291 



balls and powders, containing potash, balsams, turpentines, resins, &c., 

 is a cause, but if this were so, the complaint would be of more frequent 

 occurrence than it is. Bad food, of a mouldy and heated nature, and 

 too severe blisters containing cantharides and turpentine may in some 

 cases be blamed. My own opinion is that sudden chills, and exposure to 

 mclement weather, — for instance, an animal being caught by a flood, 

 and compelled to stand for hours, nearly up to the belly in water, or 

 falling into and remaining for some time in a quick mire, or deep 

 gutter, where the water rises up over the back and loins — are more 

 often the cause. Cases arising from these latter causes, generally 

 prove fatal in from 15 to 24 hours. 



712. Treatment. — As the complaint is not readily diagnosed, great 

 care should be taken not to administer quack medicines of a turpentine 

 or balsamic character ; for although they may answer in spasmodic 

 colic, the}' are extremely dangerous in cases of kidney affections. 

 From 15 to 25 ounces of linseed oil, with two to four ounces of 

 laudanum should be given at once, and to relieve the kidneys of some 

 of their work, the skin should be excited by a large hot poultice, made 

 of maize or oatmeal, put into a flannel bag and laid over the loins ; or 

 b}' a blanket, six or eight ply thick, wrung out of hot water and laid 

 over the back with dry woollen rugs on the top, and a waterproof 

 covering over the whole, whilst a good mustard poultice over the loins 

 may also prove beneficial. A newly-flayed sheep-skin may also be 

 tried. Warm water injections should be given every four or six 

 hours, and the legs be well bandaged ; while hypodermic injections of 

 pilocarpine and physostigmiiic are also very useful. Fly blisters, however, 

 must not be used on any account, as the cantharides and turpentirie 

 which enter into their composition, act strongly on the kidneys ; nor 

 should aloes balls be given for the same reason. When the active 

 symptoms have been relieved, easily digested food of a simple character 

 should be offered, such as, linseed jell}- and milk, or milk and water, 

 and well-boiled barley and bran. 



713. Hypertrophy, or enlargement of one or both kidneys, is some- 

 times met with on making post-mortem examinations, no indications of 

 such having been observed during life. Some cases are recorded where 



