CHAPTER XLI 

 DISEASES OF THE KIDNEYS AND LIVER 



^T^ ROUBLE with the urine seldom occurs; but stable- 

 -*■ men may often be heard to say: "That horse's 

 water is thick and high-colored. He needs a dose of 

 niter; " and forthwith, the horse is dosed. But the color 

 and consistency of the urine vary very much from time 

 to time even in a perfectly healthy horse. In hot 

 weather, the horse gets rid of the water in his system by 

 sweating; and his urine looks comparatively dark and 

 thick. Then comes a cold spell, the horse ceases to 

 sweat, and consequently he stales more frequently, and 

 his urine is very light-colored and watery. 



It is a good rule to give no medicine for supposed 

 trouble with the kidneys unless the legs are stocked. 

 If the kidneys need stimulating, and sometimes they 

 do, especially when the horse is changing his coat, give 

 him from one to two ounces of sweet spirits of niter, 

 carefully mixed with his grain, or a tablespoonful of 

 saltpeter. He should not require this more than once 

 or twice a year. 



In the case of highly grained horses, like work-horses 

 in the city, It is well to give them once a week in 

 summer a heaping teaspoonful of saltpeter in their 

 mash. 



Most geldings in use become " foul,*' and some- 

 times are unable to urinate, because the sheath is not 



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