^ DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS. 461 



II. Congestion of the Kidneys. — Azoturia. 



This is a constitutional disease affecting all parts through the blood, in 

 which lies the cause of the internal lesions ; but as it affects the kidneys 

 most, and the kidney symptoms being most noticeable to the average 

 observer, we describe it under this head. 



Causes. — Too plethoric a condition of the system is the great cause. 

 The blood gets so fat and thick that it interferes with the working of the 

 internal organs, especially the kidneys. The animal is usually fat, but 

 not necessarily so, for it is often seen in horses in strong, Avorking condi- 

 tion, but thin in flesh. In i)ost mortem examinations, fat can be seen 

 floating in globules in the blood. It gives rise to thick, coffee-colored, 

 ropy urine. 



Like diabetes, this is rather a disease of the liver and blood-forming 

 functions than of the kidneys, but as prominent symptoms are loss of 

 control over the hind limbs and the passage of ropy and dark-colored 

 urine, the common idea is that it is a disorder of the urinary organs. It 

 is a complex affection directly connected with a fullness in the blood 

 of nitrogenized constituents, with extreme nei-vous and muscular disorder 

 and the excretion of a dense reddish or brownish urine. It is directly con- 

 nected with high feeding, especially on highly nitrogenized food (oats, 

 beans, peas, vetches, cotton-seed meal), and with a period of idleness 

 in the stall under full rations. The disease is never seen at pasture, rarely 

 under constant daily work, even though the feeding be high, and the 

 attack is usually precipitated by taking the horse from the stable and 

 subjecting it to exercise or work. 



On account of its effect on the urine, the disease has been called 

 Albuminuria, from the supposed existence of albumen in the urine ; 

 Azoturia, from the abundance of urea the urine is thought to contain ; 

 Plethoric congestion, from congestions in the system, due to plethora. 

 The latter name is the most appropriate, as there is no albuminous urine 

 and not any great increase of urea in this disease, but the name under 

 which we describe it is readily comprehended and the trouble easily 

 located by the average observer. 



How to know It. — The animal is accustomed to hard work or regular 

 exercise, and high feed ; he may be laid up from a nail wound, etc., for 

 a few days or a week ; the feed is kept up the same as though he were at 

 work ; he gets well, and goes out hopping and prancing like a colt, goes 

 about half a mile or so, begins to sweat profusely, lathers up well, gets 

 stiff in the left hind leg, and is inclined to drop it. Then the trouble 

 extends to the other leg ; the horse becomes weak across the loins, 



