DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 79 



DIURESIS (polyuria, DIABETES INSIPIDUS, OR EXCESSIVE SECRETION OF 



urine). 



This consists in an excessive secretion of a clear, watery urine of a 

 low specific gravity (1.007) with a correspondingly ardent thirst, a 

 rapidly advancing emaciation, and great loss of strength and spirit. 



Causes.- — Its causes may be any agent — medicinal, alimentary, or 

 poisonous — which unduly stimulates the kidneys; the reckless admin- 

 istration of diuretics, which form such a common constituent of quack 

 horse powders; acrid diuretic plants in grass or ha}^; new oats still 

 imperfectl}^ cured; an excess of roots or other ver}' watery food; a full 

 allowance of salt to animals that have become inordinatel}^ fond of it; 

 but, above all, feeding on hay, grain, or bran which has not been 

 properl}^ dried and has become musty and permeated by fungi. Thus 

 hay, straw, or oats secured in wet seasons and heating in the riclc or 

 stack is especially injurious. Hence this malady, like coma somnolen- 

 txim (sleepy staggers), is widespread in wet seasons, and especially in 

 rainj^ districts. 



Syraqytoms. — The horse drinks deep at every opportunitj^ and passes 

 urine on every occasion when stopped, the discharge being pale, 

 watery, of a low density, and inodorous; in short, it contains a great 

 excess of water and a deficiency of the solid excretions. So great is 

 the quantity passed, however, that the small amount of solids in any 

 given specimen amounts in twenty-four hours to far more than the 

 normal — a fact in keeping with the rapid wasting of the tissues and 

 extreme emaciation. The flanks become tucked up, the fat disappears, 

 the bones and muscles stand out prominent]}^, the skin becomes tense 

 and hidebound, and the hair erect, scurfy, and deficient in luster. The 

 eye becomes dull and sunken, the spirits are depressed, the animal is 

 weak and sluggish, sweats on the slightest exertion, and can endure 

 little. The subject may survive for months, or he may die early of 

 exhaustion. In the slighter cases, or when ih.Q, cause ceases to operate, 

 he may make a somewhat tardy recovery. 



Treatment. — This consists in stopping the ingestion of the faulty 

 drugs, poisons, or food, and suppljdng sound hay and grain free from 

 all taint of heating or mustiness. A liberal supply of boiled flaxseed in 

 the drinking water at once serves to eliminate the poison a'- j. to sheath 

 and protect the irritated kidnej^s. Tonics like sulphate or phosphate of 

 iron (2 drams morning and evening) and powered gentian or Peruvian 

 bark (tt drams) help greatly bj^ bracing the system and hastening repair. 

 To these may be added agents calculated to destroy the fungus and 

 eliminate its poisonous products. In that form which depends on 

 musty food nothing acts better than large doses of iodide of potassium 

 (2 drams), while in other cases creosote, carbolic acid (1 dram), or oil 

 of turpentine (i drams) properl}^ diluted, may be resorted to. 



