URINARY DISEASES. 



708. Nephritis — Inflammation of the Kidneys. — This occurs 

 in three forms, viz. : — acute, sub-acute, and chronic ; and generally the 

 two last named forms are most often seen, though it is a rather 

 uncommon disease in the domestic animals. 



709. Symptoms. — At the onset of the acute form in the horse, the 

 symptoms very much resemble those of colic, or inflammation of the 

 bowels, only the pain is not nearly so violent ; the animal frequently 

 lies down and gets up again, perspires freely, and breathes hurriedly ; 

 there is a quick pulse, and a great rise of temperature ; when lying, 

 the patient attempts to put its nose on to its loins, while if standing, 

 it constantly stretches into a position to urinate, and small quantities 

 of urine, very highly coloured and occasionally tmged with blood are 

 passed. I have seen cases where the urine, when collected in a vessel, 

 and allowed to stand for a time, coagulated. In the sub-acute and 

 chronic stages very little pain is manifested, but the animal is very 

 dull, has a tucked-up belly, a staring coat, hurried panting breathing, 

 a quick small pulse, and a high temperature of from 105° to 106^. 

 If these cases are not early relieved, they may tetminate in urcsmic 

 poisoning {par. 320), or m the formation o( abscesses in one or both kidneys. 



710. When only one kidney is affected, as a rule the other has to do 

 the work of both, and becomes hypertrophied or enlarged. During 

 the time the sound kidney is comporting itself to the double duty, all 

 the symptoms of uraemic poisoning are manifested. After a time, 

 the abscess m the affected kidney may become encysted, and then 

 the animal appears to get well, doing its work Avith only one kidney. 

 Again, the abscess may burst, and its contents pass along in the 

 urine to the bladder ; there the solid portions of the pus or matter may 

 coagulate, and passing into the urethra, block up the passage, so that 

 the case may end in rupture of the bladder, from the continual strain 

 in attempting to void the urine. 



711. The causes of inflammation of the kidneys are various. Some 

 writers hold that the too frequent administration of fancy condition 



