AZOTURIA. 
85 
nute examination, that is when there is no marked discolora¬ 
tion of the urine, as is sometimes the case. 
Azoturia is described by various authors as affecting geld¬ 
ings only; others mares only ; some saying that it affects 
mares only during the period of oestrum but I must say that, 
as far as my experience goes, it affects both mares and geld¬ 
ings at all periods, but more frequently mares. Since I have 
been practicing in Santa Rosa, a little over three years, I 
have treated a great number of mares for azoturia. Out of 
about sixty cases, I have had only eight or ten geldings, three 
only living, it appearing to be more fatal in geldings than 
mares, for what reason I am unable to account; some breeds 
of horses seem more liable to it than others. Round the vi¬ 
cinity of Santa Rosa there are a great number of Norman 
draft-horses and farm animals, and I may add that nearly all 
of those that I have treated in this disease are full-blooded or 
half Normans. In fact I have heard a great many farmers re¬ 
mark that they would not have a Norman on the place on 
account of their being so liable to go wrong in their water¬ 
works, as they describe it. Whether there is anything in 
hereditary predisposition or not I do not know, but from 
what I have seen and heard I am inclined to think there is. 
The diet, of course, has a great part to play in this affec¬ 
tion, as it appears to affect only those that are highly fed 
and properly exercised. I cannot remember seeing it in a 
poor horse. It appears to be more prevalent in this State 
(California) than in any other part I know or have heard of, I 
presume on account of so much wheat and barley hay that 
is put up and fed, it appearing to be too nutritious for the 
equine requirements. 
The English authorities speak of azoturia as being rather 
rare in that country; possibly this is due to their not feeding 
foods so rich in albuminoids, such as barley and wheat, etc. 
Professor Law, F.R.C.V.S., says in one of his papers on dis¬ 
eases of the urinary organs, that, like diabetes, this is rather a 
disease of the liver and blood-forming functions than of the 
kidneys. It is a complex affection directly connected with a 
plethora in the blood of nitrogenized. constituents. He also 
