STONE IN THE BLADDER. 235 



to bleed largely, and even to fainting. This will sometimes 

 succeed, and there Avill be at once an end to the disease. To 

 the exhaustion and loss of muscular power occasioned by copious 

 bleeding, should be added the nausea consequent on physic. 

 Should not this speedily have effect, another mode of abating 

 spasm must be tried — powdered opium, made into a ball or 

 drink, should be given every two or three hours ; while an active 

 blister is applied externally. The evacuation of the bladder, 

 both in the mare and the horse, should be effected through the 

 medium of a veterinary surgeon.* 



STONE IN THE BLADDER. 



The symptoms of stone in the bladder much resemble those 

 of spasmodic colic, except that, on careful inquiry, it will be 

 found that there has been much irregularity in the discharge of 

 urine and occasional suppression of it. When fits of apparent 

 colic frequently return, and are accompanied by any peculiarity 

 m the appearance or the discharge of the urine, the horse should 

 be carefully examined. For this purpose he must be thrown. 

 If there is stone in the bladder, it will, while the horse lies on 

 its back, press on the rectum, and may be distinctly felt if the 

 hand is introduced into the rectum. Several cases have lately 

 occurred of successful extraction of the calculus ; but to effect 

 this it will always be necessary to have recourse to the aid of a 

 veterinary practitioner.! 



The catheter invented by Mr. Taylor is made of polished 

 round iron, three feet long, one and a half inch in circumfer- 

 ence, and with eight joints at its farther extremity. The solid 



* Note by Mr. Spooner. — This is a very rare but exceedingly dangerous 

 disease, the irritation being so great that it is almost impossible to keep any 

 soothing application in the bladder, the contents of which are being con- 

 tinually ejected. Recourse therefore must be had to very copious bleeding, 

 so as to endeavor to check both the inflammation which exists, as well as 

 to assuage the irritation which forbids topical (local) measures. It will 

 assist to atlminister calomel combined with opium and tartarized antimony, 

 two scruples of each being given three times a day. The same means may 

 be adopted when inflammation attacks the neck of the bladder, and the 

 spasm prevents its evacuation. As stated in the text the bladder of a 

 mare may be readily evacuated by means of a catheter ; and, by the aid 

 of the elastic and flexible catheter, the bladder of the gelding can also be 

 discharged, though the operation requires some tact and skill. 



\ Note by Mr. Spooner. — In cutting for the stone, the horse is cast and 

 turned on his back, and supported in that position. A whalebone or wooden 

 stafl:' is then passed up the urethra, and when it is felt at the perineum 

 just under the anus, is cut down upon. A pair of forceps is next passed 

 through the wound thus made, into the bladder, with which the calculus 



must be removed. The bladder then should be washed out with tepid 



•fcater, and the wound sewed up. 



