266 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



If suppression of the urine be prolonged, other symptoms 

 supervene, owing to retention of urea in the blood. The 

 accumulation of urea, as we have already indicated, gives 

 rise to symptoms of uraemic poisoning. The animal becomes 

 2:>artially unconscious, but there is no loss of motor power. 



Eetention of the urine may, hoAvever, continue for several 

 days without the manifestation of coma. 



As the urea gradually accumulates in the blood, there is 

 a peculiar ammoniacal odour of the breath, which is also 

 emitted from the skin and faeces. 



The bowels are usually constipated, and muscular 

 twitchings are not uncommon. 



In the stallion, there may be retraction of the testicle on 

 the affected side. 



Sequelae. — Chronic nephritis may be left as a sequel after 

 the subsidence of an attack of acute inflammation of the 

 kidneys, or it may manifest itself as an independent 

 affection. 



Atrophy and degeneration of the kidneys may follow 

 acute nephritis. 



Morbid Anatomy. — In acute nephritis, one or both 

 kidneys are involved. They are much enlarged and 

 engorged with blood. The surface is smooth, and the 

 capsule is thin and non-adherent. 



On section the colour is of a dark dusky red, and the 

 malpighian bodies are of a still darker hue. At a later 

 stage the cortical part of the kidney becomes paler or 

 mottled, and contrasts strongly with the dark-red bases of 

 the pyramids. 



If a section be examined microscopically, the uriniferous 

 tubules are found to be filled with epithelial cells in various 

 degrees of disintegration, fibrinous material, and blood. 

 These changes are more especially marked in the convoluted 

 tubes. 



