220 DISEASES OF THE KIDNEYS 



such as eczema and mange may cause nephritis. Obstructive 

 icterus may also be a cause. 



Symptoms.- — ^The principal symptom of acute parenchyma- 

 tous nephritis is albuminuria. The albumin content may 

 reach several per cent. Usually the quantity of urine voided 

 is greatly diminished (oliguria), the specific gravity high, 

 color dark, and, as a rule, it is rich in sediment. An exami- 

 nation of the urine under the microscope shows it to contain 

 tube casts, renal epithelium, white or red corpuscles and in 

 some cases blood (hematuria). Later symptoms of dropsy 

 appear, such as edema of the ventral portion of the abdomen, 

 scrotum, and legs. In some instances the patient will appear 

 stiff, stand with its legs spread apart, or, on the other hand, 

 drawn up under the body and the back is held arched. Pal- 

 pation of the kidneys through the rectum (small horses) causes 

 the animal to evince pain. Pressure over the kidneys from 

 the outside rarely produces symptoms. The general condi- 

 tion of the patient is disturbed in that it seems stupid, weak, 

 has no appetite and shows increase in temperatiue. In some 

 cases the urine is voided frequently in small quantities, often 

 only a few drops dribbling away with considerable straining 

 (stranguria). These symptoms are most commonly seen in 

 diffuse nephritis the result of poisoning with gasoline, turpen- 

 tine, or cantharides. In stallions there may be a partial 

 erection of the penis (priapism) from the. urethral irritation. 

 In some instances there is a total suppression of urine for as 

 long as a week (anuria). In fatal cases toward the end 

 sjinptoms of uremia appear which are recognized by con- 

 vulsions, coma, and usually subnormal temperature. 



Diagnosis. — A diagnosis can be made positively only by a 

 chemical and microscopic examination of the m-ine for 

 albumin, the presence of tube casts, renal epithelium, red and 

 white corpuscles, and even blood. 



Course.— Cases of nephritis secondary to infectious diseases 

 usually disappear with the recovery of the infectious disease, 

 healing occurring in about fourteen days. Cases which end 

 fatally, as noted, terminate under sj^mptoms of uremia. 



Prognosis. — The prognosis is always doubtful. While 

 apparently severe cases do recover, milder ones often grow 



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