512 DISEASES OF THE BLADDER, 



and painful micturition and by the small quantity' of urine passed on 

 each occasion. 



The urine, moreover, is modified in appearance. At first it con- 

 tains a small quantity of blood, and is reddish, or at least of a darker 

 tint than is usual. Later it becomes thick and whitish, and contains 

 greyish films of epithelium, and the debris of fibrinous coagula. The 

 microscope reveals in it the presence of pus corpuscles, flat polygonal 

 cells with large nuclei, and sometimes red blood corpuscles. 



Locally almost all that can be detected in male animals is a little 

 tenderness of the neck of the bladder on rectal examination, and in 

 females on examination of the meatus urinarius by means of a 

 speculum. 



The vaginal mucous membrane then appears inflamed around the 

 meatus, which itself is exceedingly sensitive. 



In cases of very marked inflammation, accompanied by partial 

 necrosis of the mucous membrane or the production of false mem- 

 branes, the temperature rises as high as 104° Fahr. (40° C), aj^petite 

 disappears, colic is extremely acute, and violent efforts to pass urine 

 are continually made until the animal is completely exhausted. The 

 patient then refuses to walk about, but frequently lies down, arches 

 its back, and constantly makes efforts to urinate, which are abortive 

 or end only in the passage of little jets of fluid. 



The urine passed contains little greyish necrotic fragments or d'ehris 

 of false membranes, suggestive of diphtheria. In female animals the 

 canal of the urethra may also become obstructed, and rupture of the 

 bladder, though rare, occasionally occurs. 



In the ordinary forms inflammation persists for two to three weeks, 

 then diminishes in intensity, and either ends in recovery or becomes 

 chronic. 



In the grave forms, where inflammation and infection extend to the 

 peri-vesical tissues and the peritoneum, death by peritonitis is the rule. 



On post-mortem examination, the mucous membrane is seen to be 

 of a greyish colour, and sloughing or gangrenous over surfaces of vary- 

 ing size, whilst the surroundings are infiltrated, blackish and greatly 

 thickened. The whole of the connective tissue layer which supports 

 the peritoneum near the base of the bladder, and also the adipose 

 tissue around the bladder, are markedly inflamed. At this stage pelvi- 

 peritonitis or generalised peritonitis may occur as complications. 



In the simple forms the mucous membrane is desquamating, infil- 

 trated, and covered with granulations of apparent healthy appearance. 



Diagnosis. The diagnosis is comparatively easy, the external 

 symptoms being so clearly defined. There is a difficulty, however, 

 in distinguishing this disease from cystitis caused by a calculus. In 



