Occurrence, Etiology, 989 



Bright included in the disease, which was later called after him "Morbus 

 Brightii," all affections of the kidneys which are usually associated with albuminuria 

 and symptoms of dropsy. Later authors extended the meaning of the term 

 ' ' Bright 's Disease ' ' to all hematogenous, non-purulent inflammations of the kidneys. 

 The comprehension of all renal inflammations under this one common name does, 

 however, not appear to be appropriate in consideration of the fact that these inflam- 

 mations represent forms of disease which differ materially, not only clinically, but 

 even more in their anatomical and pathological characteristics. 



Occurrence. Acute inflammation of the kidney is a very 

 frequent disease of animals because it develops mostly from 

 infectious diseases which occur very often in domestic animals 

 (Semmer found nephritis repeatedly in chickens). 



Etiology. Acute nephritis may occasionally be based upon 

 traumatic influences on the region of the kidneys or upon the 

 kidneys themselves ; as such are designated particularly strain- 

 ing, dull force (kicks, blows) upon the region of the kidneys, 

 being run over, falling down, too abrupt stopping during sharp 

 trotting or galloping, etc. In other cases the inflammation 

 occurs in connection with cold (on crossing a cold river or 

 on transportation in open railroad cars). The manner in which 

 traumatic or thermic agencies exert their pathogenic action is 

 beyond the limitations of direct observation ; but the possibility 

 is not excluded that they merely reduce the resistance of the 

 renal tissue to the actual causes of inflammation (infectious 

 substances). 



Vegetable and mineral poisons are capable of giving rise 

 to an inflammatory process if they are introduced in consider- 

 able quantities. Such substances are cantharides, oil of tur- 

 pentine, squills, colchicum, extract of felix mas, also carbolic 

 acid and preparations of coal tar in general; of mineral sub- 

 stances phosphorus, arsenic, corrosive sublimate and the 

 mineral acids. Godibille observed acute inflammation of the 

 kidneys occurring in cows after the ingestion of acorns. Many 

 acid substances even cause inflammation in the kidneys when 

 rubbed on the skin, for instance, oil of mustard, styrax, 

 cantharides, etc. A similar action is also attributed to certain 

 caterpillars which, after being swallowed with grass or leaves, 

 are said to irritate the kidneys with their acrid substances 

 which have been absorbed in the intestine (Cruzel). Finally 

 insects (wasps, bees, Kolumbacs gnats) may inoculate sub- 

 stances \)j their stings which irritate the kidneys and thus 

 produce inflammation. 



In by far the most cases acute nephritis develops un- 

 doubtedly in the course and in consequence of acute infectious 

 diseases. The bacteria which circulate in the blood may become 

 wedged in the glomeruli and also in the intertubular blood 

 vessels and may injure the tissue in their immediate vicinity. 

 But they may also leave the blood vessels and be eliminated 

 w^ith the urine later. In this manner nephritis occurs in 

 anthrax, swine erysipelas, glanders, hog cholera, and swine 



