THE PATHOLOGY OF AZOTURIA. 173 
over an indefinite period of at least about tw6nty-four hours, 
and must be during this time, as near as possible, complete ; 
that is, the animal must be so confined that it would or could 
not make any marked amount of muscular exertion. 
A suitable subject for azoturia does not contract the dis¬ 
ease at grass, and very rarely, if at all, when allowed the free¬ 
dom of a spacious box stall, even though all other necessary 
conditions, as to food and care, be present, so that almost 
without exception, the animal affected with azoturia has been 
closely confined by the halter. 
3d.—This period of rest must be of comparatively short 
duration, rarely exceeding five to ten days. If the animal is 
kept in the stall for a much greater time, its liability to con¬ 
tract, or rather possibility of, contracting azoturia ceases. 
i 4th.—Prior to this period of rest, the animal must have 
enjoyed an active life, either at labor or unrestrained freedom ; 
must have been of vigorous constitution, well-nourished on 
rich nitrogeneous food ; in age not far from the prime of 
life, and the animal economy not subject to any considerable 
drain upon its resources. Thus we rarely see this malady in 
three-year-olds, and only in those of very early development, 
and possessing great vigor ; still more rarely is it seen in 
aged horses which have begun to decline. 
It is unknown in mares, suckling foals, and those far 
advanced in pregnancy. 
These essential facts in the clinical history of the origin of 
azoturia are only partially brought out by most writers, one 
author laying special stress on one of them, while another 
notices particularly some other of the prominent facts, merely 
hinting at the remaining ones, or, in some cases, even denying 
them, thus creating much confusion ; but we believe a careful 
study of the disease will prove the correctness of the forego¬ 
ing propositions. 
Much of the perplexity in the history of this disease is 
doubtless occasioned by confounding with and mistaking for 
azoturia other quite distinct diseases, especially spinal or cere- 
bro-spinal meningitis and parturient eclampia, in the differenti¬ 
ation of which the afore-mentioned cardinal points in the 
