DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIiFALS. ZUiJ 



gluteal muscles. This condition extends further than the muscles, in 

 some cases, and in some cases even the covering of the spinal cord 

 may be affected, the sheathes of the nerves and the kidneys also, 

 arresting the secretion of the kidneys in the early stage. The faster 

 the work the more serious will be the attack. It is more common in 

 the winter months, as the animal is kept in the stable, well fed, for a 

 time, then taken out and worked. 



Symptoms. — Suppose a case : A horse is taken from the stable and 

 trotted out half a mile to three or four miles ; he becomes sluggish, 

 perspires more freely than he should : then well-marked stiffness appears 

 in connection with the muscles of the loins. If stopped, the breathing 

 is noticed to be increased, the pulse quick and weak, and the loins, in 

 many cases, are hard and tense ; the bowels, in some cases, aretympantic. 

 In aggravated cases the symptoms become more severe ; he drops on the 

 hind quarters, staggers, and perhaps falls ; he may lie down, get up and 

 lie down, etc., until he is not able to get up any longer : or he may 

 suddenly falter during a drive, as if he had picked up a nail. But if the 

 above symptoms are also present, and you are informed that the horse 

 was standing in the stable for some time, it is likely to be azoturia. 

 The ears and legs cold, pain in the parts, and colickly pains. But in 

 some cases the symptoms are not so well developed, and if allowed to stand 

 fifteen or twenty minutes it will show itself by stiffness. The urine is of 

 a dark red colour, and contains an excess of urea, and, in some cases, 

 albumen. If the urine is allowed to stand, a sediment is thrown down, 

 and nitric acid will precipitate nitrate of urea. Azoturia is often mistaken 

 for inflammation of the kindneys. Post mortems reveal the muscles 

 affected— soft and flabby, of a darkish red colour — the kidneys slightly 

 congested ; there is dark urine in the bladder, and hypostatic congestion, 

 which is, perhaps, due to the position the animal has occupied. If the 

 animal is properly treated in time the symptoms will disappear in from 

 four to ten hours, and in two or three dajs the animal will be well. 

 Your prognosis will be based upon the severity of the symptoms. If the 

 animal is unable to rise, there is great pain, the pulse quick and full, it is 

 unfavourable. I believe it is sometimes combined with irritation of 

 the bowels ; but although the patient is down, and the pulse is not full 

 and bounding, but just quickened some, and no great pain, the prognosis 

 is favourable. 



Treatment. — In an ordinary case I recommend a slight stimulant ; 

 give sweet spirits of nitre ; cover the body well and induce copious per- 

 spiration, and give a good dose of purgative — from six to twelve drachms 

 of aloes — and give injections ; apply counter-irritation to the loins. 

 Some object to this, but I think hot water is beneficial. Immerse a 

 blanket in hot water and place it over the loins and cover it with dry 

 blankets. Or, if you cannot apply this, take a liniment and rub in as a 

 shampoo over the loins ; or mustard may be used, but do not use any- 

 thing that will blemish ; and, if necessary, draw off the urine, which is 

 often retained in the bladder. After treatment, carefully use sedatives — 

 aconite and carbonate of soda. There is great thirst and the animal 

 should have plenty of water, in small amounts at a time, with, perhaps, 

 ju;t the chill taken oft", and keep the animal as comfortable as possible, 

 and turn him from side to side as necessary, and, where there are signs 

 of amendment, try to get him upon his feet, even if he only stands fifteen 

 or twenty minutes. It is best to take the shoes off if the animal is kick- 

 around much ; and, in some cases, you may use slings. It is a disease 

 that is generally satisfactory to treat. If a horse was stopped and not 

 driven any further, when the symptoms are pieseut.it would notgfnerally 



