OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 193 



thick that it will not flow through the catheter, and you have to 

 assist it by putting the hand in the rectum and giving the bladder 

 gentle pressure. The fever rises to 103 or 104. Pain and 

 nervousness cause him to make attempts to get up and he can 

 get up upon his fore feet but his hind parts are helpless. Ho 

 may walk on his front feet and drag his hind parts along for 

 some distance. 



As the disease progresses and uraemic poisoning sets in the 

 animal becomes delirious (the first effect of uraemia) and runs 

 on to a comatose condition and finally death. Death usually oc- 

 curs in convulsions. The mortality in the city is about 60 or 70 

 per cent. Death occurs in about 48 to 72 hours, though the 

 disease often runs on to five or six weeks. Sometimes the 

 urine contains tube casts, haematin and haemoglobin. The tube 

 casts indicate nephritis and in case of abscess there will be pus 

 in it. In case of gangrene gas will bubble out through the 

 catheter. 



In mild cases the symptoms are only partially developed. He 

 may go down and get up again but there will be pain and lame- 

 ness in one quarter, in that respect different from colic. The 

 animal often gets w^ell after lying down an hour or two. It seems 

 that a three days' stay in the stable is worse than a three weeks' 

 period of idleness, for in the longer time of rest the animal 

 gradually loses the good appetite he had at ^'rst and consequently 

 eats less and the system becomes used to the change. The cap- 

 illaries become enlarged and can accommodate the larger amount 

 of blood. 



Tr6aiment. — Wherever you find the animal, draw^ off the 

 urine to relieve the distress of an overfilled bladder. If he is 

 nervous give him an ounce of fluid extract Gelsemium for the 

 first dose and if a second is needed, a half ounce. It is doubtful 

 if a purgative is needed, as there is already a lack of water in 

 the system and a purgative would further reduce it. I never 

 found much benefit in purgatives, though I usually give an aver- 

 age dose of aloes. Diuretics are dangerous ; if the congestion is 

 severe the diuretic will surely kill. The potassium diuretics are 

 especially dangerous. Give a mild stimulant. 



