Acute Catarrhal Cystitis. 253 



In rupture of the ureter in dystokia the walls of the womb or 

 vagina have usually suffered, and a recovery with a uretero- 

 uterine or uretero- vaginal fistula is not unknown. 



ACUTE CATARRH AI. CYSTITIS. 



Acrid diuretics, b}^ mouth or skin, microbian infection, retention of urine, 

 urethral calcuhis, parasites, spasm, enforced suspension of micturition, un- 

 clean catheter, adjacent infection, chill. Lesions : hyperEemia of mucosa, 

 thickening, vascular distention, clouding of epithelium, muco-purulent se- 

 cretion, alkaline fermentation, ammonia, liquefaction of cells, erosion. 

 Symptoms : Slight fever, stiff, straddling gait, urine scanty, cloudy, alka- 

 line, penis or clitoris semi-erect, smearing of tail or prepuce. Crystals of 

 triple phosphate. Treatment : Antiseptics, boric or salicylic acid, gum 

 arabic, astringent antiseptics, laxatives, flax seed, slippery elm, anodynes, 

 diluents, piperazine, drainage, rest, restricted laxative diet, warmth, avoid 

 stimulants. 



Causes. Cy.stitis is caused in all animals by irritant diuretics 

 like cantharides, copaiba, or oil of turpentine given by the mouth 

 or applied to an extensive cutaneous surface. It is an error, how- 

 ever, to conclude with Williams that this is the sole cau.se. The 

 very exi.stence of calculi virtuall3Mmplies bacterial infection, and 

 fermentation. The presence of free ammonia in the urine usually 

 implies fermentation, and fermentation mtist be looked upon as 

 practically synonomous with microbian invasion. That bacteria 

 may be present without serious injury is undoubted. The pro- 

 tective power of the healthy mucosa is very great. But when the 

 mucosa is weakened, microbes that w^ould otherwise be harmless, 

 find a ready infection atrium, and triumph over the weakened 

 tissues. Hence retention of urine and overdistension of the blad- 

 der as in itrethral calculus, blocking of the urethra by a parasite, 

 spasm of the sphincter vesicae, compulsory retention as in the 

 mare in harness, the dog kept indoors, or in railway car on a 

 long journey, or in mares so travelling, may become the occasion 

 of cystitis. Even in cases in which no microbe is present at first , 

 this reaches the bladder by the introduction of an unclean cathe- 

 ter, or by extension from an uretheritis, vaginitis or metritis, or 

 even from a peritonitis, or infected urachus. Or the infection 



