236 PRACTICE OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



AZOTUEIA. 



Name the synonyms. 



Haemoglobinuria; haemoglobinaeinia; spinal typhus; rheu- 

 matic paraplegia. 



Give the definition. 



Azoturia comes from azot, meaning nitrogen, and uria, signify- 

 ing urine. 



It is a hypemitrogenized condition of the blood, characterized 

 by dark-colored urine and a peculiar dropping of the posterior 

 extremity, with knuckling at the fetlock. 



What is the aetiology? 



There are several theories as regards the cause of this disease; 

 some say the liver is at fault, others the skin and kidneys, others 

 the nerves; probably the German theory is the best, they claiming 

 that the increased amount of nitrogen comes from the muscles, due 

 to irritation of the nerves, producing tissue changes. Too much 

 nitrogenous food and no exercise. 



It is not infrequently met with, especially in the city, among 

 the heavy truck horses. It is seen usually during the cold weather 

 immediately following holidays when the animals are kept in the 

 stable for a day or so and fed the same amount and kind of food 

 as if they were working. 



Give the symptoms. 



When taken out of the stable they feel good, kick up, and the 

 driver can hardly hold them. 



Usually, after driving, for say half a mile or so, the horse be- 

 comes lame behind, knuckles over, falls down, and cannot get up. 



Or, in other animals, they get lame, sweat freely, become un- 

 easy, looking around at their belly, and you think they have colic; 

 but, if you attempt to move them, you see there is the loss of 

 power of one leg, vnth knuckling over at the fetlock; the driver 

 often suspects the horse has picked up a nail. This is one of the 

 principal symptoms, that of Imuchling over, and also the peculiar 

 falling of tlie hip. 



Another thing is to look at the cramped condition of the 

 gluteal muscles; they are hard and appear swollen, and often you 

 see a deep depression on the median line. 



