216 THEORY AND PRACTICE 



Treatment. — Hygiene should be good; give scalded oats and 

 bran, equal parts. The kidneys must be made to work or the 

 horse will die. Diuretics are strongly indicated ; at the same time 

 keep the bowels slightly relaxed with sulphate of sodium. When 

 the disease becomes chronic the animal will die but he may live 

 for two or three years. 



The second form of nephritis is the acute parenchymatous. 

 This form come on suddenly with a tendency to kill in about 

 five days or produces one or more abscesses, later. If it attacks 

 both kidneys it will kill in five days, but if only one is affected 

 the horse may live for some time and possibly recover. 



Etiology. — Anything that causes renal congestion may cause 

 acute parenchymatous nephritis. Sometimes severe strains of 

 the psoas muscles cause inflammation which extends to the kid- 

 neys. The most typical cases come from cold and dampness. 



Symptoms. — The horse is in great pain and has an anxious 

 countenance, glistening eyes, and although restless is disinclined 

 to move and yet may sweat. His temperature may run up four 

 to six degrees. He does not seem to wish to move his hind legs 

 and stands persistently. He passes only a small quantity of urine 

 and it is hot and high-colored. H pressure is put against the af- 

 fected part there is pain. H the horse is forced to move he has 

 a straddling gait. There is great loss of appetite. He grows 

 rapidly worse and may die in the course of three days, but the 

 general average is five. The urine is entirely suppressed before 

 death. The form of death is syncope. 



Post Mortem. — In a very acute case without pus the kidneys 

 will be swollen and dark red. Occasionally you will find part 

 of one or both gangrenous. 



Treatment. — This form of acute nephritis requires prompt 

 treatment. Put hot wet rugs over the loins and change them 

 every half hour. Keep the animal where he is warm and com- 

 fortable. Give rectal injections of warm water with a little bella- 

 donna in it, — Fl. Ext. Bella, half ounce to water four pints. 

 Give horse linseed tea to drink, acetanilid in moderate doses as 

 often as he can stand it and aconite in small repeated doses. No 

 matter what the treatment, however, the animal very seldom, if 

 ever, recovers. 



