DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS. 143 
Prevention—The prevention of this serious affection lies in re- 
stricting the diet and giving daily exercise when the animal is not 
at work. A horse that has had one attack should never be left idle 
for a single day in the stall or barnyard. When a horse has been 
condemned to absolute repose on good feeding he may have a laxa- 
tive (one-half to 1 pound Glauber’s salt), and have graduated ex- 
ercise, beginning with a short walk and increasing day by day. 
Treatment.—The treatment of the mild cases may consist in a laxa- 
tive, graduated daily exercise, and a daily dose of saltpeter (1 ounce). 
Sudden attacks will sometimes promptly subside if taken on the 
instant and the subject kept still and calmed by a dose of bromid 
of potassium (4 drams) and sweet spirits of niter (1 ounce). The 
latter has the advantage of increasing the secretion of the kidneys. 
Iodid of potassium in one-half ounce doses every four hours has 
succeeded well in some hands. In severe cases, as a rule, it is desir- 
able to begin treatment by a dose of aloes (4 to 6 drams) with the 
above-named dose of: bromid of potassium, and this latter may be 
continued at intervals of four or six hours, as may be requisite to 
calm the nervous excitement. Fomentations with warm water over 
the loins are always useful in calming the excitable conditions of the 
spinal cord, muscles, liver, and kidneys, and also in favoring secre- 
tion from the two latter. On the second day diuretics may be re- 
sorted to, such as saltpeter one-half ounce, and powdered colchicum 
one-half dram, to be repeated twice daily. A laxative may be re- 
peated in three or four days should the bowels seem to demand it, 
and as the nervous excitement disappears any remaining muscular 
weakness or paralysis may be treated by one-half dram doses of nux 
vomica twice a day and a stimulating liniment (aqua ammonia and 
sweet oil in equal proportions) rubbed on the torpid muscles. 
During the course of the disease friction to the limbs is useful, and 
in the advanced paralytic stage the application of electricity along 
the line of the affected muscles. When the patient can not stand he 
must have a thick, soft bed, and should be turned from side to side 
at least every twelve hours. As soon as he can be made to stand he 
may be helped up and even supported in a sling. 
ACUTE INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS, OR ACUTE NEPHRITIS. 
Inflammations of the kidneys have been differentiated widely, ac- 
cording as they were acute or chronic, parenchymatous or tubal, sup- 
purative or not, with increased or shrunken kidney, etc. In a arorke 
like the present, however, utility will be consulted by classing all 
under acute or chronic inflammation. 
Causes.—The causes of inflammation of the kidneys are extremely 
varied. Congestion occurs from the altered and irritant products 
passed through these organs during recovery from inflammations of 
