DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 27 



The urine dribbles without control when the neck of the bladder is 

 weakened or parah'zed. This condition is seen after the bladder is 

 weakened from long-continued retention and where there is a uartial 

 paralj^sis of the hind quarters. 



Horses usuall}^ void urine five to seven times a da}', and pass from 4 

 to 7 quarts. DiseajSe may be shown b}'^ increase in the number of void- 

 ings or of the quantity. Frequent urination indicates an irritable or 

 painful condition of the bladder or urethra or that the quantit}' is 

 excessive. In one form of chronic inflammation of the kidneys (inter- 

 stitial nephritis) and in pol^mria the quantity" may be increased to 20 

 or 30 quarts dail.y. Diminution in the quantity' of urine comes from 

 profuse sweating, diarrhea, high fever, weak heart, diseased and non- 

 secreting kidneys, or an obstruction to the flow. 



The urine of the health}" horse is a pale or at times a slightly red- 

 dish yellow. The color is less intense when the quantity is large, and 

 is more intense Avhcn the quantity is diminished. Dark-brown urine 

 is seen in azoturia and in severe acute muscular rheumatism. A 

 brownish green color is seen in jaundice. Red color indicates admix- 

 ture of blood from a bleeding point at some part of the urinary tract, 

 usually in the kidneys. 



The urine of the healthy horse is not clear and transparent. It con- 

 tains mucus which causes it to be slightly thick and string}^, and a cer- 

 tain amount of undissolved carbonates, causing it to be cloud3\ A 

 sediment collects when the urine is allowed to stand. The urine of the 

 horse is normall}' alkaline. If it becomes acid the bodies in suspen- 

 sion are dissolved and the urine is made clear. The urine ma}^ be 

 unusually cloudy from the addition of abnormal constituents, but to 

 determine their character a chemical or microscopic examination is 

 necessary. Red or reddish flakes or clumps in the urine are always 

 abnormal, and denote a hemorrhage or suppuration in the urinary 

 tract. 



The normal specific gravit}' of the urine of the horse is about l.OiO. 

 It is increased when the urine is scanty and decreased when the quan- 

 tit}' is excessive. 



Acid reaction of the urine occurs in chronic intestinal catarrh, in 

 high fever, and during starvation. Chemical and microscopic tests 

 and examinations are often of great importance in diagnosis, but 

 require special apparatus and skill. 



Other points in the examination of a sick horse require more discus- 

 sion than can be afforded in this connection, and require special train- 

 ing on the part of the examiner. Among such points ma}' be mentioned 

 the examination of the organs of special sense, the examination of the 

 blood, the microscopic examination of the secretions and excretions, 

 bacteriological examinations of the secretions, excretions, and tissues, 

 specific reaction tests, and diagnostic inoculation. 



