392 DISEASES OF THE KIDNEYS 



Diagnosis.— This condition is very frequently mistaken for 

 inflammation of some other abdominal organ, especially 

 peritonitis, enteritis, cystitis, or metritis. It is possible to 

 make a differential diagnosis by a careful examination of the 

 animal, by observing the character and amount of urine 

 voided and a microscopic examination of the urine. 



Course.— The course is usually acute; occasionally the dis- 

 ease terminates in chronic nephritis. 



Prognosis.— On the whole the prognosis is unfavorable, the 

 patient often dying in six to ten days. When the symptoms 

 of uremia are present, the prognosis should be considered 

 very unfavorable. 



Treatment.— Dietetic— For the dog and cat a milk diet is 

 of the greatest importance. Avoid the giving of irritating 

 foods and drugs. 



Medical.— Establish diaphoresis as early as possible. This 

 can be done by the use of warm baths, steaming the animal, 

 and rubbing the skin. Wrap the animal in warm blankets. 

 Diaphoretics, such as pilocarpin, are not very satisfactory in 

 small animals. 



Purgatives are to be recommended. Magnesium sulphate 

 (10.0-16.0) every four hours until active catharsis takes place 

 is useful. Small doses of arecalin (0.003-0.005) may be 

 given to the dog to hasten early evacuation of the bowels. 



Calomel, owing to its prompt action, is excellent for dogs. 

 In heart weakness, during the secondary stages of the dis- 

 ease, digitalis fluidextract (0.1-0.15) should be used. Alka- 

 line diuretics, as potassium acetate, are to be used in 

 small doses. Diuretin has been found to be valuable as a 

 diuretic. 



In convulsions following uremia, potassium bromid or 

 morphin for dogs should be administered. Tannic acid (0.1) 

 is highly recommended. 



Chronic Nephritis — Definition.— A chronic inflammation of 

 kidney, which the may be divided clinically into two groups, 

 viz.: 



(a) Chronic parenchymatous nephritis, characterized by 

 marked dropsy and during the early stages of the disease, on 

 postmortem, by the large white kidney. In the later stages 



