570 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



Stall, protected from cold, and supplied with good and easily- 

 digestible food. The application of mustard to the loins is 

 beneficial in some cases. It is generally advisable to administer 

 a cathartic drench, and to repeat it, if necessary, in two days* 

 time, and in certain cases to give enemas. Cupping over the 

 loins has been adopted with success, when there is acute inflam- 

 mation of the kidneys. An infusion of digitalis may be tried 

 in suitable doses, but only according to the prescription of a 

 scientist, or by his directions. 



HiEMOGLOBINURIA IN CATTLE. 

 The following is taken from the Lancet^ of Dec. 8th, 1888 : — 



Professor Babes has found that cattle in the low marshy ground on the 

 banks of the Lower Danube are exceedingly subject to albuminuria, which is 

 often confounded with rinderpest. It has fortunately been much less common 

 during the last few years, owing to the stringent police sanitary regulations 

 which have been enforced. Still, from 30,000 to 50,000 head of cattle are even 

 now annually destroyed by it, the bulls being by far the most numerous victims,, 

 heifers and cows appearing to have less disposition to contract the disease. A 

 special coccus has been found which refracts light powerfully. It has a 

 diameter of about half a millimetre, and presents very much the characters 

 of the gonococci. It can be cultivated in agar-agar at the temperature of the 

 body ; but Professor Babes has not yet succeeded in infecting animals by its 

 means. 



CONGESTION OF THE KIDNEYS. 



This results from interference with the heart's action or the 

 pulmonary circulation. It derives importance as signifying 

 these conditions, and hence it is necessary to give attention to it. 



NEPHRITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS. 



Nephritis, or inflammation of the kidneys, is fortunately only 

 rarely met with among cattle. The disease, moreover, only 

 seems to afflict working oxen. In the case of the horse, the 

 disease, when it breaks out, is usually found to result from the 

 excessive administration of diuretic agents of an irritating kind, 

 given unwisely with the view of improving the condition of the 

 animal. Nephritis may arise in any animal as a consequence 

 of injury, and of an extension of inflammation from other 

 structures near. 



Symptoms. — If both kidneys be affected, the urine may be 

 almost entirely suppressed, although it is only rarely completely 

 suppressed. Febrile signs are exhibited, the appetite is lost> 



