216 THE HOUSE. 



tlie opcation of the medicine will be much promoted. If more water thaa 

 usual he drunk, a great deal more will be evacuated. The next caution it,, 

 i.hat during the administration of a diuretic, neither the clothing nor tht 

 stable should be too warm, otherwise that which is intended to stimulate tlw 

 kidney will pass off by perspiration ; lor it seems to be a law of the frame, 

 that wliat increases the discharge from the skin proportionably lessens tin; 

 action of the kidneys. 



The best diuretic, and which given simply to promote an increased 

 secretion from the kidneys, supersedes every other, is turpentine ; either 

 the common liquid turpentine in doses of half an ounce, and made into a ball 

 with linseed meal, and half a drachm of ginger ; or, what is better, the same 

 quantity of powdered resin, with two drachms of linseed meal, and half a 

 draciim of ginger, formed into a mass with palm-oil. In cases of inflam- 

 mation or fever, nitre or digitalis should be used. The spirit of nitrous 

 ether, cream of tartar, and balsam of capivi have some diuretic effect. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEY 



Is no uncommon disease in the horse, and is more unskilfully and fatally 

 treated than almost any other. The early symptoms are those of fever 

 generally, but the seat of the disease soon becomes evident. The horse looks 

 anxiously round at his flanks; stands with his hinder legs wide apart; 

 straddles as he walks ; expresses pain in turning ; shrinks when the loins 

 are pressed, and some degree of heat is felt there. The urine is voided 

 in small quantities, and frequently it is high-coloured, and sometimes 

 bloody. The attempt to urinate becomes more frequent, and the quantity 

 voided smaller; until the animal strains painfully and violently, but the 

 discharge is nearly or quite suppressed. Tlie pulse is quick and hard; 

 full in the early stage of the disease, but rapidly becoming small, yet noi 

 losing its character of hardness. These symptoms clearly indicate an 

 affection of the urinary organs ; but they do not distinguish inflammation 

 of the kidney from that of tiie bladder. The hand must be introduced into 

 the rectum. If the bladder be felt full and hard under the rectum, there is 

 inflammation of the neck of the bladder: if tiie bladder be empty, yet on 

 the portion of the intestines immediately over it there is more than natural 

 heat and tenderness, there is inflammation of the body of the bladder; but 

 if the bladder be empty, and there is no increased heat or tenderness, there 

 is inflammation of the kidney. 



Among the causes are improper food. There is no more frequent cause 

 than hay that has been mow-burnt, or oats that are musty. The farmer 

 should look well to this. Oats that have been dried on the kiln acquire a 

 diuretic property, and if horses are long fed on them, the continual excite- 

 ment of this organ which they produce will degenerate into inflammation. 

 Too powerful, or too-often-repeated diuretics produce inflammation of the 

 kidney ; or a degree of irritation and weakness of that organ, that disposes 

 to inflammation from causes that would otherwise have no injurious effect. 

 If a horse is sprained in the loins, by being urged on, far or fast, by a 

 heavy rider, or by being suddenly pulled up on his haunches, the inflam- 

 mation of the muscles of the loins is often speedily transferred to the kidneys, 

 with which they lie in contact. Exposure to cold is another frequeni 

 origin of this malady, especially if the horse be drenched with rain, or wet 

 drips upon his loins; and more particularly if he were previously disposed 

 to inflammation, or these organs had been previously weakened. For this 

 reason, hackney-coach horses and others, exposed to the vicissitudes of the 

 weather, and often fed on unwholesome provender, have, or should have, 

 their loins protected by a leather or a cloth. 



