312 INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEY. 



blood that circulates through the frame. This artery is divided into innumer- 

 able little branches most curiously complicated and coiled upon each other, 

 Mid the blood, traversing these convolutions, has its watery parts, and others 

 the retaining of which would be injurious, separated from it. 



The fluid thus separated varies materially both in quantity and composition, 

 even during health. There is no animal in which it varies so much as in the 

 horse, — there is no organ in that animal so- much under our command as the 

 kidney ; and no medicines are so useful, or may be so injurious, as diuretics — 

 such as nitre, and digitalis— not only on account of their febrifuge or sedative 

 effects, but because of the power which they exert. They stimulate the kidneys 

 to separate more aqueous fluid than they otherwise would do, and thus lessen the 

 quantity of blood which the heart is labouring to circulate through the frame, 

 and also that which is determined or driven to parts already overloaded. The 

 main objects to be accomplished in these diseases is to reduce the force 

 of the circulation, and to calm the violence of excitement. Diuretics, by 

 lessening the quantity of blood, are useful assistants in accomplishing these 

 purposes. 



The horse is subject to effusions of fluid in particular parts. Swelled legs arc 

 a disease almost peculiar to him. The ox, the sheep, the dog, the ass. and 

 even the mule, seldom have it, but it is for the removal of this deposit of fluid 

 in the cellular substance of the legs of the horse that we have recourse to 

 diuretics. The legs of many horses cannot be rendered fine, or kept so, without 

 the use of diuretics ; nor can grease — often connected with these swellings, 

 producing them or caused by them — be otherwise subdued. It is on this 

 account that diuretics are ranked among the most useful of veterinary 

 medicines. 



In injudicious hands, however, these medicines are sadly abused. Among 

 the absurdities of stable-management there is nothing so injurious as the fre- 

 quent use of diuretics. Not only are the kidneys often over-excited, weakened, 

 and disposed to disease, but the whole frame becomes debilitated ; for the 

 absorbents have carried away a great part of that which was necessary to the 

 health and condition of the horse, in order to supply the deficiency of blood 

 occasioned by the inordinate discharge of urine. There is likewise one impor- 

 tant fact of which the groom or the horseman seldom thinks, viz. : — That, when 

 he is removing these humours by the imprudent use of diuretics, he is only 

 attacking a symptom or a consequence of disease, and not the disease itself. 

 The legs will fill again, and the grease will return. While the cause remains, 

 the effect will be produced. 



In the administration of diuretics, one thing should be attended to, and the 

 good effect of which the testimony of every intelligent man will confirm : the 

 horse should have plenty to drink. Not only will inflammation be prevented, 

 but the operation of the medicine will be much promoted. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS. 

 This is no uncommon disease in the horse, and is more unskilfully and fatally 

 treated than almost any other. The early symptoms are those of fever gene • 

 rally, but the seat of the disease soon becomes evident. The horse looks 

 anxiously round at his flanks; stands with his hinder legs wide apart; is 

 unwilling to lie down; straddles as he walks; expresses pain in turning; 

 shrinks when the loins are pressed, and some degree of heat is felt there. The 

 urine is voided in small quantities ; frequently it is high-coloured, and some- 

 times bloody. The attempt to urinate becomes more frequent, and the quan- 

 tity voided smaller, until the animal strains painfully and violently, but the 

 discharge is nearly or quite suppressed The pulse is quick and hard ; full in. 



