Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

THE KIDNEYS AND BLADDER. I 375
the consequence of over-nourishment: there is a predisposition to
inflammation ; and from some cause, more or less apparent, that inflammation
is directed to the kidney. The treatment will comprise
plentiful bleeding, active purging, the administration, of emollient
clysters, fomentation over the loins or the application of a mustard
poultice to them, bran mashes, gruel, and a small quantity of green
succulent food. There is a connection between all these affections of
the kidneys, and inflammation of the larger intestines lying in the
neighborhood of them; thence the previous dysentery, and the often
obstinate constipation of red-water and pure inflammation of these
organs ; and thence the necessity of large and repeated doses of
purgative medicine, but from which all stimulating ingredients should
be excluded, and which would probably, in these cases, best consist
of castor or linseed oil. The clysters also should be truly emollient,
that while they assist in opening the bowels, they may act as soothing
fomentations in the neighborhood of the inflamed organ. Both
the oil and the clysters should be continued until the inflammation
has perfectly subsided. To the use of these the treatment should
generally be confined—most certainly in no part of it should the
slightest portion of diuretic medicine be administered.
Homoeopathic treatment.—In general this disease is cured by means
of aconitum, after which one or two doses -
of '""
cantkarides should be
given. In obstinate cases, when the disease, does not yield to several
doses of the latter remedy, of which however "more than one must
not be taken during the day, we have recourse to hyoscyamus. Nitrum
is also very useful. When there is obstinate constipation, nux
vomica should be given. Arnica is indicated whenever the disease is
attributable to an external injury.
THE KIDNEYS AND BLADDER.
The urine secreted, or separated by the kidney, having first accumulated
in the cavity in the centre of that organ, is conveyed through
a duct called the ureter to a more capacious reservoir, the bladder.
The ureters are large ; the internal membrane is strong ; the opening
into the bladder is near to the neck of that vessel, and the ureters
terminate near to each other.
The Bladder of the ox, larger, longer, and of a more oval form
,han that of the cow, is lodged between the rectum and the internal
jurface of the lower bones of the pelvis. It is supported by a trans-
verse ligament, which ties it to the sides of the pelvis ; while it is attached
by cellular membrane to the rectum above and to the pelvis
below. It is confined entirely to the cavity of the pelvis, for one of
the compartments of the paunch affords an insuperable obstacle to
its entering the proper cavity of the abdomen. When distended by
urine, its increase of size is principally shown by its greater round-
ness, and not by its increased length and descent into the cavity of