URETHROTOMY IN RUMINANTS. 629 



should be fastened in the urethra to keep the wound open, but this 

 measure is only of temporary benefit on account of inflammatory 

 swelling setting in and preventing discharge of urine. Dupont therefore 

 recommends, in the event of a calculus being found at this point, 

 to thrust it back into the bladder, thus obviating the necessity for 

 such a large urethral wound. 



As relapses are not uncommon it is usually advisable to fatten 

 the animal for slaughter as soon as possible. 



Bader, who performed one hundred lithotomies in the ox, almost always 

 found the calculus in the first (lower) curve of the urethra. Most of the 

 animals were in the first or second year of life, a few in the third, and only 

 one in the fourth. In 24 out of 25 cases, Deisinger found the stone in the 

 lower curve of the urethra. Diani states having seen 300 cases, and having 

 found the stone in the upper curve, or between it and the lower one, in 

 98 per cent, of these. In 2 it lay in the pelvic portion, and in 5 or 6 near 

 the glans. 



Urethrotomy in the sheep. 



The ram's narrow urethra lies embedded for the most part in 

 fatty tissues, and is therefore still more difficult to find than that 

 of the ox. Calculi and deposits are not common in sheep, and when 

 occurring are usually found close behind the opening of the urethra, 

 which extends beyond the penis, is free and curved, forming the 

 vermiform appendix. Dammann has described several cases of 

 the kind. 



The symptoms are similar to those in cattle. Retention of urine 

 renders the animals restless, they stand with the back arched 

 straining to pass urine, and examination per anum shows the bladder 

 to be greatly distended. By closing the nostrils with the hand a 

 healthy sheep can be caused to pass urine, but here the attempt 

 is unsuccessful, or only a few drops are passed. 



According to Peuch, it is usual in France, as in Germany, to 

 remove the appendix of the urethra in cases where calculi or concretions 

 cause retention of urine. The same is recommended in England ; 

 Read saw a case where 11 to 12 pints of urine were afterwards passed. 



If the obstruction lie further back, Peuch recommends, in valuable 

 animals, passing a catheter or sound. The sheep is placed on its 

 back and the penis drawn forward out of the prepuce. A flexible 

 metallic sound is then passed into the urethra, which has previously 

 been laid open transversely close behind its free end. It is said to 

 be thus possible to displace the sediment and effect an exit for the 

 urine. 



Others recommend laying open the urethra at the ischial arch, 



