244 DISEASES OF THE INTESTINES. 



retics, by lessening the quantity of blood, are useful assistants in accomplishing these 

 purposes. 



The horse is subject to effusions of fluid in particular parts. Swelled legs are a 

 disease almost peculiar to him. The ox, the sheep, the dog, the ass, and even the 

 mule, seldom have it, but it is for the removal of this deposit of fluid in the cellulai 

 substance of the legs of the horse that we have recourse to diuretics. The legs of 

 man}' horses cannot be rendered fine, or kept so, without the use of diuretics ; nor 

 can grease — often connected with these swellings, producing them or caused by them 

 — be otherwise subdued. It is on this account that diuretics are ranked among the 

 most useful of veterinary medicines. 



In injudicious hands, however, these medicines are sadly abused. Among the 

 absurdities of stable-management there is nothing so injurious as the frequent use of 

 diuretics. Not only are the kidneys often over-excited, weakened, and disposed to 

 disease, but the whole frame becomes debilitated ; for the absorbents have carried 

 away a great part of that which was necessary to the health and condition of the 

 horse, in order to supply the deficiency of blood occasioned by the inordinate discharge 

 of urine. There is likewise one important fact of which the groom or the horseman 

 seldom thinks, viz. : — That, when he is removing these humours by the imprudent 

 use of diuretics, he is only attacking a symptom or a consequence of disease, and no* 

 the disease itself. The legs will fill again, and the grease will return. While the 

 cause remains, the effect will be produced. 



In the administration of diuretics, one thing should be attended to, and the gocd 

 effect of which the testimony of every intelligent man will confirm : the horse shovld 

 have plenty to drink. Not only will inflammation be prevented, but the operation of 

 the medicine will be much promoted. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS. 



This is no uncommon disease in the horse, and is more unskilfully and fatall}' 

 treated than almost any other. The early symptoms are those of fever generally, but 

 the seat of the disease soon becomes evident. The horse looks anxiously round at 

 his flanks; stands with his hinder legs wide apart ; is unwilling to lie down ; strad- 

 dles as he walks ; expresses pain in turning ; shrinks when the loins are pressed, 

 and some degree of heat is felt there. The urine is voided in small quantities ; fre- 

 quently it is high-coloured, and sometimes bloody. The attempt to urinate becomes 

 more frequent, and the quantity voided smaller, until the animal strains painfully and 

 violently, but the discharge is nearly or quite suppressed. The pulse is quick and 

 hard ; full in the early stage of the disease, but rapidly becoming small, jet not losing 

 its character of hardness. These symptoms clearly indicate an affection of the urinary 

 organs ; but they do not distinguish inflammation of the kidney from that of the blad- 

 der. In order to effect this, the hand must be introduced into the rectum. If the 

 bladder is felt full and hard under the rectum, there is inflammation of the neck of it; 

 if it is empty, yet on the portion of the intestines immediately over it there is more 

 than natural heat and tenderness, there is inflammation of the body of the bladder; 

 and if the bladder is empty, and there is no increased heat or tenderness, there is 

 inflammation of the kidney. 



Among the causes of diabetes are improper food, and particularly hay that has been 

 mow-burnt, or oats that are musty. The farmer should look well to this. Oats that 

 have been dried on a kiln acquire a diuretic property, and if horses are long fed on 

 them, the continual excitement of this organ which they produce will degenerate into 

 inflammation. Too powerful or too often repeated diuretics induce inflammation of 

 the kidney, or a degree of irritation and weakness of that organ that disposes tc 

 inflammation from causes that would otherwise have no injurious effect. If a horse 

 is sprained in tne loins by being urged on, far or fast, by a heavy rider, or compelled 

 to take too wide a leap, or by being suddenly pulled up on his haunches, the inflam- 

 mation of the muscles of the loins is often speedily transferred to the kidneys, with 

 which they lie in contact. Exposure to cold is another frequent orifjin of this malady, 

 especially if the horse is drenched with rain, or the wet drips upon his loins; and, 

 more particularly, if he was previously disposed to inflammation, or these organs had 

 neon previously weakened. For this reason, hackney-coach horses and others, exposed 

 10 the vicissitudes of the weather, and often fed on unwholesome provender, have, oi 

 should have, their loins protected by leather or some other clothing. The grand cause 



