360 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



CHAPTER XXIII 

 THE HORSE IN SICKNESS AND DISEASE 



DISEASES OP THE URINARY ORGANS, AND OP 

 THE ORGANS OP GENERATION, IN THE HORSE 

 AND MARS-FOALING. 



I.— The Urinary Organs. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS — DIABETES — ALBUMINOUS 

 URINE — BLOODY URINE — INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER. 



OVER-EXERTION, particularly under heavy burthens, is one 

 grand cause of kidney disease ; medicine and food possess- 

 ing diuretic properties constitute another ; bearing which 

 in mind, it will at all times become a leading desideratum 

 in the treatment, to take care to remove or avoid the 

 repetition of such influences. The kidney of the horse is a 

 peculiarly susceptible organ. It is easily acted on ; and 

 many — indeed most — medicines that we are in the habit of 

 using take some effect or other upon it. This is one reason 

 why so very few medicines will purge horses : the majority 

 of them being so readily carried out of the system through 

 the kidneys. 



Inflammation of the kidneys, as a primary disease, is not 

 very common with the horse, but by its fatal tendency, it 

 becomes important. Small as these organs are, they are 

 most essential to life, and the quantity of blood passing 

 through them is very great ; therefore, we cannot wonder 

 at their aptitude to inflame, nor the great derangement 

 that inflammation occasions the machine. 



The causes are, exposure to cold, standing in the rain, 

 water dropping on the loins we have known bring it on ; 

 a heavy, awkward rider by his motions, or even the action 

 of the psoae muscles in great exertion, may bruise the 

 kidneys ; and occasionally it may be caused by a sympa- 

 thetic inflammation. Mow-burnt hay, musty or even kiln- 

 dried oats, in common with other diuretic substances, which 

 under the name of staling or urine balls, are such favourites 

 with every groom, may produce it. It may terminate in 

 resolution, suppuration, or gangrene. 



Sym2Jtoms. — Dull appearance ; pain, expressed by looking 



