Chronic Nephritis. 239 



spend most of his time in the kennel, and show little disposition 

 to run, play or hunt. On the contrary the owner may have to 

 •call him several times before he will come out and then he moves 

 listlessly, wearily and even weakly. 



In all animals the appetite is poor or capricious, and the 

 patient gradually loses condition, at first slowly and later, after a 

 few weeks or months, more rapidly. The advance of anaemia is 

 also steadily progressive. 



Dropsical effusion is not uncommon. It is often prominent in 

 the horse as stocked limbs, but may be absent for a length of 

 time. In other animals it is more likely to appear later in the 

 •disease and under the chest or abdomen or in one of the internal 

 -serous cavities. Trasbot has found it absent for months in the 

 nephritic dog. 



The . exploration of the kidney through the flaccid abdominal 

 walls in small animals, and through the rectum in small horses 

 and cattle, may reveal renal tenderness and even swelling. If 

 Ihere is a tendency to frequent passage of urine in small quanti- 

 ties, or to straining without micturition, the indication is of 

 -value. 



There may be little or no fever, and, when left at rest, little 

 •evidence of discomfort. 



Any indication of urinary trouble, and especially with dropsy, 

 weakness, flabbiness and anaemia and a subnormal temperature, 

 should lead to examination of the urine, as a crucial test. A 

 high density is good ground for suspicion. But this is not con- 

 stant. In advanced cases (chronic interstitial nephritis, small 

 white kidney, atrophic nephritis) it may be 1015 to 1025, in ex- 

 ceptional advanced cases with polyuria, it may be loio, 1005, or 

 ■€ven lOoi. With such a condition, however, there is great 

 anaemia, pallor of the muscoae, and prostration. Tested with 

 nitric acid and heat, the urine throws down an abundant precipi- 

 tate of albumen. Under the microscope it shows a profusion of 

 granular, degenerating epithelial cells, and casts of the urinifer- 

 •ous tubes. 



Progress. The course of the disease is usually slow, extending 

 -over several months, but with a tendency to constant advance. 

 The thirst increases and the urine increases in amount, clearness 

 .and levity. There may supervene extreme sluggishness, drop- 



