URINARY ORGANS i8i 



various abnormal constituents, such as blood, pus, gravel, 

 tube-casts, etc. In a disorder known as 



AZOTURIA 



the urine becomes coffee-coloured. This affection, whilst 

 not common, is occasionally met with, especially in horses 

 and geldings. It comes on without any warning and in 

 nearly every instance whilst the animal is at work, but 

 usually after the latter has been kept in the stable for two 

 or three days, without any reduction in the amount of 

 oats, etc., supplied as forage. The kidneys and the 

 muscles seem to be primarily implicated in this disorder, 

 and the most significant sign is the changed colour of the 

 urine. Apart from this, the muscles, more especially of the 

 loins and quarters, become as rigid as boards and remain 

 in this condition until there is an abatement in the severity 

 of the attack. Sometimes the affection is of quite a mild 

 character, whereas in other instances it is severe and soon 

 terminates fatally. One of the worst effects of azoturia is 

 the wasting of the muscles which follows recovery, if 

 this is fortunate enough to occur. The most hopeless 

 cases are those in which the animals are unable to rise. 

 Doubtless, to place the animal in slings as early as possible 

 is distinctly advantageous and can be recommended. 

 Treatment is, however, a matter which must be left to a 

 veterinary surgeon — to a qualified man (M.R.C.V.S.) and 

 not to any of the hopeless and useless emperics scattered 

 throughout our own and other countries. 



Diabetes or Excessive Urination 



Excessive urination is not at all uncommon amongst 

 studs of horses, in which it is chiefly due to feeding the 

 animals upon damaged or musty forage. The urine is 

 very light-coloured and an extraordinary amount of 

 fluid is passed from the urinary apparatus. It appears to 

 be due to some disturbance of the digestive organs, which 



