Diagnosis, Prognosis, Tieatnieut. 929 



the debility in spite of good appetite, then the increased thirst, 

 polyuria, and the simultaneous occurrence of cataract. In the 

 presence of polyuria with a clear, watery urine of high specific 

 gravity the existence of diabetes mellitus is very probable. 



Prognosis. In the cases that were observed so far in ani- 

 mals the disease showed a gradual progression, at most with 

 transitory remissions, and always ended in death. Only Walley 

 reports a cured case, but it is possible that either this was a 

 transitory glycosuria or that the supposed cure w^as in fact but 

 an intermission of the disease. The more sugar the urine 

 contains, the sooner the fatal termination occurs. If the sugar 

 content persists unaltered in spite of exclusive feeding with 

 proteids and fats, the prognosis is much less favorable than 

 if this diet leads to a diminution in the amount of sugar, or 

 if this periodically disappears entirely without a simultaneous 

 loss of weight. Complications always influence the course un- 

 favorably and hasten the fatal termination. 



Treatment. This consists essentially in limiting the supply 

 of carbohydrates and in feeding with food-stuifs rich in fats 

 and proteids. In severe cases even the albumins should be 

 diminished to such a degree that it is just possible to maintain 

 the N-equilibrium. The limitation of albumins appears indi- 

 cated for the reason that in severe cases even that sugar which 

 is formed from albuminous substances is eliminated unused. In 

 order to determine the degree to which carbohydrates and 

 albumins are to be limited, it would be necessary to test the 

 toleration, that is, to determine the amount of carbohydrates and 

 albumins borne without any sugar being eliminated with the 

 urine. Of this method, which is quite customary in human 

 medicine, no advantage has as yet been taken in veterinary 

 practice. 



Carnivorous animals are, in lighter cases, nourished most 

 suitably with fat meat, eggs, bran^bread, or with oat meal, to 

 which a generous amount of fat has been added ; in severe cases 

 the amount of meat must also be limited and the requirements 

 of the organism for albumin must be supplied by the addition 

 of vegetable albumins ("Roborat," rice-albumin, etc.). If 

 acetone bodies appear in the urine in considerable amounts, it 

 is necessary, according to experiences in human medicine, to 

 limit the supply of albumin and especially of fat, and for a 

 time to return to the carbohydrates (oats, bread, milk, possibly 

 levulose). In herbivorous animals it is particularly difficult 

 to carry out an appropriate dietary; probably the best food- 

 stuffs for such animals are oats, good hay, bran and oil-cake. 

 Preller caused a decided diminution in sugar in the urine of 

 a horse by replacing the accustomed grain feed by oats, bran 

 and oil-cake, but simultaneously a deterioration in the nutrition 

 of the patient was observed. All sick animals sliould be spared 

 exertion. 



