INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS—NEPHRITIS 201 



Prognosis. — The prognosis is always doubtful. While ap- 

 parently severe cases do recover, milder ones often grow- 

 worse and lead to death. When oliguria or complete anuria 

 persists and the chemical and microscopic findings continue to 

 show evidence of further kidney destruction the prognosis is bad . 



Treatment. — Care should be given to regulate the diet, 

 avoiding feeding acrid and irritant substances. Herbivorous 

 animals should be allowed grass, hay, and roots rather than 

 intensive foods like grain. When available milk forms a good 

 article of food. Plenty of water should be supplied the 

 patient, as it tends to flush out the obstructed tubules. 

 Linseed tea is recommended for its soothing effect. The indi- 

 cations are to relieve the kidneys as much as possible by util- 

 izing the skin and bowels to rid the body of waste products. 

 Among the drugs diuretics are indicated, such as acetate 

 of potash (5ij-iv)"or potassium nitrate (5ij-iv). Dia- 

 phoretics also assist, such as pilocarpin (gr. iij-vj). Keep- 

 ing the patient in a warm place, hot baths, or blankets assist 

 in producing sweat. To further relieve the kidneys laxatives 

 should be given. When the patient shows symptoms of 

 uremia narcotics such as morphin (gr. iij-v) or bromids 

 are useful. 



Chronic Interstitial Nephritis. — Definition. — A form of in- 

 flammation of the kidneys which attacks principally the inter- 

 stitial connective tissue. The chronic fibrous inflammation 

 leads to a contraction and hardening of the kidney, the 

 surface of which becomes rough, uneven, covered with numer- 

 ous projections and depressions, leading to what is known as 

 granular kidney. Within the kidney are numerous centres of 

 connective tissue. The cortex is contracted, causing the 

 tubular portions to be drawn nearer the surface of the organ. 

 This is called sclerotic kidney (nephritis fibrosa multiple). 

 When the sclerosis is diffuse the organ is greatly increased in 

 size, is of semicartilaginous consistency and of white color 

 (nephritis fibrosa diffusa) . 



Occurrence. — Chronic interstitial nephritis is less common 

 in animals than in man. It does occur, however, in horses and 

 occasionally in cattle. In swine it is rare, as these animals 

 are usually killed when young. 



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