(j DISEASES OF THE KIDNEY. 



lular contents of the uriniferous tubules. Hence, when, after the abuse 

 of irritating diuretics, or in disease which we know to be frequently 

 complicated with this form of renal hyperaemia, we find the urine to 

 be albuminous and full of casts thickly studded with epithelial cells, 

 our diagnosis may be renal catarrh. This name, which has been applied 

 to the form of hyperaemia in question by most modern pathologists, is- 

 not quite appropriate, it is true, as the tubules have no mucous mem- 

 brane, and as the term catarrh itself means an affection peculiar to such 

 a membrane. However, it is quite as appropriate as is the term catar- 

 rhal pneumonia. (See Vol. L) 



The course of both fluxionary and obstructive hyperaemia of the 

 kidney, when the exciting cause is of a transient character, usually is 

 favorable, and the disease in itself probably never causes death. Al- 

 though, during the last few weeks of a case of heart-disease, this affee- 

 tion appears in its most intense form, yet it is not renal hyperaemia of 

 which the patient finally dies, but the respiratory derangement, the 

 dropsy, and other symptoms which proceed immediately from the 

 cardiac disorder. However, it cannot be denied that the albuminuria 

 aggravates the dropsy and hydraemia, and aids in undermining the 

 strength of the patient. The renal catarrh also runs a favorable course 

 as a rule, and, when the primary disease tends toward recovery, usually 

 terminates hi complete restoration to health. Far more rarely, diffuse 

 parenchymatous inflammation of the kidney may develop from renal 

 catarrh. 



TREATMENT. The measures called for in treatment of the cause 

 of hyperaemia of the kidney may be inferred from the account above 

 given of the causes themselves. When the hyperaemia of the kidney 

 is but a symptom of a more wide-spread and grave disease, it is to the 

 latter rather than to the hyperaemia to which the treatment should be 

 directed Where it has arisen from the abuse of irritating diuretics, 

 their employment must be discontinued, and all application of vesi- 

 cants, and use of irritating salves upon suppurating surfaces (a very 

 common cause of fluxion to the kidney), must be abstained from. Be- 

 sides this, large quantities of drink must be administered, in order as 

 much as possible to dilute the acrid matter which has been secreted in 

 the kidneys. Pure water or the dilute acids are the most suitable for 

 the purpose. The old practice of using barley-water, linseed-tea, milk 

 ^>f almonds, and the like mucilaginous or oleaginous liquids, must be 

 regarded as obsolete, as it is well known that such articles have no 

 effect upon the character of the urine. 



General and local blood-letting, and derivatives to the skin or intes- 

 tines, are only to be resorted to in fulfilling the indications from the 

 disease itself, when such remedies are indicated for other reasons, 01 



