SYMPTOMS: BLOODY URINE 103 



though in a mild degree, if suffered to continue, it soon communicates to the 

 other, and sometimes proceeds with such rapid strides as to affect the intes 

 tmes, when mortification and death ensue; but we have no means of ascei 

 taining when this last incurable mischief has taken place until after the animal 

 is dead — nor would the knowledge be made available for any present purpose; 

 though finely instructive as to future cases; then it is the kidneys present an 

 enlarged and rotten appearance and feel, their texture yielding to the slight- 

 est impression of the finger-nails, which shows in what degree and how long 

 they have been affected. 



A hard blow across the loins will injure the kidney on the side so struck, 

 and, as is said before, soon affect the other also. Sudden transition from an 

 open airy situation to a stable that is close and hot; violent riding or driving, 

 or an ill-cured affection of the bovi^els, whether inflammatory or spasmodic, 

 will affect the kidneys in more or less degree. Those causes all together com- 

 bine to aflfect these parts more frequently than is generally supposed, the rea- 

 son for which misconceit is nevertheless most apparent to me: it is owing to 

 the neglect of a'l the milder symptoms; some persons imagining that unless 

 bloody urine be produced, the defective staling is caused by something less re- 

 mote than the kidneys, though in all obstructions of the liver, as we have seen 

 above (page 101), the quantity of blood these send to the kidneys leaves some 

 of its colouring pro[)erty to the water. This class of unreflecting people gene- 

 rally fix upon the bladder as the seat of disorders that so alfect the quantity of 

 water. They almost invariably give stimulating medicines, that do but in- 

 crease the disorder and confirm the ruin it is their duty to prevent. 



Symptoms. — The most evident of these has been just now alluded to, and 

 was formerly treated as a distinct disease, under the coarse title of "Bloody 

 Urine:" it is, however, consiilered as happening more frequently to horned 

 cattle than horses, and to the female rather than the male. 



When this symptom appears, it is accompanied by a corresponding symp- 

 tom, viz. great tension and soreness of the part ; which may be ascertained by 

 passing your hand along the small of the back, over the kidneys, when the 

 animal shrinks from the touch. No doubt can then exist that this bloody urino 

 indicates genuine inflammation of the kidneys; and of course that we should 

 treat it as such, and nothing else — nor by any other name. If the pain and 

 tension cannot thus be ascertained, then " bloody urine" is caused by obstruc- 

 tion in the liver. Another symptom that may be relied upon is a stiflfness of 

 the hind leg on that side which may be attacked first; afterwards, when both 

 kidneys are affected, the animal becomes stiff' of both legs. This symptom 

 does not occur in "inflammation of the bladder," and is a good distinctive 

 mark to go by, when we may be labouring under doubt in some other point 

 of resemblance between the two diseases. In all stages of this disorder, the 

 horse stands as if he wanted to stale ; straddling, and making the most exer- 

 tion when he voids the least urine (then generally bloody), which shows the 

 destructive tendency of these efforts on the gland itself. The consequences 

 are, that the kidneys waste away, and the disease communicates to the blad- 

 der, until the final ruin — mortification, ensues. The practitioner, in this 

 case, will not fail to look at what I have thought proper to say respectinj^ 

 •' stone and other calculus," a few pages farther onward. 



" Suppression of urine" is also a sure indication of the genuine inflamma 

 tion of the kidneys; that is to say, the capacity of secreting it is nearly ex- 

 tinct, or it is performed with exceeding great difficulty, pain, and danger. 

 Whereas, in affections of the bladder, the secretory function is not lost by the 

 kidneys (or suppressed); but, when the urine has been sent into the bladder 

 ihis latter has not the power to expel its contents. How this happens, »w 

 fwge 53, &c. 



