Several questions arise in my non-medical mind that this article should answer.  (1) Does Bright's Disease differ from kidney failure? (2) Is it plausible to a 21st century physician that so many seem to have died of kidney failure in the past?  (3) What common diseases or conditions cause kidney failure/Bright's Disease if untreated? (Hypertension perhaps?) 
 It is my impression that the current protocol for treating this condition (queried above) is dialysis or kidney transplant.  If there is any other protocol, including treatment for the underlying condition, it should be mentioned.