' 200 DISEASES OF THE KIDNEYS 



as eczema and mange may cause nephritis. Obstructive 

 icterus may also be a cause. 



Symptoms. — The principal symptom of acute parenchyma- 

 tous nephritis is albuminuria. The albumin content may 

 reach several per cent. Usually the quantity of urine voided 

 is greatly diminished (oliguria), the specific gravity high, 

 color dark, and, as a rule, it is rich in sediment. An examina- 

 tion of the urine under the microscope shows it to contain 

 tube casts, renal epithelium, white or red corpuscles and in 

 some cases blood (hematuria). Later symptoms of dropsy 

 appear, such as edema of the ventral portion of the abdomen, 

 scrotum, and legs. In some instances the patient will appear 

 stiff, stand with its legs spread apart, or, on the other hand, 

 drawn up under the body and the back is held arched. Palpa- 

 tion of the kidneys through the rectum (small horses) causes 

 the animal to evince pain. Pressure over the kidneys from 

 the outside rarely produces symptoms. The general condition 

 of the patient is disturbed in that it seems stupid, weak, has 

 no appetite and shows increase in temperature. In some cases 

 the urine is voided frequently in small quantities, often only 

 a few drops dribbling away with considerable straining 

 (stranguria). These symptoms are most commonly seen in 

 diffuse nephritis the result of poisoning with gasoline, turpen- 

 tine, or cantharides. In stallions there may be a partial 

 erection of the penis (priapism) from the urethral irritation. 

 In some instances there is a total suppression of urine 

 for as long as a week (anuria). In fatal cases toward 

 the end symptoms of uremia appear which are recog- 

 nized by convulsions, coma, and usually subnormal tem- 

 perature. 



Diagnosis. — A diagnosis can be made positively only by a 

 chemical and microscopic examination of the urine for al- 

 bumin, the presence of tube casts, renal epithelium, red and 

 white corpuscles, and even blood. 



Course. — Cases of nephritis secondary to infectious dis- 

 eases usually disappear with the recovery of the infectious 

 disease, healing occurring in about fourteen days. Cases 

 which end fatally, as noted, terminate under symptoms of 

 uremia. 



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