Renal Colie.—A condition manifesting itself by sudden attacks of violent pain in one side of the abdomen, in the region of the kidney, radiating into the abdomen, the small of the back, and into the bladder and sexual organs. The attack is ushered in by pain, vomiting, violent chills, rise of temperature, and marked difficulty of urination. In spite of an urgent desire to urinate, only a few drops may be passed. Renal colic is accompanied by cold perspiration, spasms, and attacks of fainting. The paroxysm usually persists for several hours, and is followed by a feeling of depression and exhaustion lasting for some time ; but in some cases the tormenting condition may be protracted for several days. Single attacks are comparatively rare, recur rences being the rule ; but these usually terminate favourably. The disease occurs mostly as a consequence of the formation of gravel or kidney-stones ; more rarely as a result of the presence of worms in the pelvis of the kidney. The attack is due to the attempted passage of a stone into the bladder through the ureter. The pain may cease as a result of the successful voyage of a stone, or as a result of its slipping back into the pelvis of the kidney. Other causes of renal colic are the sudden bending or twisting of the urete.. in floating kidney, spasm, scar formation in the ureter, compression of the ureter by tumours, displacement of the xvornb, etc. The attacks of pain require immediate medical attention, but until the physician's arrival considerable relief may be obtained by applying hot compresses to the abdomen and loins, and also by taking warm baths.
St-ones, Gravel, and Sand in the Kidneys.—Smaller or larger structures may form in the pelvis of the kidneys or in the ureters, resulting from the deposit of stone-forming masses (salts) around a nucleus, which usually consists of mucus, pus, tumour-particles, or coagulated blood. The affection may occur at any time of life. It is, however, most frequent in middle aged persons, and is usually one-sided. Its course may be without any disturbances if the deposit is small (sand or gravel) and easily washed out through the urinary passages NVith the urine. Larger stones, however,
often become caught in the ureter, giving rise to renal colic. Irritation of the mucous membrane of the pelvis of the kidney may result in inflamma tion, suppuration, or ulceration) and complete obstruction of the ureter may lead to dropsy of the kidney. Aside from the extremely characteristic attacks of renal colic, the affection can be readily recognised from the occurrence of sand, gravel, or small stones in the freshly-voided urine, which often contains mucus, blood, and pus in addition.
The course of this frequent affection is usually favourable, and becomes of grave import only in cases where suppuration and ulceration take place in the kidneys or in the ureters. If the stones be uric-acid stones, it is necessary, above all, to regulate the diet and to restrict the ingestion of albuminous foods. Irritating foods and alcoholic beverages must be avoided ; and vegetable dishes, milk, and farinaceous foods should be preferred..
Washing the renal pelvis, and the expulsion or dissolution of the stones, should be accomplished by drinking large quantities of milk, or by taking cures at a spa. In Europe, Erns, Wilcingen, Salzbrunn, Carlsbad, Marien bad, and Franzensbad are the most popular spas. The mineral \vaters of most of these resorts can be procured in bottles and drunk at home. Metabol ism must be stimulated by regular activity of the muscles and by baths and massage. If the condition gives rise to severe consequences, operative removal of the stones may become necessary. It is important to remember that a brickdust deposit in a cold chamber utensil is not a sign of disease, quack literature to the contrary. notwithstanding. Plate XV. shows an X-ray photograph of a stone in the kidney.
KING'S EVIL.—See SCROFULA.
KINO.—The dried juice of an East Indian tree, the Pterocarp-us marsti pitn. It occurs in small, reddish fragments, \vith a bitter, astringent taste. Kino contains kinotannic acid, and its action much resembles that of catechu The dose of the tincture, \vhich is used as an astringent in dysentery, diarrhoea, leucorrhcea, etc., is about a teaspoonful.
KLEPTOMANIA.---See MENTAL DISEASES.