

 "the two places. She continued this for over two days, evi- 

 dently becoming more and more exhausted. When turned 



