114 SPECIAL EQUINE THERAPY 



isolating and making synthetically the exact agent re- 

 quired. Until this happens, however, most of us will rely 

 on oxalic acid for effect in severe cases of azoturia. A 

 factor very much in favor of the oxalic acid treatment is 

 its inexpensiveness. Another is its simplicity, and the 

 promptness with which it accomplishes results in the 

 great majority of cases. In this regard it is like any other 

 treatment; the better one becomes acquainted with the 

 treatment, the better will be the results. 



An important factor in the successful treatment of 

 azoturia with oxalic acid lies in beginning the treatment 

 as early in the attack as possible. If the horse has been 

 down more than twelve hours the treatment cannot 

 accomplish much. 



Prognosis. 1 can point to no particular clinical signs 

 which can be relied upon to forecast the termination in 

 well-marked cases of azoturia. Oftentimes the case which 

 appears to be most violent in character makes a rapid, 

 uneventful recovery. On the other hand, eases are fre- 

 quently seen which, in the beginning of the attack, appear 

 mild and ordinary, and yet terminate fatally. 



The color of the urine cannot be relied upon as a prog- 

 nosticating factor. "With the oxalic acid treatment the 

 prognosis is very unfavorable if the horse does not get 

 up within forty-eight hours after the treatment is begun. 

 Cases in which marked delirium persists in spite of treat- 

 ment are usually fatal cases. 



Cases that remain down longer than forty-eight hours 

 do not usually make a complete recovery ; most of them 

 suffer later from one or more of the sequelse common to 

 this affection. 



Sequelae. Attacks of azoturia, mild in character, dur- 

 ing which the horse remains on its feet, rarely leave after- 

 effects of any consequence. Now and then, after a mild 

 attack, a certain stiffness or awkwardness remains in the 



