The Blood shows the presence of the toxic substances on account of the inability of the kidneys to eliminate them properly.
Edema is a common symptom and is probably due to the retention of salts and water by the tissues of the body. It is treated and at times relieved by limiting the intake of fluids and reducing the amount of sodium chloride in the diet.
Uremia is the most dreaded symptom and develops as a result of the retained toxins in the blood. Its development is prevented, if possible, by reducing the amount of fluid and food, even of milk, in the diet.
Uremic Poisoning is an acute intoxication due to the abnormal retention of these poisons and the inability of the kidneys to eliminate them. It is combated by instituting a starvation treatment which is followed by the above-mentioned restricted diet.
Gastro-intestinal Disturbances, especially diarrhea, are apt to develop in chronic nephritis. Care must be taken to keep the meals small in size, simple in proportion, and constituted only from the allowed foods.
Anemia follows the acute attack and is especially noticeable in those cases in which a rigid starvation régime has been found necessary. It may likewise be the result of a long-continued diet in which the proteins have been reduced to the lowest possible amount. The simple proteins in the diet must, at times, be increased and the patient advised to take plenty of fresh air and sunshine, in order to overcome this progressive anemia.
Restrictions in the diet are essential. These consist of limiting the amount of food and fluids as well as the type of food ingested.
Restricting the Proteins.—Proteins are restricted on account of the difficulty with which the end-products are eliminated by the kidneys, also on account of the toxic character of these substances.
Restricting the Fluids.—It is necessary, on account of their difficulty of elimination and because they impose an excessive tax upon the circulatory organs.
Treatment is largely dietetic in character by reason of the advantages just mentioned.