292 



the kidney has weighed from 50 to 112 pounds. When one kidney is 

 abnormally enlarged, the other is generally atrophied, or much smaller 

 than it should be ; enlarged kidneys are, as a rule, very soft and flabby. 



714. Calculi or Stones are sometimes found in the basin of 

 the kidneys on making dissections after death {par. 720). Melanotic 

 Tumours are also occasionally met with, more particularly in the 

 kidneys of grey horses. Haemorrhage sometimes occurs, when a 

 quantity of clotted blood is passed with the urine ; but this may 

 result from injury or disease of any part of the urinary system. The 

 Symptoms of the foregoing diseases of the urinary organs are, however, 

 not well pronounced, and the cases have therefore to be diagnosed from 

 negative points. 



715. Polyuria, Diuresis, Diabetes Insipidus, or Profuse 

 Staling. — In the horse, this complaint — considered a dietetic disease — 

 is characterized by the passing of enormous quantities of urine ; and in 

 one case as much as 38 gallons is recorded to have been passed in five 

 hours. Horses in towns seem to suffer more from this malady than those 

 in the country. The cause in many cases is due to bad food — such as mow- 

 burnt hay, or kiln-dried oats, ship-damaged or mouldy corn and beans, 

 or to drinking an excessive quantity of impure water ; it also follows 

 debilitating diseases, such as influenza, strangles, &c. Symptoms. — 

 The animal attacked loses flesh very fast, is very dull and languid, 

 has the belly tucked up, a staring coat, and shows great weakness, 

 manifested by the plaiting of the hind-legs. The patient also has an 

 unabating thirst, and can scarcely be satisfied with water — I have seen 

 an affected horse go down on to its knees and drink from a filthy 

 gutter, — wdiile the appetite is very irregular. There is further an 

 almost continuous flow of urine ; in some cases, the penis hangs 

 pendulous, while clear urine continually dribbles from it, and if 

 not speedily relieved, the patient dies from exhaustion or inanition. 

 Treatment. — The animal must first be taken off work. Enquire into 

 the quality of the food, and if it be found faulty, change it at once to a 

 good sound nutritious diet ; next, allay the thirst, and for this purpose 

 nothing has such a radical effect as one drachm doses of iodine, given 

 every night in a ball; while for a tonic, 25 to 30 drops of strong hydro- 



