270 Veterinayy Medicine. 



the enlarged, tender prostate lying on the cervix vesicae. This 

 swelling may be unilateral but most commonly it is bilateral or 

 general. When fever sets in with a temperature of i02°-i04°, 

 thirst, anorexia and weakness or stiffness in the hind parts may 

 be noticed. In case of abscess, the urine may be perfectly clear 

 until it bursts into the urethra or bladder when there is an 

 abundant flow of pus, and rectal examination shows that the 

 swelling and tension have notably diminished. Should it burst 

 into the rectum, the pus shows in the faeces. Reinemann records 

 a case in a bull with dysuria, oedema of the sheath and a swel- 

 ling like the fist in the perineum, containing pus, and which 

 communicated with the prostate and urethra. With the rupture 

 of the abscess there is a marked amelioration of the symptoms. 



Not infrequently the affection subsides into the chronic form 

 and the abscess, having a restricted channel for evacuation, re- 

 mains as a suppurating cavity. 



Diagnosis. The enlargement and tenderness of the prostate 

 as felt on rectal examination is pathognomonic. If the body of 

 the urine is clear there is further corroboration, as in cystitis it 

 is more or less turbid and flocculent or even bloodstained. Mic- 

 turition is likely to be much more frequent in cystitis than in 

 prostatitis. Catheterization is much more painful when the 

 catheter passes the prostate in prostatitis than in cystitis. 



Prognosis is always grave. Some cases recover completely, 

 while others run on to a fatal termination, and still others merge 

 into the chronic form. Cases that are complicated b}' abscess are 

 always to be dreaded, as chronic suppuration, or pelvic or perito- 

 neal infection, or pyaemia, or septic poisoning is liable to super- 

 vene. As the disease is more common in the old so it is liable to 

 prove more severe and redoubtable. 



Treatment. In acute cases active derivation toward the bowels 

 is desirable. A mercurial purge (calomel —horse or bull i to 2 drs ; 

 dog, 2 to 5 grs.) may be followed a few hours later by salines 

 (sodium sulphate- horse or bull i lb. ; dog i oz.). Sodium sul- 

 phate or magnesium sulphate ma}' also be given with glycerine as 

 an enema. Great benefit may often be obtained from the applica- 

 tion of leeches on the perineum or around the anus. The diet 

 must be restricted and non-stimulating, mainly of amylaceous 

 materials, and with the water, flaxseed tea may be liberally 



