DISEASES OF THE UEINAEY OEGANS. 125 



agent which may be absorbed and irritate the kidneys must be 

 avoided. The aetivei fever may be checked by 15 drops tincture of 

 aconite every four hours or by one-third ounce of acetanilid. If pain 

 is very acute, 1 ounce of laudanum or 2 drams of solid extract of 

 belladonna will serve to relieve. When the severity of the disease has 

 passed, a course of tonics (quinin, 2 drams, or gentian powder, 4 

 drams, daily) may be given. Diuretics, too, may be given cautiously 

 at this advanced stage to relieve dropsy and give tone to the kidneys 

 and general system (oil of turpentine, 2 teaspoonf uls ; bicarbonate 

 of soda, 1 teaspoonful, repeated twice a day). Pure water is essen- 

 tial, and it should not be given chilled ; warm drinks are preferable. 



In the chronic forms of kidney inflammation the same protection 

 against cold and similar general treatment are demanded. Tonics, 

 however, are important to improve the general health (phosphate of 

 iron, 2 drams; powdered nux vomica, 20 grains; powdered gentian 

 root, 4 drams, dailj'^). In some instances the mineral acids (nitric 

 acid, 60 drops, or nitrohydrochloric acid, 60 drops, daily) may be 

 used with the bitters. Mustard applied to the loins in the form of 

 a thin pulp made with water and covered for an hour with paper or 

 other impervious envelope, or water hotter than the hand can bear, or 

 cupping, may be resorted to as a counterirritant. In cupping, shave 

 the loins, smear them with lard, then take a narrow-mouthed glass, 

 expand the air within by smearing its interior with a few drops of 

 alcohol, setting it on fire and instantly pressing the mouth of the 

 vessel to the oiled portion of the skin. As the air within the vessel 

 cools it contracts, tending to form a partial vacuum, and the skin, 

 charged with blood, is strongly drawn up within it. Several of these 

 being applied at once, a strong derivation from the affected kidneys 

 is obtained. In no case of inflamed or irritable kidney should Span- 

 ish flies or oil of turpentine be used upon the skin. 



PARASITES OF THE KIDNEY. 



As the kidney is the usual channel by which the bacteria leave the 

 system, this organ is liable to be implicated when microphytes exist 

 in the blood, and congestions and blood extravasions are produced. 

 In anthrax, southern cattle fever (Texas fever), and other such 

 affections bloody urine is the consequence. Of the larger parasites 

 attacking the kidney may be specially named the cystic form of the 

 echinococcus tapeworm of the dog, the cystic form of the unarmed or 

 beef tapeworm of man, the diving bladderworm — the cystic form of 

 the marginate tapeworm of the dog, and the giant strongyle — the 

 largest of the rounchvorms. These give rise to general symptoms of 

 kidney disease, but the true source of the trouble is likely to be de- 

 tected only if the heads or booklets of the tapeworm or the eggs of 

 the roundworm are found on microscopical examination of the urine. 



