114 DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 



from the blood, the animal would soon suffer from 

 a form of blood poisoning called uremic. The 

 quantity of urine secreted varies very much in the 

 same animal. The weather has a great deal to do 

 with the amount secreted. Animals pass more 

 urine in winter than in summer, as heat increases 

 the quantity removed by the skin and lessens the 

 amount passed by the kidneys. Work lessens it, as 

 more passes off by the skin. The food the animals 

 eat alters very much the quality and quantity. If 

 animals such as the horse are fed on straw, the 1 

 urine is usually of a whitish color, if on timothy 

 hay or clover hay usually dark. Thick, creamy urine 

 is the result of a sluggish condition of the kidneys, 

 while coffee colored and scanty urine is the result 

 of fever and a partial congestive state of the secre- 

 tive organs in different parts of the body. An in- 

 crease in the quantity and of a clear or light yellow 

 color denotes either over-stimulation or it is seen 

 in cold weather, and on account of it not being 

 irritant the time between voiding it has been pro- 

 longed. On the other hand, if it is passed in quan- 

 tities and often, and the animal is very thirsty, it 

 is a symptom of a disease which will be described 

 hereafter. As long as an animal is in good condi- 

 tion and spirits and has a good appetite no notice 

 need be taken of the urine. Diseases of the urinary 

 organs are very rare in animals, but as they do 

 happen sometimes I will describe a few of them. 



Nephritis (Inflammation of the Kidneys). — In- 

 flammation of the kidneys is caused from exposure 

 to cold when the animal is heated, kicks, and other 



