178 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS ANt> TREATMENT OP 



urine may be retained for a short time in the bladder. If the disease 

 goes on and relief is not obtained, the symptoms change some ; the pulse 

 becomes weaker and weaker, the coat changes, the horse looks dull and 

 stupid, showing urtemic poisoning, and if both kidneys are affected, and 

 their secretions arrested, this results very soon. After passing urine the 

 pain is sometimes increased ; all the secretions are more or less affected. 

 Azoturia is often mistaken for inflammation of the kidneys. 



Treatment must be energetic ; a sedative is recommended. Formerly 

 blood-letting was the remedy used, but fifteen, twenty or thirty drops of 

 Flemming's tincture of aconite is better ; and give an oleaginous purga- 

 tive—one quart of raw linseed oil. To relieve the pain you may use 

 opium or hypodermic injections of morphia ; also injections not only to 

 cause the bowels to act, but tepid water has a good effect upon the kid- 

 neys. Clothe the body well and endeavour to induce perspiration. 

 Slight perspiration around the flanks and shoulders is symptomatic of 

 the disease. Apply hot cloths, mustard, etc., over the loins, and newly- 

 Hayed sheepskin is an old and good counter-irritation. Sometimes 

 blister, but do not use cantharides, for it tends to over-stimulate the 

 kidneys ; it may be used in azoturia. Pressure over the loins is a test 

 for kidney disease, but is uncertain, for any thin-skinned animal will 

 flinch from pressure here, and the kidneys are deep-seated and well pro- 

 tected, but it may increase the pain. It is also recommended to examine 

 per rectum. After the symptoms subside some, regulate the diet and give 

 a few doses of carbonate of soda. At one time it was recommended to 

 give colomel. You may give belladonna instead of opium in some cases. 



Nejpliritis, I believe, often occurs in the sub-acute or chronic form, 

 and IS caused by poor ]<ceping and hard work, or a large amount of 

 diuretic medicines, which over- stimulate the kidne^ys. But a slight 

 amount of urine passes ; the horse rolls about and is uneasy ; stands 

 with his hind limbs well back ; there is slight swelling of the limbs, the 

 urine sometimes nearly natural, and sometimes streaked with blood ; the 

 pulse is not affected to any great extent. Give a slight laxative ; regulate 

 the diet ; give demulcents, and give carbonate of soda ; use counter- 

 irritants, hot water, mustaad, etc., but no cantharides. Williams recom- 

 mends the application of digitalis over the kidneys ; also give tonics. 

 We are often consulted about a case of some slight irritation of the 

 urinary organs, which may be due to functional disorder of the kidneys, 

 or to over-stimulation by diuretic, and it is well to ascertain whether 

 such medicines have been given. In such cases give a few doses of tonics, 

 as sulphate of iron, and in eight or ten days give a diuretic. Some 

 recommend tartar emetic to act upon the skin, but it is not reliable, and 

 in fact there are no certainly reliable medicines of this kind in our prac- 

 tice. Inflammation may terminate in resolution, suppuration, indura- 

 tion, atrophy, or hypertrophy, and when one kidney becomes affected 

 the other is apt to take on just the opposite condition. If one becomes 

 , atrophied, the other becomes hypertrophied, etc., and disease may exist 

 "^^n one kidney for some time without producing death ; even suppuration 

 hns been noticed in some of our subjects. 



Polyuria, Diuresis, Diabetes, Insipidis.— It is classed as a diatetic 

 disease, and I think it is just as well to notice it in connection with the 

 urinary organs. Pure diabetis is where the food is converted into sugar 

 and pa.sses off through the kidneys, and I think it is better to use the 

 term polyuria or diuresis. There is an enoimous amount of aqueous 

 urine passed ; it is more watery than in health ; it is of low specific 

 gravity, and contains an excess of urea'and chloride of sodium, and some 

 other acids are said to exist. 



