89 é 
inflammation of the kidneys, however, is the scanty elimination or total 
suppression of the urine, and the desire to pass it frequently. The animal 
strains violently, but may be unable to pass more than a few drops of water. 
This is highly coloured, and contains blood. In many cases of inflammation 
of the kidneys, the flow of water completely ceases; and not uncommonly 
there is no other symptom to indicate the nature of the malady. In other 
cases, there are signs of pain manifested by lying down and rolling about ; 
while at other times the seat of pain is pointed at, by the animal turning 
round, and endeavouring to bite or scratch at the loins. If the suppression 
of the urine be prolonged, the animal may become partially unconscious; but 
there is no loss of motor power. 
In most cases of acute inflammation caused by cold, fatigue, or 
exhaustion, if the pulse be strong, it is our custom to bleed in moderation, 
‘that is to remove from two to three quarts. Those cases, however, which 
supervene on various fevers, do not bear depletion so well. The bowels must 
be freely acted upon by the administration of five to six or seven drachms of 
aloes. A lax condition of the bowels should be maintained by the 
administration of sulphate of sodium given in the drinking water. Eight to 
twelve ounces or more may be given in the course of the day. The pain may 
‘be relieved by the application of woollen cloths, which have been steeped in 
hot water and then wrung out, or of linseed-meal poultices over the loins. The 
diet should be laxative, consisting of linseed and oatmeal gruel and bran 
mashes. When the fever has subsided, salts of iron and vegetable tonics 
are necessary. The following formula is a good one for this and other 
cases of horses convalescing from acute inflammations :—Of sulphate of 
cinchonine, forty grains ; of the double citrate of iron and ammonium, two - 
drachms, made up into a ball with gentian, ginger, and treacle to eight 
drachms. One of these balls may be given twice daily for four or five days. 
We may now speak of the presence of blood in the urine. One of the 
causes of this occurrence, as we have just said, is inflammation of the 
kidneys. There are, however, other causes of this condition, such as strains 
from violent exertion, improper feeding, diseases of the bladder such as 
inflammation, of which we shall shortly speak, and the presence of a stone in 
-the bladder. In these cases, the animal must be put on a plain, laxative, 
soothing diet, which should consist of linseed gruel and mashes. Linseed 
tea is a very good drink in the place of water. Three drachms of aloes, in 
the form of a ball or in solution, may be given in the first instance ; and in 
the drinking water three drachms of tincture of perchloride of iron may be 
given twice daily, so long as the condition of the urine remains unaltered. 
Sometimes a condition is met with in which the urine is very high coloured, 
and yet does not contain blood. For this, luxurious dieting is to be 
assigned as the cause. In such cases, five or six drachms of aloes may be 
administered in the first instance, and half an ounce of bicarbonate of 
potassium may be given twice daily in the drinking water. We have already 
treated of diabetes or profuse urination, which, as we mentioned, is not a 
disease of the kidneys. 
