DISEASES OF THE HOUSE. 85 



ino^ the blood pressure back on the veins and kidnej^s, is anotlier cause. 

 Disease of the ureter or bladder, preventing the escape of urine from 

 the kidne}^ and causing increased fullness and tension in its pelvis and 

 tubes, will determine inflammation. Decomposition of the detained 

 urine in such cases, and the production of ammonia and other irritants, 

 must also be named. In elimination of bacteria through the kidnej, the 

 latter is liable to infection with consequent inflammation. The advance 

 of bacteria upward from the bladder to the kidneys is another cause. 

 The consumption in hay or other fodder of acrid or irritant plants, 

 including fungi, the absorption of cantharidine from a surface blistered 

 by Spanish flies, the reckless administration of diuretics, the presence 

 of stones in the kidne}^, exposure of the surface to cold and wet, and 

 the infliction of blows or sprains on the loins, may contribute to its 

 production. Liver disorders which throw on the kidneys the work of 

 excreting irritant products, diseases of the lungs and heart from which 

 clots are carried, to be arrested in the small blood vessels of the kid- 

 ney, and injuries and paralysis of the spinal cord, are additional causes. 



Symjjtoms. — The S3'mptoms are more or less fever, manifest stifi'ness 

 of the back and straddling gait with the hind limbs, difficult}' in lying 

 down and rising, or in walking in a circle, the animal sometimes 

 groaning under the effort, arching of the loins and tucking up of the 

 flank, looking back at the abdomen as if from colicky pain, and ten- 

 derness of the loins to pinching, especially just beneath the bony 

 processes 6 inches to one side of the median line. Urine is passed 

 frequentl}^, a small quantit}" at a time, of a high color, and sometimes 

 mixed with blood or even pus. Under the microscope it shows the 

 microscopic casts referred to under general symptoms. If treated by 

 acetic acid, boiling, and subsequent addition of strong nitric acid, the 

 resulting and persistent precipitate indicates the amount of albumen. 

 The legs tend to swell from the foot up, also the dependent parts 

 beneath the belly and chest, and effusions of liquid may occur within 

 the chest or abdomen. In the male animal the alternate drawing up 

 and relaxation of the testicles in the scrotum are suggestive, and in 

 small horses the oiled hand introduced into the rectum may reach the 

 kidney and ascertain its sensitiveness. 



Treatment demands, first, the removal of any recognized cause. 

 Then, if the suffering and fever are high, 2 to 4 quarts of blood may 

 be abstracted from the jugular vein; in weak subjects or unless in 

 high fever this should be omitted. Next relieve the kidneys so far 

 as possible by throwing their work on the bowels and skin. A pint 

 of castor oil is less likely than either aloes or salts to act on the kid- 

 neys. To affect the skin a warm stall and heavj'^ clothing may be 

 supplemented by dram doses of Dover's powder. Pain may be 

 soothed by dram doses of bromide of potassium. Boiled flaxseed 

 ma}' be added to the drinking water, and also thrown into the rectum 



