DISEASES OF THE KIDNEYS. 187 



Girded as in some deo-ree remedial in less severe forms of hce- 

 niorrhage ; such as the preparation of turpentine, alum, sul[)hu- 

 ric acid, and balsam of copaiba, in doses of one ounce." — Ed.] 



CHAP. XXXVII. 



DISEASES OF THE KIDNEYS. INFLAMMATION OF THE KID- 

 NEYS, OR NEPHRITIS. — HiEMATURIA, OR BLOODY URINE. 



Inflavimatiun of the Kidneys (^Nephritis) 



Is generally caused by riding or driving a horse immoderately; 

 by straining the loins, in making him draw heavy loads, or carry 

 heavy burdens; by exposure to cold and wet, ^particularly if 

 applied to the loins, and the employment of powerful diuretic 

 medicine. 



The symptoms of the disorder are, a constant desire to make 

 water, without being able to void any, or scarcely any ; and tlie 

 little that is discharged is dark-coloured or bloody ; occasionally 

 quite black. Sometimes there is considerable pain manifested, 

 the horse lying down and getting up frequently, as in colic, and 

 looking round at his flanks. On pressing the loins he evinces 

 considerable tenderness. The pulse is generally hard and full, 

 and often as many as 70 or 80 in a minute. There is great stiff- 

 ness of the hind parts, generally more observable in one leg than 

 the other. The horse often stands straddling, or wide, as if in 

 want to make water, and every now and then straining, or 

 making painful and ineffectual efforts to stale. This appearance 

 often leads the groom to think that it is a stoppage of water, and 

 that a diuretic is necessary ; but the fact is, that the dark- 

 coloured or bloody urine is so stimulating or acrimonious, that 

 the bladder contracts violently, in order to force out the smallest 

 quantity that gets into it. I have examined horses that have 

 died of this disorder, and found the bladder healthy, while the 

 kidneys have been highly inflamed. 



[The treatynent &\\o\x\di consist of copious bleeding, until, indeed, 

 the pulse shrinks vmder the finger, and becomes almost imper- 

 ceptible. A stimulating liniment, composed of hartshorn and 

 oil, should be rubbed on the loins, which should then be covered 

 by a fresh sheep-skin, the flesh side under. The skin should, 

 if possible, be renewed in twelve or eighteen hours. No diuretic 

 medicine should be administered, either internally or externally ; 

 therefore blisters must be avoided, as they contain cantharides, 

 which medicine has considerable diuretic properties. The effect 

 of the sheep-skin will be to produce a most profuse perspiration. 



