The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-04-05
TO TILlERS OF THE SOIL
Hints That May Prove Of Benefit to
Our NeIghbOTs'
Articles Of UndOubted Worth 10 The Farmer, Collected
From Reliable Sources
HOWTO DETECT KIDNEY DISEASE

HOWTO DETECT KIDNEY DISEASE
1t is not always easy to ascertain
whether loss of control over the hind
limbs is due to diseased kidneys or some
other injury OF the spine, nerves, mus
cles or brain. II the water passed could
be put under the microscope, the pres
ence or absence OF cylindrical casts, flat
membranous scales, pus or oil globules,
red blood globules, or blood coloring
matter might enable you to decide.
Some points, however, may be made out
by the owner himself. With disease OF
the kidneys or bladder there is likely to
be desire to pass water more frequently
there may be several fruitless attempts
made before water begins to come, the
grooming and apparent suffering attend
ant OH the act may be significant, the
water may be Shiny, especially that
which is passed latest, it may contain
an undue amount of whitish or yellowish
deposit, giving it milky appearance, it
may contain minute, solid, gritty parti
cles, it may be Of dark brown or even
a red color from the presence of blood
coloring matter, it may throw down
white Haky percipitate of albumen when
little vinegar is added and the fluid
boiled. These or any of them would i'm
ply primary kidney disease or disease of
the kidney in combination with some
other more distant nalady. That the
mare is fat (no wasting OF the muscles OF
the quarter nor above the stitleJ is sug-
gestive of the absence of disease of the
back part of the spinal marrow. Again
with injury to the spinal marrow there
is likely to be loss of sensibilty as
well as of the due control OF motion in
the hind limbs, whereas in kidney dis
ease sensation may be perfect. By
pricking the quarters or thighs with
needle it will be found whether the ami
NAL shows the usual healthy sensation.
Again with injury to the spinal marrow
there is likely to be difference in the
heat of the skin before and behind the
paralyzed part, which is not present in
kidney disease. So with sweating, the
body may sweat while the hind quarters
are day, and vice versa. This is not so
in kidney disease. The tail is more
likely to be weakened and partly be-
numbed in disease of the spinal marrow
or disease of the back and not at all so !
in kidney disease. If the horse is
small one the well-oiled hand introduced
into the rectum may reach forward so as
to feel one or both kidneys under the
bones OF the loins, and they may be as
certained to be tender or even extra
warm to the touch. By pinching the
back and loins, in kidney disease, the |
tender part may be limited to the last
bones of the back and the first of the
loins (the seat of this kidneys, whereas
the tenderness of sprained or broken
back will be at any point at which the
injury may have been sustained. When
the animal is turned round is very
narrow circle the loss of control over the
hind limbs will increase much more
rapidly in disease OF the brain or spinal
cord or in sprain of hack or loins than
in kidney disease. The treatment of a
case OF kidney disease is not ALWAYS easy.
A mustard poultice made with the best
ground mustard and tepid water may be
laid on and rubbed into the hair, across
the front part of the loins and covered
for an hour with a newspaper and
blanket. At the end of an hour if the
skin seems to have thickened or if the !
hairs stand erect it may be sponged off
and damp cloth applied covered by a
blanket. Ii it has not taken effect, leave
it on until it does. Keep the patient in
a warm place, thickly blanketed, with
bandaged legs even (if the show a ten
dency to chilD, and feed on laxative diet
warm mashes of wheat bran, scalded
hay well kept ensilage or roots. Ii the
bowels are costive give OF sulphate of
soda daily in the food. Give daily in
the food DIR sulphate of quinia, 50 or
powdered nux vomica, DIR sulphate of
iron and ? DIR phosphate OF soda. Mix
all drinking water with some we'll boiled
haxseed.