192 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF 



URETHRA, ETC, 



Stricture of the Urethra sometimes occurs. It is usually the 

 result of inflammation, but may result from injury. It is, perhaps, 

 oftener seen in cattle and sheep than in the horse, and may be associ- 

 ated with calculi. There is difficulty in urinating ; the urine passes 

 in a small stream. Inject with tepid water, with five or ten grains of 

 sulphate of zinc to the ounce, and endeavour to relieve by passing the 

 probang, if necessary ; but this cannot be done in cattle. 



Phyinosis. — This results from inflammation, and is sometimes a 

 sequel of castration, from swelling of the sheath ; but so long as 

 there are no great symptoms of fever it is not very serious. But if 

 the pulse is quick and the appetite gone, it shows inflammation, and, 

 perhaps, internal inflammation as well ; or it may be the result of 

 growth within the sheath. This is more likely to occur in geldings, 

 because the penis is not protruded so freely as in the entire horse. 

 Make a careful examination, and if it is the result of castration, 

 scarifying and fomenting may relieve it ; but if it is from growths 

 remove them. Touch the parts with caustics— as sulphate of copper, 

 carbolic acid, nitrate of silver, etc. ; and if the animal is in poor con- 

 dition, build up the system, wash the parts carefully and use a little oil. 



Ulceration of the Urethra is generally the result of injury, from 

 being kicked, getting over a partition in the stall, etc. Endeavour to 

 allay such an irritation as quickly as possible ; but if ulceration has 

 occurred, and a fistula is produced, then it is difficult to treat. Bring 

 the divided edges together and, if it is of long standing, scarify, and 

 then bring the edges together, and if you can keep a catheter in for 

 some time, it is best to do so; and sometimes it is impossible to relieve 

 it. The sheath, also, sometimes becomes dirty, and we have some- 

 times to attend to such cases. It may, if neglected, give rise to seri- 

 ous results ; and there may be a kind of sabulous matter in the 

 meatus urinarius, which, in some cases, may obstruct the passage of 

 the urine. But if it is small, perhaps the size of your finger, it is not 

 serious ; but if it obstructs the passage of the urine, then just remove 

 it and it affords relief ; then wash with a solution of carbolic acid, 

 chloride of lime, or sulphate of zinc. 



Excoriation of the Penis. — This may occur in covering stallions, 

 which may be due to the manner in which the penis is handled, or it 

 may be due to the parts of the mare being small, or to serving a mare 

 too soon after parturition — some discharge from the mare affecting it. 

 Give a good dose of purgative medicine ; lessen the diet ; give diure- 

 tics, and bathe with cold water ; and give some mild astringent, but 

 be careful about anything strong, or you may lose the service of the 

 horse for a long time ; but it is not generally necessary to lay him up 

 more than two or three days. 



Inflammation of the Urethra is also occasionally noticed, both in 

 horses and bulls, but is more common in dogs. There seems to be a 

 kind of gonorrhoea in the dog, somewhat similar to that in man. 

 Inflammation sometimes occurs in bulls, from jumping too violently 

 upon a cow. It may be due to contagious influence in the dog, and 

 there is said to be such a disease in the bull. In such cases act upon 

 the system by laxatives, diuretics, etc., and use sulphate of zinc. 

 Powerful astringents may suddenly arrest the discharge, but this 

 sometimes sets up constitutional fever, so I would recommend iodide 

 of potassium, nitrate of potash, etc., followed by iodide of iron, which 

 is excellent in the dog, and in any animal. 



