DISEASES OF THE KIDNEYS. 749 



tion, or in desquamation of the lining of the epithelium and 

 degeneration of the secreting structures, sometimes in suppura- 

 tion, and in very rare instances gangrene. 



Causes. — Nephritis is said to occur from injuries, such as 

 blows and strains. My experience leads me to think that this 

 idea is exaggerated, and that it occurs, and that but rarely, from 

 the internal administration of irritant diuretics, as turpentine, 

 the resins, or cantharides, the absorption of cantharidine from 

 large blisters, the irritating effects of croton oil when given as a 

 purgative, and still more rarely from the effects of stimulating 

 food, or of the long-continued effect of cold, such as cold water 

 dropping upon the animal's back, directly applied to the loins. 

 Many ailments and injuries are mistaken, I think, for nephritis, 

 more especially if they are characterised by a straddling or 

 stiff gait. 



Symptovfis. — There is considerable fever and colicky pains; 

 indeed the malady closely simulates colic with fever. There is 

 a hard, frequent pulse ; increased thirst ; short, rapid breathing ; 

 hot, clammy mouth, and constipation of the bowels. There may 

 be some stiffness of the loins and disinclination to move, but it 

 by no means follows that stiffness, a straddling gait, tenderness 

 of tlie loins, arched back, are constant symptoms ; indeed, I am 

 led to conclude that they are present only in the minority of 

 cases, and that the only signs by which the true nature of the 

 disease can be determined are a scanty secretion or total sup- 

 pression of ^^rine, desire to micturate frequently, the animal 

 stretching itself in vain attempts, passing perhaps but a few drops 

 of a concentrated, highly coloured, and irritating secretion, which, 

 if carefully examined microscopically, will be found mixed with 

 sanguineous or fibrinous casts of the uriniferous tubes, blood 

 globules, epithelium, and even pus cells. If tested by heat or 

 nitric acid, a more or less abundant precipitate of albumen will 

 be thrown down. In those instances where there is total sup- 

 pression of urine, the application of the determining test is 

 impossible. The true nature of the disease may, however, be 

 arrived at, from the fact that when fever, with colicky pains, is 

 present, in addition to emptiness of the urinary bladder, frequent 

 attempts to urinate, but no urine being discharged, that the 

 non-secretion is due to inflammation of the kidneys, which are 

 unable to perform their functions in consequence of the inflam- 



