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When, likewise, the kidneys seciete too little, as 

 in gravel, which sometimes brings on a sparing and 

 painful flow of urine, we promote a more plentiful 

 formation of it, and a removal of the cause, by di- 

 uretics: but when the urine is in small quantities, 

 fiom miiammation of the kidneys, diuretics only ag- 

 gravate the complaint ; for by stimulating the kidneys, 

 and driving more blood to them, they heighten the 

 inflammation. Inflammation of the kidneys may be 

 distinguished from the common cases of strangury by 

 the symptoms of fever that accompany it, and by the 

 very high colour of the urine. Bloody urine is some- 

 times made after very severe exercise ; here likewise 

 diuretics are hurtful : plenty of mild diluting liquids 

 are the most proper means of cure. 



Diuretics, though of great service in the cases above 

 noticed, should never be given too strong, nor too 

 Jong continued ; otherwise they may bring on a weak- 

 ened state of the kidnevs. Various substances are 

 used as diuretics ; and whatever is used as such, acts 

 with infinitely more certainty in the horse than in 

 man: hence these medicines are much more fre- 

 quently employed in the one than the other. Water, 

 given to a horse who has been deprived of it for 

 twenty-four hours, proves a very strong diuretic. 

 Nitre, mixed with the food, is frequently used as a 

 mild diuretic, and, when it does not gripe, is a very 

 good one. Resin is likewise a very common diuretic ; 

 but it is strong and active, and, whenever given, an 

 interval of three, four, or five days, according to the 

 force with which it acts, should be allowed between 

 each dose. But, to prevent the fatal effects of giving 



