VESICAL CALCULUS. 621 



catgut or silk, though this is not absolutely necessary, for healing 

 readily occurs without sutures. 



Operating in this way Russell removed from a cart horse a calculus 

 | inch long, f inch broad, and f inch thick. The surface was very 

 rough. Three harelip sutures were inserted. Healing was rapid, 

 the horse being sent home eight days after operation, and hardly 

 any scar being visible six weeks later. There was no sign of stricture. 

 (Cadiot and Dollar, " Clinical Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.") 



Schirrmann removed a large bean-shaped calculus from the 

 urethra of a gelding. It lay in the neighbourhood of the scrotum. 

 The operation necessitated casting. Frohner performed urethrotomy 

 in a gelding and removed two calculi as large as a hen's egg. 



After-treatment is very simple ; the wound is either left completely 

 to itself, after being powdered with iodoform, or is cleansed once 

 or twice daily. Union occurs more quickly after suturing, but even 

 without it is complete in two to three weeks. 



Bad results seldom follow this operation, though healing by first 

 intention is rare. Provided the incision be properly made and clean 

 instruments used, infiltration of urine need not be feared, nor is 

 suppuration probable, unless the parts were infected before operation. 



Operation for vesical calculus may also be performed in the standing 

 posture in quiet animals, the procedure being very similar to that 

 already described. The recumbent position, however, is preferable, 

 and many surgeons recommend operating with the animal on its 

 left side, but the general consensus of opinion is in favour of the 

 dorsal position ; chloroform is necessary. The rectum must be 

 emptied, the tail bandaged and the perineal region carefully cleansed 

 and disinfected. 



The instruments required are : — a grooved whalebone staff, or 

 a catheter, convex bistoury, probe-pointed straight tenotome, 

 lithotomy scoop, steel sound, grooved director, spoonbill forceps, 

 Higginson's syringe, suture materials, and in case of need a urethral 

 dilator and a lithotrite. Before use the instruments should be warmed 

 and lubricated with sterilised olive oil. To facilitate incision of the 

 urethral wall, the grooved staff, or the catheter should be passed 

 along the urethra to beyond its ischial bend over which the opening 

 is made vertically in the middle line or through the raphe on to the 

 staff. The incision should have a length of l£ to 2| inches, extending 

 upwards from the ischial border but not encroaching on the anal 

 sphincter. Employing the convex bistoury, the skin, two perineal 

 fascial layers, suspensory ligament of the penis, bulbo-cavernous 

 muscle, erectile tissue, and urethral mucosa are divided and the 



