AZOTURIA 113 



I have personally seen a number of deaths directly 

 attributable to the use of slings in this disease. 



If the patient remains down for several hours or longer 

 he should be turned over every two or three hours. Grain 

 should be fed sparingly, if at all. 



All cases terminating in recovery should have a course 

 of diuretic and alterative treatment extending over a 

 short period of time, say four or five days. Local or 

 regional applications in the form of hot packs may be 

 beneficial in cases showing great muscle swelling. Warm 

 quarters and quiet surroundings aid all forms of treat- 

 ment. 



In concluding the discussion of the treatment of azo- 

 turia I wish to remark that I do not wish to give the 

 impression that the oxalic acid treatment is perfect. As 

 one eastern veterinarian, who has used the treatment for 

 four years in a large practice, says: "We get better 

 results with this treatment than with any other, but it is a 

 long way from being a specific." 



Neither do I wish to give the impression that this is 

 the best treatment that we will ever find for this disease. 

 But I do believe that any improvement in the treatment 

 must come along the lines of the "mechanical theory" 

 of the pathology of the disease, or of a modification of 

 this theory. Possibly the mechanical theory is only on 

 the verge of truth and soundness. However, it is the 

 most reasonable, the most sane and sound theory yet 

 expounded for azoturia; and the fact that it has bred a 

 treatment of such merit as the oxalic acid, or "azolysin" 

 treatment, is good enough evidence to satisfy the general 

 practitioner. 



Possibly, at some time in the near future some labora- 

 tory expert will give us an agent that will more satis- 

 factorily perform the work which we now rely upon 

 oxalic acid to do. Someone may even find a means of 



