EXAMINATION OF THE URINE 173 



Examination of the Kidneys. 



The kidneys are bean-shaped and are almost entirely covered by 

 peritoneum; they lie in the lumbar region, the left kidney about the thir- 

 teenth rib, the right kidne}^ about the twelfth rib; posteriorly the kidneys 

 extend over the second, third, and fourth luml^ar vertel)rpe; in rare 

 instances the left kidney may be still further back, both kidneys 

 lying directly opposite each other. Frequently they are readily dis- 

 tinguished by manipulation through the abdominal walls, and espec- 

 ially one or the other kidney may lie free from its attachments or be ab- 

 normally enlarged during life. The left kidney is always much easier 

 to palpate than the right. The best position is to have the animal stand- 

 ing, holding the thumb on the vertebra and with the other fingers ma- 

 nipulating the abdominal walls until the outlines of the kidneys are 

 recognized. Pain on pressure may indicate nephritis, pyelonephritis, 

 or paranephritis; enlargement of the kidney would indicate tumors, ab- 

 scesses, pyelonephritis, hydronephrosis or purulent nephritis; abnormally 

 small kidneys may indicate a chronic interstitial nephritis. Change of 

 the position or remarkable mol^ility would indicate floating or migrating 

 kidney. 



Examination of the Urine. 



The urine has to be examined as to its amount, color, transparency, 

 reaction, weight, odor, and the presence of certain foreign or chemical 

 substances. 



Amount of Urine. — The amount of urine passed in one day depends 

 largely, of course, on the size of the animal, the cjuantity of fluids it 

 drinks, and the temperature of the atmosphere. It is difficult to estimate 

 the exact amount of urine an animal A\'ill pass under normal circum- 

 stances, as one animal may remain indoors, is house-broken and retains 

 his urine until he is allowed to go outside, and other animals that are 

 free urinate small quantities at every street corner. Friedberger and 

 Frohner found dogs confined in cages urinated two or three times in 

 twenty-four hours, but the amount even in individuals varies, exercise 

 having great influence on the amount excreted. The average amount 

 of urine passed by the larger kinds of dog is from 0.5 to 1.5 kilogrammes 

 daily; in smaller breeds, one-half that amount. An increase in the fre- 

 quency of the act of urination may indicate some irritation of the blad- 

 der. A decrease in the amount of urine passed indicates that the water 

 of the body is being taken up through some other channel, as in violent 

 diarrhoea, great salivation, during the formation of pleuritic or pcrito- 



