Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-01

BRIGHTS DISEASE OF THE KIDNEYS.

An Eminent Physician in Hearth and
Home gives an account of this disease, which
has of late carried off SO many prominent
men. After speaking. of the discoveries
which the microscope has enabled anatomists
to make in regard to the character and effects
of diseases, the writer says:
| The disease described by DIR. Richard
Bright, and which bears his name, affects the
secreting apparatus of the kidney. The prin-
cipal function of the kidney is to throw off
! (elimate) from the system waste products.
Throughout the entire body in muscle, brain,
| bone, and in every tissue, the process of
tearing down and building up is necessarily
| going on The waste material, the debris
is not only no longer suitable for the purposes
of the animal economy, but much of it is abso-
lutely poisonous to the blood and to the It's
sues. Hence in healthy nutrition it is carried
rapidly out of the system through the kidneys,
bowels, lungs, liver, and skin, or other ex
creting organs. Whenever any one of these
organs ceases to act, the waste mate
| terial which that organ separates either accu-
mulates in the system, or is eliminated, though
| imperfectly, by another organ. The result of
| this accumulation is that the system becomes
slowly poisoned, and sooner or later the effect
appears in some grave form Of disease.
These changes frequently progress so insid-
iously that the true nature OF the disease
is not even suspected until the sudden appear
ance of some serious and perhaps fatal symp-
toms.
Brights disease is an inflammation, ofwhieh
there are two kinds. In the first (acute), the
little tubes (tubules) of the kidney, Of which
there are thousands, become clogged by a
| new-tormed membrane, as does the windplpe
in Group. In the second (chronic) the tissue
that forms the framework of the kidney, and
| in which these tubules lie, becomes inilamed
and slowly contracts and finally presses upon
the tubes so as to interfere with or entirely
obstruct the flow of the secretion. In both
forms there are many other minute changes
in the tissues of the organs which the micro
| scope reveals. The first or acute form is
| very liable to occur in the course of other
diseases, as a scarlet fever, measles, typhus
fever, ETC.
The great danger in the Brights disease is
from the poisoning of the blood by the waste
material which is no longer properly excre
ted by the kidneys. This poison acts espec-
tally upon the brain, causing stupor and con-
vulsions.
The causes of acute Brights disease are
cold, scarlet fever, pregnancy, irritating foods
and drinks, etc. The chronic form may be
induced by any of these causes; intemper-
ance is very frequent cause.
The symptoms of acute Bright's disease
are vomiting, chills and fever, pain in the
loins, partial suppression of urine, which is
dark k-colored, and sometimes bloody, and
dropsy of feet and face, hands and legs. If
the urine be boiled in spoon or other vessel,
dense white cloud forms, which determines
the nature of the disease. This cloud is al
bumen, and hence the name albumeRarfc,
which has been given to the disease. Acute
Bright's disease is very fatal, unless early
recognized and actively treated. The pa
tient generally dies of a slow poisoning of
| the brain, thel symptoms being first dulness
of intellect, then stupor, finally heavy sleep
with snoring, and Especially in children)
commissions. The important principle in
treatment is constant perspiration, and free
action of the bowels, in order to drain out of
the system the materials accumulating in the
blood from deficient action of the kidneys.
In chronic Bright's disease the symptoms
progress much more slowly. There may be
little pain in the back, no chills and fever,
and the first symptom that attracts attention
may be puffness (dropsy) of the feet at
night, and of the eyelids in the morning.
These symptoms may continue for an indefi-
mite period, and not attract attention, until a
slight cold or the occurrence of some other
disease aggrayates the existing disease OF the
kidney, when deep stupor may set in or con-
vulsions, and life is soon terminated. There
are doubtless very many cases of chronic
Bright's disease in every community, slowly
and insdiously progressing toward fatal
termination.
The principal treatment in the chronic
form is such protection of the skin as will
| secure uniformity of temperature. Flannels
should be constantly worn over the entire
body, and about the loins there should be an
additional thickness. A warm, dry climate
should be sought if possible, and the general
health well maintained.