264 



CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES. 



this must be used very carefully, as in old, fat dogs we frequently 

 find a chronic bronchitis, and from the increased respiration and 

 amount of fluids thrown out by the lungs it may produce death 

 by suffocation. Sulphate of magnesium and sulphate of sodium 

 are useful to increase the action of the intestines and to carry 

 away a certain quantity of fluid out of the body. They should be 

 given on an empty stomach, a teaspoonful at a dose, diluted in a 

 small quantity of warm water. 



Hsemoglobinsemia and Haemoglobinuria. 



When there is any decomposition of red blood-corpuscles in 

 the body (hsemoglobinsemia) the coloring substance is eliminated 

 through the kidneys, staining the urine and producing hsemoglo- 

 binuria. These conditions occur as the result of the action of 

 certain chemical poisons, such as large doses of naphthol, chloride 

 of potassium, carbolic acid, and by certain infectious, poisonous 

 substances, transfusion of blood, and sterilized water. Influences 

 of extrernes in temperature also produce it. In this condition the 

 urine is characterized by a dark red, brownish, or brick-red color- 

 ation, and when examined through the spectroscope shows streaks, 

 a and ^, of the haemoglobin in yellow and green (Fig. 59), and 



Fig. 59. 

 Jfpt Orarz^e qelb 



Fig. 60. 



\ 



A aB C 



gpeotrum of urine in haemoglobinuria. 



Haematin crystals. 



close to it is a narrow methaemoglobin streak in orange. If we 

 cannot examine it by means of a spectroscope, we may use the 

 following tests : First, by means of the guaiac treatment or Teich- 

 mann's hseminprobe. The first method consists in placing a small 

 portion of a mixture composed of equal parts of tincture of guaiac 

 and oil of turpentine in a reagent-glass and covering it with the 

 urine which is to be tested. If any coloring substance of the blood 

 is present, we immediately notice the formation of a dirty white 



