DIABETES— BLOODY URINE— ALBUMINOUS URINE, &.c. 246 



liowever, of nephritis, is the unnecessary quantity or undue strength of the diuretic 

 medicines that are forced on the horse by the ignorant groom. This is an evil carriea 

 to an infamous extent, and against which every horseman should sternly oppose 

 himself. 



The treatment will only vary from that of inflammation of other parts by a consi- 

 deration of the peculiarity of the organ affected. Bleeding must be promptly resorted 

 to, and carried to its full extent. An active purge should next be administered; and 

 a counter-inflammation excited as nearly as possible to the seat of disease. For this 

 purpose the loins should be fomented with hot water, or covered with a mustard- 

 poultice — the horse should be warmly clothed; but no cantharides or turpentine 

 should be used, and. most of all, no diuretic be given internally. When the groom 

 finds this diiliculty or suppression of staling, he immediately has recourse to a diuretic 

 ball to force on the urine ; and by thus needlessly irritating a part alreadj^ too much 

 excited, he adds fuel to fire, and frequently destroys the horse. The action of the 

 purgative having begun a little to cease, white hellebore may he administered in small 

 doses, with or without emetic tartar. The patient should be warmly clothed ; his 

 legs well bandaged ; and plenty of water offered to him. The food should be care- 

 fully examined, and anytiiing that could have excited or that may prolong the irrita- 

 tion carefully removed. 



DIABETES, OR PROFUSE STALING 



Is a comparatively rare disease. It is generally the consequence of undue irritation 

 of the kidney by bad food or strong diuretics, and sometimes follows inflammation of 

 that organ. It can seldom be traced in the horse to any disease of the digestive 

 organs. The treatment is obscure, and the result often uncertain. It is evidently 

 increased action of the kidneys, and therefore the most rational plan of treatment is to 

 endeavour to abate that action. In order to eff'ect this, the same course should be 

 pursued in the early stage of diabetes as in actual inflammation; but the lowering 

 system must not be carried to so great an extent. To bleeding, purging, and counter- 

 irritation, medicines of an astringent quality should succeed, as catechu, the powdered 

 leaf of the whortleberry (uva ursi), and opium. Very careful attention should be paid 

 to the food. The hay and oats should be of the best quality. Green meat, and espe- 

 cially carrots, will be very serviceable. 



BLOODY URINE— HEMATURIA. 



The discharge of urine of this character is of occasional occurrence. Pure blood 

 is sometimes discharged which immediately coagulates — at other times it is more or 

 less mixed with the urine, and does not coagulate. The cause of its appearance and 

 the source whence it proceeds cannot always be determined, but it is probably the 

 result of some strain or blow. It may or may not be accompanied by inflammation. 



Should it be the result of strain or violence, or be evidently attended by inflamma- 

 tion, soothing and depleting measures should be adopted. Perhaps counter-irritation 

 on the loins might be useful. If there is no apparent inflammation, some gentle 

 stimulus may be administered internally. 



ALBUMINOUS URINE. 



A peculiar mucous state of the urine of some horses has lately attracted attention. 

 It has been associated with stretching out of the legs, stiff"ness, disinclination to move, 

 a degree of fever, and costiveness. Slight bleeding, mild physic, the application of 

 gentle stimulants to the loins, quietness, and gentle opiates, have been of service. 

 We are indebted to Mr. Percivall for what we do know of the disease. It is a subject 

 worthy of the attention of the veterinary surgeon. 



THE BLADDER. 



The urine separated from the blood is discharged by the minute vessels, of which 

 we have spoken, into some larger canals, which terminate in a cavity or reservoir in 

 the body of each kidney, designated its pelvis. Thence it is conveyed by a duct called 

 the ureter, to a larger reservoir, the bladder. It is constantly flowing from the kidney 

 through the ureter ; and were there not this provision for its detention, it would be 

 incessantly and annoyingly dribbling from the animal. The bladder lies in, and 

 when distended by urine nearly fills, the cavity of the great bones of the haunch, 

 21* 



