THE HORSE, ITS DISEASES. 371 



VI. Thick and Albuminous Urine. 



This disability in horses, characterized by a thick, ropy, albuminoui 

 discharge of urine, is quite common in its milder forms, being an attend- 

 unt on extensive inflammation of important organs, on rheumatism, 

 fevers, and some conditions of blood poisoning. It is especially attend- 

 ant on inflammation of the kidneys, both acute and chronic, attended 

 with degeneration and shedding of the epithelium (the layers of cells) 

 iining the kidney tubes. 



POSITIOK ASSUMED BY HORSE HAVING ALBUMINOUS URINE. 



How to know it. — ^There are two special positions assumed by horses 

 suffering from severe secretion of albuminous urine. One is the stretched 

 out position. In the other the back will be roached, as seen in the cut. 

 In its mild stages the urine is thick, ropy, mucilaginous ; when it first 

 begins to flow, of a reddish-brown color, but changing to a more natural 

 condition, ending with a whitish, milky fluid ; sometimes the reverse ; 

 commencing white. When the disease is farther advanced the urine is 

 thicker, more deeply tinged, and sometimes offensive to the sense of 

 smell. It may degenerate into a number of forms, and finally terminate 

 in Bright' s disease of the kidneys. 



What to do. — Place the animal where it may be comfortable ; clothe 

 warmly. If there is inflammation of the kidneys, foment with a sheep 

 skin wrung out of hot water ; or better, with an infusion of a handful of 

 digitalis (Foxglove) in a pail of scalding water, and use other measures 

 recommended in this article. If it be thought necessary to liquify the 

 arine, not always beneficial, prepare the recipe given on the following pag«, 

 «od exercise great care in the attendant treatment as there prescribed. 

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