140 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



filling of (internal pressure in) the blood vessels of the kidneys. 

 Hence the contraction of the blood-vessels of the skin by cold drives 

 the blood inward, tends to dilate the blood-vessels of the kidneys, 

 and to increase the secretion of urine. Nervous disorders, such as 

 excitement, fear, congestions, or structural injuries to the back part 

 of the base of the brain, have a similar result. Hence, doubtless, the 

 action of certain fungi growing in musty hay or oats in producing pro- 

 fuse flow of urine, whereas other forms of musty fodder cause stupor, 

 delirium, or paralysis. 



The amount of urine passed daily by an ox on dry feeding averages 

 7 to 12 pints, but this may be increased enormously on a watery diet. 



The mutual influence of the kidneys and other important organs tends 

 to explain the way in which disease in one part supervenes on pre-ex- 

 isting disorder in another. The introduction of albuminoids in excess 

 into the blood means the formation of an excess of urea, and a more 

 profuse secretion of urine, of a higher specific gravity, and with a greater 

 tendency to deposit its solid constituents, as gravel, in the kidneys or 

 bladder. A torpid action of the liver having the albuminoids in transi- 

 tion forms, less soluble than the urea into which they should have been 

 changed, favors the onset of rheumatism or nervous disorder, the de- 

 posit of such albuminoid products in the kidneys, the formation of a 

 deep brown or reddish urine, and congestion of the kidneys. Any ab- 

 normal activity of the liver in the production of sugar more than can 

 be burned up in the circulation overstimulates the kidneys and pro- 

 duces increased flow of a heavy urine with a sweetish taste. This in- 

 creased production of sugar may be primarily due to disease of the 

 brain, which, in its turn, determines the disorder of the liver. Disease 

 of the right side of the heart or of the lungs, by obstructing the onward 

 flow of blood from the veins, increases the blood pressure in the kidneys 

 and produces disorder and excessive secretion. Inactivity of the kid- 

 neys determines an increase in the blood of waste products, which become 

 irritating to different parts, producing skin eruptions, itching, dropsies, 

 and nervous disorders. Sprains of the loins will produce bleeding from 

 the kidneys and disease of the spinal cord, and determine sometimes 

 albuminous or milky-looking urine. 



The kidney of the ox (Plate ix, Fig. 1) is a compound organ made up 

 of fifteen to twenty-five separate lobules like so many separate kidneys, 

 but all pouring their secretion into one common pouch (pelvis) situated 

 in an excavation in the center of the lower surface. While the ox is 

 the only domesticated quadruped which maintains this divided con- 

 dition of the kidney after birth, this condition is common to all while 

 at an early stage of development in the Avomb. The cluster of lobules 

 making up a single kidney forms an ovoid mass flattened from above 

 downward, and extending from the last rib backward beneath the loins 

 and to one side of the solid chain of the backbone. The right is more 

 firmly attached to ohe loins and extends further backward than the left. 



