118 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



The temperature varies from 102° to 104-5° or even higher. 



The bowels may be regular, and in slight attacks the 

 appetite is not impaired. In severe cases the animal lies 

 prostrate, generally unable to rise ; refuses to eat or drink ; 

 struggles violently in his attempts to raise himself, and partial 

 coma may then supervene. There is also in such instances 

 much congestion of the conjunctivae. While the animal 

 remains thus prostrate, there are periodical strainings and 

 ejections of small quantities of urine, or there may be 

 constant involuntary dribblings. 



The urine, if carefully examined as soon as possible after 

 being voided, will be found to be loaded with urea. Indeed, 

 so abundant is this product, that if nitric acid be added to 

 a portion of urine in a vessel, the whole becomes almost 

 solid, from the formation of crystals of nitrate of urea. 

 Albumen is not generally found, though in some cases 

 the solidification is in part due to the coagulation of a small 

 amount present. 



The crystals of urea-nitrate Appear as mica-like rhomboid 

 scales of a brownish colour, and fall to the bottom of the 

 vessel. At first the addition of the acid causes effervescence, 

 from the presence of ammonium carbonate in the alkaline 

 urine, but after the effervescence is over, urea is readily 

 precipitated. 



If the serum of the blood be examined, crystals of nitrate 

 of urea may be formed by extracting the urea from the 

 serum and adding a few drops of nitric acid. 



Prognosis. — Is very serious in the sudden cases. In some 

 instances the animal is struck down, struggles violently for 

 a few hours, and then becomes comatose and dies. 



In other instances, again, the severe symptoms abate ; 

 bub the animal does not regain the use of its limbs, and 

 although it may eat well and be perfectly conscious, it is 

 unable to rise, and eventually dies from some complication. 



