734 DISEASES OF THE BLADDER. 



apparently resulting from hiemal changes and extravasations 

 from the vessels of the submucous tissue. In cases where the 

 cause of the inflammation is mechanical irritation steadily 

 maintained for some time, and not of the most active character, 

 we meet with much increase in the thickness of the walls of 

 the bladder without striking change in colour. This may 

 result from remittent but sustained irritation, or from steadily 

 maintained hyper-activity in efforts to overcome some resistance 

 of urethral obstruction. 



Symptoms. — Restlessness referable to abdominal disturbance, 

 a rather peculiar paddling or repeated moving of the hind- 

 feet, and occasional whisking of the tail, repeated micturitions 

 with trifling discharge, pain increased on making attempts to 

 examine the state of the bladder from the rectum; and in cases 

 of some severity or long standing, where the contractile power 

 of the sphincter is lessened, there may be continuous dribbling 

 of urine. In all instances Avhich have come under my observa- 

 tion, except those in which the morbid action was confined to 

 the smallest extent of structure, in addition to symptoms indi- 

 cative of local changes there existed more or less constitutional 

 disturbance and fever. Rarely have we acute cystitis appa- 

 rently affecting a large area of the viscus, tending to complete 

 destruction of the contractibility of the structures. Occasion- 

 ally we meet with a subacute or chronic manifestation not at all 

 favourably influenced by treatment, where well-marked and 

 extensive changes are steadily progressive for a lengthened 

 period ; these cases are often indicated by the presence of pus 

 and other cell-structures in the urine, a condition, however, 

 which may be confounded with the more frequent one of 

 chronic pyelitis. 



Treatment.— When believing that there exists inflammation 

 of the coats of the bladder, care must be exercised to avoid 

 increased irritation and the chances of ulterior mischief from 

 the presence of large quantities of urine in the organ ; and 

 when not naturally evacuated, the urine ought to be withdrawn 

 regularly by the catheter, not, however, unless the inability to 

 void it naturally is decidedly expressed. 



With much pain exhibited and marked constitutional 

 excitement, moderate blood-letting, followed with repeated 

 but moderate doses of opium, or opium combined with calomel, 



