AZOTURIA 101 



AZOTURIA 



No one disease of horses has been the subject of so many 

 theories, theoretical treatments and hypothetical sugges- 

 tions as this one. It is doubtful whether, out of the thou- 

 sands of veterinarians in practice in America, fifty could 

 be found who agree to any extent on the pathology and 

 treatment of azoturia. 



Probably one reason for this is the great variety of 

 forms in which azoturia attacks horses. 



Azoturia in the city horse, for instance, differs con- 

 siderably from the azoturia seen in the country horse. 

 The city horse develops a more severe, acute and, usually, 

 rapidly fatal form. 



Cases seen in the country are of a milder type, and do 

 not run such a rapid hyperacute course. 



This, then, would explain to a certain extent the dis- 

 agreement among veterinarians in regard to several 

 points of importance concerning this disease. 



The fact that azoturia presents different clinical pic- 

 tures under different circumstances, environment, local- 

 ity, feeding customs, breeds and individuals, further 

 explains why veterinarians are not agreed on its fea- 

 tures. 



Lastly, all argument is explained away by the fact that 

 no one has so far succeeded in demonstrating satisfac- 

 torily what azoturia really is. I refer, of course, to its 

 identity from the standpoint of pathology. From the 

 standpoint of the clinician, the diagnostician, the subject 

 is quite clear. Assume that your horse has azoturia. 

 Call in a hundred veterinarians ; or two hundred, if you 

 wish. Bach and every one of them, without exception, 

 will recognize the condition and make exactly the same 

 diagnosis — azoturia ! 



But question them in regard to the pathology of azo- 



