DISEASES AM) AILMENTS OF HORSES, ETC. 103 



that some horses are diseased in the kidneys, but 

 that there are any horses without such disease. 

 And so witli com, — there is no more prolific source 

 of kidney disease in horses than bad oats. Add Bad oats 

 to this the habit grooms have of giving horses cause of 

 nitre and antimony, and the causes of this com- f^^^^ ^ 

 plaint can be easily understood. A horse with 

 kidney disease is undoubtedly unsound. But un- 

 less a wan'anty with a horse extends for a longer 

 period than usual, it will be difficult to ascertain 

 the fact of such disease. Should any buyer of a 

 horse think the animal he has bought suffers from 

 any such complaint, he should take the advice of 

 some really good veterinary surgeon before going 

 to law about it. Nothing is more deceptive than 

 disease of this natiu'o ; a few grains of nitre will 

 for awhile relieve a horse badly attacked with 

 chronic inflammation of the kidneys, so that he 

 may work on as accustomed to do for months, if 

 not years, and the evidence of disease be so un- 

 satisfactory that a jury would not listen to it. On 

 the other hand, a good veterinary surgeon will 

 give his opinion on this immediately. Many a 

 horse is found dead in the stable Avho was working 

 the day before, and if the kidneys had been ex- 

 amined, the cause of death would have been very 

 soon recognised, and surprise expressed that the 

 animal lived and worked so long. Diabetes, spastn 

 of tJie iieek of tlic hladdcv and eystitis, or actual 

 inflammation of the bladder, are by no means un- 



