DIABETES. 515 



ling of the legs, and inflammation of the mucous membrane of 

 the mouth. 



TREATMENT consists in keeping the animal on green 

 and laxative food; and giving ^ oz. of nitre in the mash or 

 water, every second day or so. If the mouth is sore, it may be 

 washed out, from time to time, with a strong solution of borax 

 or alum in water. 



Diabetes Mellitus. 



In this disease, an abnormal amount (as much as 5.85 per 

 cent, in a case observed by Werner) of sugar is found in the 

 m'ine. Friedberger and Frohner state that 3.75 per cent, is an 

 average quantity in this complaint. Although only a very few 

 cases have been observed in Europe ; Nunn and Blenkinsop say that 

 it is not uncommon among horses in India. 



NATURE. — The appearance of grape sugar in the urine can be brought 

 about by, among other causes, (1) mechanical irritation by blows and wounds 

 on certain portions of the brain and spinal cord; (2) by drugs that, like 

 morphia and chloroform, excite the brain ; (3) by removal of the pancreas ; 



and (4) excessive secretion of grape sugar by the liver (p. 538). 



This presence of sugar may be only a temporary condition, or 

 may be continued, in which case it will be the characteristic 

 symptom of a disease that seems to be almost always fatal in about 

 a couple of months' time. The symptoms, excluding that of the 

 presence of sugar, closely resemble those of diabetes insipidus. 

 Ulceration of the cornea sometimes occurs in the late stages of 

 the disease. Treatment appears to be of no avail. 



Diabetes Insipidus {Polyuria, or Profuse Staling) 



is a disease characterised by a continued and excessive flow of 

 wateiy urine of low sjDecific gravity, and by consequent thirst. 

 The conditions which give rise to this state, appear to have 

 little or no connection with the well-being of the kidneys. AVe 

 know that irritation to a certain portion of the brain (the 

 rhomboidal sinus near the centre of origin of the pneumo- 

 gastric) is accompanied by profuse staling, though we cannot 

 exactly say how this is brought about. It is not improbable that 

 disease germs which are contained in musty forage and which 

 appear to give rise to polyuria {i.e., much urine), may, after being 

 received into the circulation, manufacture products which irri- 

 tate' the nervous centre in question. In other cases, the fact 

 of the blood being in an altered condition from disease, errors 

 in diet, etc., may render it liable to encourage the development of 



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