144 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



and the patient must be kept in a narrow stall in which it can not 

 turn even its head. The patient must be kept in a warm, dry build- 

 ing, so that the skin shall be kept active rather than the kidneys. 

 Warm 'blanketing is equally important, or even mustard poultices 

 over the loins will be useful. Blisters of Spanish flies, turpentine, or 

 other agent which may be absorbed and irritate the kidneys must be 

 avoided. The active fever may be checked by 15 drops tincture of 

 aconite every four hours, or by one-third ounce acetanilid. If pain is 

 very acute 1 ounce laudanum or 2 drams solid extract of belladonna 

 will serve to relieve. When the severity of the disease has passed, a 

 course of tonics (quinia, 2 drams, or gentian powder, 4 drams, daily) 

 may be given. Diuretics, too, may be cautiously given at this ad- 

 vanced stage to relieve dropsy and give tone to the kidneys and gen- 

 eral system (oil of turpentine, 2 teaspoon f uls ; bicarbonate of soda, 1 

 teaspoonful, repeated twice a day). Pure water is essential, and it 

 should not be given chilled ; warm drinks are preferable. 



In the chronic forms of kidney inflammation the same protec- 

 tion against cold and similar general treatment are demanded. 

 Tonics, however, are important to improve the general health (phos- 

 phate of iron, 2 drams ; powdered nux vomica, 20 grains ; powdered 

 gentian root, 4 drams, daily). In some instances the mineral acids 

 (nitric acid, 60 drops, or nitro-muriatic acid, 60 drops, daily) may be 

 employed with the bitters. Mustard applied to the loins in the form 

 of a thin pulp made with water and covered for an hour with paper 

 or other impervious envelope, or water hotter than the hand can bear, 

 or cupping may be resorted to as a counterirritant. In cupping shave 

 the loins, smear them with lard, then take a narrow-mouthed glass, 

 expand the air within it by smearing its interior with a few drops of 

 alcohol, setting it on fire and instantly pressing the mouth of the 

 vessel to the oiled portion of the skin. As the air within the vessel 

 cools it contracts, tending to form a partial vacuum, and the skin, 

 charged with blood, is strongly drawn up within it. Several of these 

 being applied at once a strong derivation from the affected kidneys is 

 secured. In no case of inflamed or irritable kidney should Spanish 

 flies or oil of turpentine be used upon the skin. 



Parasites of the Kidney. As the kidney is the usual channel by 

 which the bacteria leave the system, this organ is liable to be im- 

 plicated when microphytes exist in the blood, and congestions and 

 blood extravasations are produced. In anthrax, Southern cattle fever 

 (Texas fever), and other such affections bloody urine is the con- 

 sequence. Of the larger parasites attacking the kidney may be spe- 

 cially named the cystic form of the echinococcus tapeworm of the 

 dog, the cystic form of the unarmed or beef tapeworm of man, the 

 diving bladderworm the cystic form of the marginate tapeworm of 

 the dog, and the giant strongyle the largest of the roundworms. 

 These give rise to general symptoms of kidney disease, 'but the true 

 source of the trouble is only likely to be detected if the heads or 

 booklets of the tapeworm or the eggs of the roundworm are found on 

 microscopic examination of the urine, 



