180 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS ANL» TREATMENT OK 



ating when there is no abnormal condition of the kidneys. This some- 

 times occurs from want of straw or other bedding under him. As a 

 general thing, you can have conclusive evidence or retention by examin- 

 ing per rectum. A nice clyster of warm water will sometimes relieve it 

 by a relaxing action. If it is due to spasms, or even if due to calculi, 

 sometimes pressure upon the neck of the bladder with the hand will 

 relieve it. If these fail, then use elastic catheter, which can be inserted 

 up the penis. Take hold of the penis with the left hand and insert it 

 carefully, and when it reaches the point where it has to make the turn, 

 use a little pressure, and you may even need to pass the hand into the 

 rectum to prevent it from passing into the ejaculatory duct. In passing 

 it in the female, put the hand in and find the meatus urinarious ; raise 

 the valve and insert the catheter. In the passage there may, in some 

 cases, be some difficulty, but not as a general thing. As well as this, a 

 good opiate will sometimes afford relief in spasms of the neck and blad- 

 der ; or give hypodermic injections ; or a few good doses of belladonna 

 may be of benefit ; and you may even inject the bladder with a little 

 tepid water. 



Cystitis, Inflammation of the Bladder, is seldom seen, except 

 from difficult parturition ; but exposure to the cold, diuretic medicines 

 and bad blood may produce it. The animal walks with a straggling gait ; 

 the urine is passed frequently, but in small quantities at a time — but 

 there may be the natural amount, Examination may show pain and 

 heat in the parts. Keep the animal quiet ; give an oleaginous purgative ; 

 inject the rectum, and even the bladder, with tepid water, to which may 

 be added a little opium, which can be done in either the horse or mare ; 

 give a few doses of carbonate of soda, and follow with demulcent drinks, 

 etc. 



Fung'oid Growths in the Bladder, either cancerous or melanotic, 

 may grow and almost fill up the bladder. Ureters become enlarged, and 

 take on the functions of the bladder, to a certain extent, by becoming en- 

 larged. Hard work and poor keeping favor their production. Old horses, 

 so kept, are most liable to this. 



Symptoms. — The animal appears somewhat stiff in the quarters, but 

 not actually lame. This disappears some by exercise ; he gradually loses 

 flesh until he is unable to do any work ; the pulse is not affected ; strains 

 violently when urinating, and the urine may be tinged with blood, or 

 blood may be noticed after the urine is passed, in some cases, and the 

 urine in such a case may be almost natural. Make a careful examination 

 t>er rectum ; also examine the condition of the blood. The passage of the 

 blood after the urine is also symtoniatic of calculi. In such cases little 

 can be done — but you may try the effect of medicine. With this you oc- 

 casionally find small calcareous deposits ; hence, you may try hydiochloric 

 acid, one-half to two drachms, well diluted with water, two or three times 

 a day. Cutting in and removing these is not successful. Melanotic de- 

 posits are more common in gray horses. You may detect hypertrophy 

 per rectum, if it is exceedingly large. 



Albuminous Urine, Albuminuria. — It is often symptomatic of 

 other diseases. It is an excess of albumen in the urine. It is seldom 

 noticed in the horse. It is sometimes the result of acute nephritis, 

 but may appear without any organic disease of the kidneys. It may 

 result through nervous influence, by derangement of the digestive 

 system. 



The Causes are exposure to cold, improper food, etc., and it is most 

 likely to occur in horses worked hard and exposed to the vicissitudes 



