Diseases of the Urinary Organs. 295 



which may crystallize out in the system or at once after 

 the liquid is discharged, or after cooling, or finally may 

 have to be precipitated by chemical reagents. 



DITJEESIS. DIABETES INSIPIDUS. POLYtTEIA. 



Excessive secretion of urine. This may occur in any 

 animal from agents, medicinal or alimentary, which un- 

 duly stimulate the kidneys. The horse, however, is the 

 most frequent sufferer, being more than any other animal 

 subjected to reckless dosing by those about him with pri- 

 vate nostrums and much advertised quack preparations, 

 and to the exclusive use of musty and injured hay and 

 grain. Musty hay, grain or bran is perhaps the most 

 common cause, the noxious agent being probably the 

 cryptogams produced on this damp, heated fodder. Mvisty 

 oatmeal will even affect the human being. New oats, 

 very watery food hke the refuse of distilleries, and cooked 

 food, seleniteous waters, .acrid diuretic plants in the pas- 

 tures or hay, exposure to extreme cold and wet, and ex- 

 cessive thirst consequent on feeding salt or on irritation 

 of the stomach are other causes. Whole flocks of sheep 

 sometimes suffer at once from acrid plants eaten. 



Symptoms. Frequent — often almost constant — passage 

 of a very pale-colored urine in large quantities and of low 

 specific gravity, insatiable thirst, rapid falling off in con- 

 dition and spirits, sluggishness and weakness at work and 

 perspiration on the shghtest exertion. The discharges 

 are comparatively inodorous and more like water than 

 horse's urine, and contain little solid matter though the 

 quantity of sohds passed in twenty-four hours is in excess. 

 The skin becomes rough and hide-bound and all the signs 

 of ill-health set in, though the animal may suffer a.nd sur- 

 vive for months or even a year. More commonly he dies 

 early of exhaustion, or glanders supervenes and kills the 

 patient. 



Treatment is very successful in the early stages. l?!top 

 the use of faulty food and drugs and give dry wholesome 



