102 SPECIAL EQUINE THERAPY 



turia! Probably not ten of them would hold the same 

 belief. 



And were you to get from each of these veterinarians a 

 prescription for the treatment of this case of azoturia, 

 you would no doubt have several dozen different treat- 

 ments. 



It does not take a very learned man to arrive at the 

 conclusion that, granting the above is true, azoturia must, 

 indeed, be a formidable foe, both of the veterinarian and 

 his patient. 



As every veterinarian is familiar with them it is un- 

 necessary to discuss at any great length the symptoms 

 and diagnosis of azoturia. I shall therefore confine my 

 remarks to some of the vagaries of the disease, its probable 

 pathology, and its treatment. 



/ Briefly, azoturia is an acute disease of horses, charac- 

 terized by great nervous excitement in its early stages 

 when it occurs in a typical form, and terminating in com- 

 plete prostration of the subject attacked. Secondary 

 clinical phenomena are hematuria, or rather hemoglo- 

 binemia, delirium, and prolonged decubitus. Death is 

 either sudden, coming at the end of a few days, or results 

 after variable periods of time from complications or the 

 effects of decubitus. 



It attacks young, thriving horses as a rule, though occa- 

 sionally aged horses are affected. 



The disease is a cold weather disease, but odd eases are 

 seen at all seasons of the year. The greatest number of 

 cases come during the winter months, from November to 

 May, and an attack most frequently follows a short period 

 of idleness. Prom one to three days of idleness, on reg- 

 ular rations, is a predisposing factor. Longer periods 

 of idleness are not usually followed by an attack of azo- 

 turia. The foregoing remarks have reference to typical 

 Eases of azoturia. 



