>|^ DIABETEI^. 



DIABETES, OR EXCESSIVE STALING. 



The cause of animals discharging great quantities of urine can not in e'vcry 

 case be traced to its right source ; but one thing always hafjpens, namely, irri- 

 tability of the bladder, by reason of the absence of the mucous secretion that 

 is to protect it against the saline efiects of the urine : see page 53. A defect 

 in the mucous secretion of the whole system succeeds the disorder termed mol- 

 ten grease, and the irritation just s[)oken of soon communicates to the kidneys, 

 which are thus compelled to secrete urine to the utmost extent of their power, 

 and to send it forward to the bladder. To an impoverished state of the blood, 

 arising mostly from the use of strong medicines — for the cure of inflammatory 

 diseases leaves more of lymph than of serum in the vital fluid, with an accel- 

 erated tendency to increase that baleful difllerence — may be ascribed the chief 

 cause of this obstinate disease. Bad dry provender, with ill-usage, and the 

 denial of green food, in season, have a similarly evil etTect on the blood. 



Symptoms. — Of course, the most obvious is the discharge whence the dis- 

 order derives its name, being frequent and in very large quantities. At first, 

 the water is colourless, but occasionally comes ofl[" like jmddle. Constant 

 craving after water, a staring coat, evident weakness, and weak quickened 

 pulse, succeed each other, and increase as the disorder is suffered to proceed 

 unchecked. 



Cure. — Change in the animal's diet, whatever they may have been. If the 

 horse be labouring under the remains of some ill-cured disorder, attend to that 

 first, and by removing it, the excessive staling, which in that case is but an 

 effect thereof, will also cease. Give vetches, grass, sodden oats, water in small 

 quantities and often. If the pulse be higher than ordinary, give the fever 

 powders, page 65; and when the number of strokes per minute is reduced, 

 let the oats be given dry, and resort to bracing medicines. In slight attacks, 

 as well as for the less robust animals, the various preparations of bark will be 

 found suflBciently tonic. 



Tonic Ball.—^o. I. 



SSil'L, I ofeach2J,.achms. 



Powdered caraways, half drachm, 

 with treacle sufficient to form the ball for one dose. Give morning and 

 evening. 



In the more formidable cases, where greater strength or more tedious symp- 

 toms require to be combated, give the 



Tonic Ball.— No. 2. 



Venice turpentine, 1 scruple, 



Giiger^*'^^^^^^ I of each 1 drachm. 

 Mix, with liquorice powder sufficient for one dose, arid give twice a day for 

 two or three days. After this, a return to the use of No. 1, would be desira- 

 ble, until the disorder is subdued. Should costjveness ensue, give a clyster, 

 which will also relieve the irritation of the parts ; castor oil, one pint, must 

 also be administered, if the costiveness appear obstinate. 



Above all things, the horse-owner should avoid the use of such excessively 

 Ignorant prescriptions as are recommended, in this disorder most particularly, 

 by every village quack : they are mostly the horses of hard-working peoplp 



