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ADDENDA TO THE DISEASES OF THE KIDNEYS. 385 



Course. The disease takes both the acute and subacute forms ; 

 in this latter (apoplectic form), the animals may perish in a few 

 hours (Renter). When the causes exert their influence for a short 

 time only the disease is generally benign. In most cases it ends 

 in recovery, but generally it is very capricious. Its average dura- 

 tion is from ten to fourteen days. Upon 79 patients observed by 

 Stockfleth, 23 died ; in 330 cases, Krabbe lost 38, that is to say, 8 

 per cent. A first attack does not confer immunity. Renter has 

 seen the same cows atfected three times during the one season. 

 According to this author in certain communities where the disease 

 affects 80 to 40 per cent, of the bovines it has been found necessary 

 to restrict the raising of these animals as much as possible.^ 



Pathological anatomy. The anatomical alterations are often 

 insignificant. Most cadavers are anemic ; the blood is very liquid, 

 of a red cherry or inky black color; according to Gerlach, the 

 eliminated serum, after the coagulation of the blood, is colored red 

 and is rich in hemoglobin. Icterus is sometimes found generalized. 

 The organic lesions are wanting, except those of acute intestinal 

 €atarrh and hemorrhagic enteritis, which exist almost constantly • 

 the kidneys are ordinarily normal ; the volume of the spleen is 

 sometimes considerably increased. According to Spinola, the mus- 

 cles are pale and flaccid ; the same statement has also been made by 

 Hink. Renter has also found the muscles pale, as if cooked ; at 

 certain places, especially upon the neck, shoulder, and forelegs 

 there were sero-bloody or gelatinous infiltrations. There is a strik- 

 ing resemblance between these alterations and those of rheumatismal 

 hemosflobinemia of the horse. 



Ditferential diagnosis. Hemoglobinuria of the ox may be 

 confounded either with enzootic enteritis or with several affections 

 of the kidneys and bladder accompanied with hematuria. In order 

 to establish the diagnosis it is sufficient to make an examination of 



1 According to Eloire, hematuria observed in cows fattening in the pastures of 

 Thiérache is expressed by the following symptoms : 



At first, hindrance of the movements, stiffness of the loins, prolonged decubitus, 

 ■difficulty in rising, frequent and marked micturition, foamy and slightly rusty urine. 

 During this first period the appetite is preserved, the hair glossy, and the patients still 

 gain in flesh. Gradually the symptoms grow more apparent ; the urine becomes 

 bloody, often there is an expulsion of intense red blood, similar to arterial blood; the 

 loins are much arched and the limbs gathered together; there are often colics with 

 prolonged decubitus; the appetite is capricious, the hair becomes bristly, the skin 

 dirty; the mucous membranes become pale, the conjunctiva finally becoming abso- 

 lutely bloodless. Death generally occurs from exhaustion. — n. d. t. 



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