ACUTE NEPHRITIS 



601 



in the urine. In some very severe cases the urinary flow is entirely 

 stopped. 



The temperature is usually increased, and in well-marked 

 cases there may be a fever temperature of 105° F. The respira- 

 tions are usually quickened, and are largely thoracic in character, 

 the abdominal muscles being moved as little as possible. If an 

 attempt is made to examine the animal it will be found that there 

 is exceedingly well-marked tenderness over the region of the loins. 



Fig. 86. — Acute parenchymatous nephritis (catarrhal) : a, Tubule denuded 

 of a large part of its epithelium; b, cells in a condition of degeneration; c, 

 mass of desquamated cells in a tubule (McFarland). 



Dropsy sometimes occurs, but less often in the hog than in the 

 horse. In prolonged cases there is often an accumulation in the 

 body of poisonous substances that should pass out through the 

 kidney, and, as a result of irritation by these toxic materials on the 

 nervous system, convulsions often occur. 



Postmortem Findings. — In an animal that has died of acute 

 inflammation of the kidney the postmortem lesions are quite 

 characteristic. As a rule, the kidneys are enlarged in size, are of a 

 reddish color, and may show small pin-point, bright red spots on 

 their surface. This is especially true in those cases that are due to 



