INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS— NEPHRITIS 221 



worse and lead to death. When ohguria or complete anuria 

 persists and the chemical and microscopic findings continue to 

 show evidence of further kidney destruction the prognosis is 

 bad. 



Treatment. — Care should be given to regulate the diet, 

 avoiding feeding acrid and irritant substances. Herbivorous 

 animals should be allowed grass, hay, and roots rather than 

 intensive foods like grain. When available, milk forms a 

 good article of food. Plenty of water should be supplied 

 •the patient, as it tends to flush out the obstructed tubules. 

 Linseed tea is recommended for its soothing effect. The indi- 

 cations are to relieve the kidneys as much as possible by util- 

 izing the skin and bowels to rid the body of waste products. 

 Among the drugs diuretics are indicated, such as acetate of 

 potash (5ij to iv) or potassium nitrate (3ij to iv). Dia- 

 phoretics also assist, such as pilocarpin (grs. iij to vj). Keep- 

 ing the patient in a warm place, hot baths, or blankets assist 

 in producing sweat. To further relieve the kidneys laxatives 

 should be given. When the patient shows symptoms of 

 uremia narcotics, such as morphin (grs. iij to v) or bromides, 

 are useful. 



Chronic Interstitial Nephritis .^Definition. — ^A form of 

 inflammation of the kidneys which attacks principally the 

 interstitial connective tissue. The chronic fibrous inflam- 

 mation leads to a contraction and hardening of the kidney, 

 the surface of which becomes rough, uneven, covered with 

 numerous projections and depressions leading to what is 

 known as granular kidney. Within the kidney are numerous 

 centers of connective tissue. The cortex is contracted caus- 

 ing the tubular portions to be drawn nearer the surface of the 

 organ. This is called sclerotic kidney (nephritis fibrosa 

 multiple). When the sclerosis is diffuse the organ is greatly 

 increased in size, is of semicartilaginous consistency and of 

 white color (nephritis fibrosa diffusa) . 



Occurrence. — Chronic interstitial nephritis is less common 

 in animals than in man. It does occur, however, in horses 

 and occasionally in cattle. In swine, it is rare, as these 

 animals are usually killed when young. 



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