PHOSPHATES IN THE URINE OF THE HORSE. 
197 
phates are through the kidneys in the urine and through the 
intestines in the feces. In the omnivora and carnivora the 
principal channel is through the kidneys ; in the herbivora^the 
principal channel is through the intestines. It is believed that 
in the latter the phosphoric acid taken in with the food com¬ 
bines to a large extent with bases which have become separated 
by the action of the digestive juices upon the food, and a large 
portion of the phosphates thus formed passes out with the 
feces. 
The amount of phosphates eliminated is affected by purely 
physiological processes, and also by pathological conditions. 
Physiologically, a diet rich in phosphates, such as a large 
feed of oats, bran or oilcake, increases the amount of phosphates 
in the urine ; exercise or vigorous muscular work, or anything 
which promotes metabolism increases the amount of phosphates 
eliminated. 
Pathologically, any disease affecting any of the tissue sys¬ 
tems in which phosphates are present, will affect the amount of 
phosphates excreted. Among such diseases may be mentioned 
rheumatism, diseases of the nervous system, rickets, osteoma¬ 
lacia, osteoporosis, spavin, ringbone, splint and navicular dis¬ 
ease, in all of which the amount is increased ; on the other 
hand, the phosphates are decreased in renal diseases and tuber¬ 
culosis. 
The examination for urinary phosphates is, therefore, of 
much clinical importance for purposes of diagnosis and prog¬ 
nosis. The great number of bone diseases to which the 
horse is subject, renders it very desirable that one should be 
able to follow the course of the disease and outline the treat¬ 
ment according to the information obtained from the analysis 
of the urine with reference to the phosphates. 
Information may thus be derived as to whether a spavin, 
ringbone, or splint is in its active stage, shown by an increased 
amount of phosphates in the urine, or if the period of active 
change has passed over and the phosphates no longer appear in 
undue amount, although the exostosis remains. In this way one 
