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inllammation of the kidneys, ho\vever, is ihe scanty elimination or total 

 suppression of the urine, and the desire to pass it frequently. Tlie animal 

 strains violently, but may be unable to pass more than a few drops of water. 

 This is highly coloured, and contains blood. In many cases of inflammation 

 •of the kidneys, the flow of water completely ceases ; i\\\d not uncommonly 

 there is no other symptom to indicate the nature of the malady. In other 

 cases, there are signs of pain manifested by lying down and rolling about ; 

 while at other times the seat of pain is pointed at, by the animal turning 

 round, and endeavouring to bite or scratch at the loins. If the suppression 

 ■of the urine be prolonged, the animal may become partially unconscious ; but 

 there is no loss of motor power. 



In most cases of acute inflammation caused by cold, fatigue, or 

 exhaustion, if the pulse be strong, it is our custom to bleed in moderation, 

 that is to remove from two to three cjuarts. Those cases, however, which 

 supervene on various fevers, do not bear depletion so well. The bowels must 

 be freely acted upon by the administration of five to six or seven drachms of 

 aloes. A lax condition of the bowels should be maintained by the 

 administration of sulphate of sodium given in the drinking water. Eight to 

 twelve ounces or more may be given in the course of the day. The pain may 

 be relieved by the application of woollen cloths, which have been steeped in 

 hot water and then wrung out, or of linseed-meal poultices over the loins. The 

 diet should be laxative, consisting of linseed and oatmeal gruel and bran 

 mashes. When the fever has subsided, salts of iron and vegetable tonics 

 are'necessary. The following formula is a good one for this and other 

 cases of horses convalescing from acute inflammations : — Of sulphate of 

 cinchonine, forty grains ; of the double citrate of iron and ammonium, two 

 drachms, made up into a ball with gentian, ginger, and treacle to eight 

 drachms. One of these balls may be given twice daily for four or five days. 



We may now speak of the presence of blood in the urine. One of the 

 causes of this occurrence, as we have just said, is inflammation of the 

 kidneys. There are, however, other causes of this condition, such as strains 

 from violent exertion, improper feeding, diseases of the bladder such as 

 inflammation, of which we shall shortly speak, and the presence of a stone in 

 the bladder. In these cases, the animal must be put on a plain, laxative, 

 soothing diet, which should consist of linseed gruel and mashes. Linseed 

 tea is a very good drink in the place of water. Three drachms of aloes, in 

 the form of a ball or in solution, may be given in the first instance ; and in 

 the drinking water three drachms of tincture of perchloride of iron may be 

 given twice daily, so long as the condition of the urine remains unaltered. 

 Sometimes a condition is met with in which the urine is very high coloured, 

 and yet does not contain blood. For this, luxurious dieting is to be 

 assigned as the cause. In such cases, five or six drachms of aloes maybe 

 administered in the first instance, and half an ounce of bicarbonate of 

 potassium may be given twice daily in the drinking water. We have already 

 treated of diabetes or profuse urination, which, as we mentioned, is not a 

 disease of the kidnevs. 



