184 DISEASES OF THE URINARY AND SEXUAL APPARATUS 



AVhen the symptoms are milder and the animal recovers, this is indi- 

 cated by an increase in the amount of urine secreted and its becoming 

 clearer; liut this condition may be followed by chronic nephritis. 



Therapeutics. — Medicine, as a rule, has little or no effect on these 

 cases. Tannin, 0.1 gm. several times daily; tinct. fol. uvaursi, 1.0., or 

 fuchsin, and iron preparations may all be used. 



The dietetic treatment is the most successful and consists principally 

 of rest and food that is non-in-itating to the kidneys, such as milk, 

 mutton broth, rice and gelatine soups, are especially useful. Meat 

 may be given, in the acute stages, but only lean meat and in spare 

 quantities, avoiding anything that is spiced or salted. The symp- 

 tomatic treatment is to try to lessen the strain thrown on the kid- 

 neys by trying to carry the fluids out of the body by some channel 

 other than the kidneys, and we try to do this through the skin or the in- 

 testines. This can be accomplished to a certain extent by giving the 

 animal hot baths or using warm bandages (the Priessnitz compress) 

 around the body, particularly around the kidneys, and also by active pur- 

 gatives which have no action on the kidneys, such as cascara sagrada, also 

 jalap and calomel. Where there is great pain in the region of the kidney 

 and the animal moves about Avith the back arched, the application of a 

 warm linseed poultice in the region of the kidneys is particularly useful. 

 To relieve the kidney we can also try pilocarpine, which produces 

 great salivary secretion in the dog. This, however, must be used with 

 great care in'dogs that have any affections of the heart or lungs. Diuretics 

 must not be used in nephritis, as they increase the secretion of salts, 

 especially the alkalies. General debility should be treated by alcoholic 

 stimulants, such as brandy, whiskey, or sherry, in the case of very small 

 animals. Use inhalations of chloroform, clysters of chloral hydrate, or 

 salts of bromine to counteract convulsions. Where acute nephritis occurs 

 as a result of some infectious or toxic disease, the symptoms must be 

 treated in connection with the exciting; cause 



Chronic Inflammation of the Kidneys. 



(Chronic Nephritis; Xephritis Clironica.) 



Etiology. — Chronic nephritis oi'iginates, as a rule, from acute nephritis 

 or starts in a mild form and gradually becomes chronic; this is seen particu- 

 larly when it originates from toxic or infectious causes, and in animals 

 that are subjected to repeated colds or lie in damp kennels, so that it is 

 very difficult to tell at times just how a chronic case may originate. 



Pathological Anatomy. — There are two forms of chronic inflammation 

 of the kidneys; first the large white kidney (chronic parenchymatous 



