122 THS HORSB. 



one or more of these symptoms would warrant an examination of 

 the urine for albumen and casts, the finding of which signifies renal 

 inflammation. 



Treatment. This is not always satisfactory, as the cause is liable 

 to be maintained in the disorders of important organs elsewhere. If any 

 such disease of another organ or function can be detected, that should 

 be treated first or simultaneously with this affection of the kidneys. In 

 all cases the building up of the general health is important. Hence a 

 course of tonics may be given (phosphate of iron, two drams; nux vom- 

 ica, twenty grains; powdered gentian root, four drams, daily), or sixty 

 drops of sulphuric acid or nitro-muriatic acid may be given daily in the 

 drinking water. If there is high temperature of the body and tender- 

 ness of the loins, fomentations may be applied, followed by a mustard 

 pulp as for acute inflammation, and even in the absence of these symp- 

 toms the mustard may be used with advantage at intervals of a few days. 

 In suppression of urine, fomentations with warm water or with infusion 

 of digitalis leaves is a safer resort than diuretics, and cupping over the 

 loins may also benefit. To apply a cup shave the skin and oil it; then- 

 take a narrow-mouthed glass, rarify the air within it by introducing a 

 taper in full flame for a second, withdraw the taper and instantly apply 

 the mouth of the glass to the skin and hold it closely applied till the 

 cooling tends to form a vacuum in the glass and to draw up the skin, 

 like a sucker. 



As in the acute inflammation, every attention must be given to secure 

 warm clothing, a warm stall, and pure air. 



Bloody Urine or Hsematuria. Bloody urine in the horse is 

 usually the result of injuries, as sprains and fractures of the loins, lacera- 

 tions of the sub-lumbar muscles, irritation caused by stone in the kid- 

 ney, ureter, bladder, or urethra. Bloody urine may occur with acute 

 congestion of the kidney, with tumours in its substance, or diseased 

 growth in the bladder. The presence in the food of acrid diuretic plants 

 may lead to the escape of blood from the kidney. The horse is not as 

 predisposed to Bloody Urine as the ox or sheep, the reason is that there 

 is greater plasticity of the horse's blood in connection with the laro-er 

 quantities of fibrine. If the blood comes from the kidneys it is hkely to 

 be found diffused through the urine, while if it comes from the bladder 

 or urinal passages it is usually present in blood clots. Again if the 

 blood comes from the kidney, the microscope will reveal minute cylin- 

 drical blood clots surrounding blood-globules. The location of the in- 



