DIABETES, OR PROFUSE STALING. 313 



the early stage of the disease, but rapidly becoming small, yet not losing its 

 character of hardness. These symptoms clearly indicate an affection of the 

 urinary organs ; but they do not distinguish inflammation of the kidney from 

 that of the bladder. In order to effect this, the hand must be introduced into 

 the rectum. If the bladder is felt full and hard under the rectum, there is 

 inflammation of the neck of it ; if it is empty, yet on the portion of the intes- 

 tines immediately over it there is more than natural heat and tenderness there 

 is inflammation of the body of the bladder ; and if the bladder is empty, 

 and there is no increased heat or tenderness, there is inflammation of the 

 kidney. 



Among the causes of diabetes are improper food, and particularly hay that has 

 been mow-burnt, or oats that are musty. The farmer should look well to this. 

 Oats that have been dried on a kiln acquire a diuretic property, and if horses 

 are long fed on them, the continual excitement of this organ which they pro- 

 duce will degenerate into inflammation. Too powerful or too often repeated 

 diuretics induce inflammation of the kidney, or a degree of irritation and weak- 

 ness of that organ that disposes to inflammation from causes that would other- 

 wise have no injurious effect. If a horse is sprained in the loins by being 

 urged on, far or fast, by a heavy rider, or compelled to take too wide a leap, or 

 by being suddenly pulled up on his haunches, the inflammation of the muscles 

 of the loins is often speedily transferred to the kidneys, with which they lie in 

 contact. Exposure to cold is another frequent origin of this malady, especially 

 if the horse is drenched with rain, or the wet drips upon his loins; and, more 

 particularly, if he was previously disposed to inflammation, or these organs 

 had been previously weakened. For this reason, hackney-coach horses and 

 others, exposed to the vicissitudes of the weather, and often fed on unwhole- 

 some provender, have, or should have, their loins protected by leather or some 

 other clothing. The grand cause, however, of nephritis is the unnecessary 

 quantity or undue strength of the diuretic medicines that are forced on the 

 horse by the ignorant groom. This is an evil carried to an infamous extent, and 

 against which every horseman should sternly oppose himself. 



The treatment will only vary from that of inflammation of other parts by 

 a consideration of the peculiarity of the organ affected. Bleeding must be 

 promptly resorted to, and carried to its full extent. An active purge should 

 next be administered ; and a counter- inflammation excited as nearly as pos- 

 sible to the seat of disease. For this purpose the loins should be fomented 

 with hot water, or covered with a mustard-poultice — the horse should be 

 warmly clothed ; but no cantharides or turpentine should be used, and, most of 

 all, no diuretic be given internally. When the groom finds this difficulty or 

 suppression of staling, he immediately has recourse to a diuretic ball to force on 

 the urine ; and by thus needlessly irritating a part already too much excited, he 

 adds fuel to fire, and frequently destroys the horse. The action of the purga- 

 tive having begun a little to cease, white hellebore may be administered in 

 small doses, with or without emetic tartar. The patient should be warmly 

 clothed ; his legs well bandaged ; and plenty of water offered to him. The 

 food should be carefully examined, and anything that could have excited or that 

 may prolong the irritation carefully removed. 



DIABETES, OR PROFUSE STALING 

 Is a comparatively rare disease. It is generally the consequence of undue 

 irritation of the kidney by bad food or strong diuretics, and sometimes follows 

 inflammation of that organ. It can seldom be traced in the horse to any disease 

 of the digestive organs. The treatment is obscure, and the result often 



