188 DISEASES OF THE URINARY AND SEXUAL APPARATUS 



nephrosis). In the early stages, -where the micrococci have just collected 

 in the urinary canals and have started to form abscess centres, a very 

 interesting study is afforded. 



Clinical Symptoms. — The symptoms of abscess of the kidneys may not 

 differ to any great extent from chronic nephritis, the diagnosis being 

 based on local manifestations, by means of palpation of the abdomen in 

 the region of the affected kidney; this may be greatly enlarged or even 

 fluctuating if the abscess has formed pus. An examination of the urine 

 may show it to contain numerous pus corpuscles, a large quantity of 

 micro-organisms, and an excess of albumin and pus, blood cylinders, renal 

 epithelium and, in rare cases, we may even find portions of broken-down 

 renal tissue. It is possible, however, to find an acute case in which none 

 of these symptoms are presented and where the urine is practically clear; 

 this is particularly noticeable when the irritation is due to an embolus. 

 The whole appearance of the animal presents all the symptoms of an acute 

 wasting disease; the fever is irregular or intermittent and there is gener- 

 ally rapid emaciation. 



Perinephritic abscesses may become so large that they form a tumor- 

 like body in the lumbar region, and the pus can be detected under the 

 skin, in some cases so large that the enlargement fluctuates. When such 

 is the case, and we have confirmed our diagnosis by means of an exploring 

 needle, the sac should be emptied by an aspirator or by making a fairly 

 large opening and emptying the abscess of its contents. It should then be 

 washed out daily with an antiseptic solution. If the kidney itself is not 

 directly affected by the abscess, we may expect a quick recovery under 

 good antiseptic conditions (see treatment of wounds). 



Treatment. — If the disease is confined to one kidney, the treatment 

 should be surgical and the abnormal kidney removed, care being taken, 

 however, to be sure the remaining kidney is normal and able to perform 

 the duties of both. 



Inflammation of the Pelvis of the Kidney. 



(Pyelitis.) 



Etiology. — This is caused by the irritation or extension of certain in- 

 flammations from the body of the kidney, from poisonous irritants passed 

 from the blood through the kidneys, from foreign bodies that lie in the 

 pelvis, from nephritic stones, or strongylus gigas, and this condition is 

 also seen in infectious diseases that are acute in character, as well as in 

 the extension of inflammation from neighboring organs (nephritis, cystitis) 

 and from any of the various conditions that result in interference with the 

 flow of urine, stricture of the ureters, from the presence of calculi, 



