INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS, unless perchance it be induced by some violent sprain or other me chanical injury about the loins, may mostly be traced back to the injudicious use of diuretic me dicine, or else to feeding on mow-burnt hay orfox5 oats, which have the same effect: there are in stances likewise, we believe, where it originates in giving horses strongly impregnated waters to drink. The symptoms denoting this disease, are, the horse stands wide and stiffly with his hind legs; and he straddles in his walk. Probably, he shrinks from pressure upon the loins. He either (although he makes frequent efforts) can make no water at all, or he voids but very little every now and then. and that little is, perhaps, bloody, or turbid and thick, as if it were mixed with matter.. The pain the animal is in. causes him to refuse all food, and induces fever in the system, quickening the pulse, &c. In order that we may not labour under any mistake in regard to the nature of the malady, be fore we proceed to treatment, the bladder ought to be examined: its emptiness confirms our diagnosis; on the other hand, its fulness shows that the disor der is at least, not altogether, in the kidneys.
In the first instance we must bleed pretty freely, taking away from six to eight quarts of blood. That done, we should administer a large dose of purga tive medicine; viz. eight or nine drams of aloes mixed with syrup of ginger: first, the horse hav ing been raked. and a clyster administered. Fi nally, the loins must he fomented with water as hot as it is possible to use, and the fomentation succeed ed by a mustard embrocation. Every inducement should be practised to make the animal imbibe large quantities of water; or, what is better, linseed tea. All kinds of diuretic medicine must be scru pulously abstained from.