AMPUTATION OF THE BLADDER. 647 



from the vagina, yet as it does not render ordinary working-horses 

 and cows useless its employment is sometimes justified. 



Partial amputation of the bladder is generally effected by ligation, 

 care being taken to avoid including any portion of the ureters. As 

 the ligature tends to slide forwards off the spherical swelling and 

 over the ureters, different methods of operation have been suggested. 

 Some recommend transfixing the bladder and ligaturing on both 

 sides, that is, applying two ligatures. Others prefer the simple 

 ligature, transfixing the bladder with a needle in front so as to secure 

 the ligature in position. Bang passes a second ligature in front of 

 and at right angles to the first, and after cutting away the bladder 

 carries the ligatures backwards and ties them in the form of a cross. 

 The same result is more simply attained, without transfixing the 

 bladder, by laying a tape with its two ends above and below the neck 

 of the bladder, the rest of the tape extending over the bladder in 

 the middle line ; the ligature is then applied, embracing the tape, 

 and the two free ends are carried backwards and tied at the back 

 of the protrusion. If the bladder be not immediately cut off after 

 ligation, it sloughs away in a few days, though, unless elastic 

 ligatures are used, it is necessary to tighten the ligatures at intervals 

 during the next few days ; the elastic ligature is, however, much 

 preferable. A sound may be passed into the ureters to ascertain their 

 position before securing the ligature. When adhesions have already 

 occurred between the layers of peritoneum covering the bladder, 

 it may be simply cut away, as was done by Gaullet in the case of 

 a mare. The bleeding was insignificant and recovery soon occurred 

 As, however, it is never certain that the adhesions are firm, the 

 ligature deserves preference. The portion of bladder not included 

 in the ligature gradually retracts into the vagina after the free portion 

 has sloughed, and the external appearance of the animal is not much 

 injured. 



VIII.- TUMOURS IN THE URETHRA AND BLADDER. 



New growths in the urethra soon impede urination ; hence the 

 animals are either slaughtered or die of the condition, and opportunities 

 of noting or treating tumour of the urethra during life are rare. 

 Matthias, however, found a polypus of the urethra in a gelding. 

 Vorberg, 10-12 polyp-like new growths in an ox ; they were £ to 

 1J inches in length, and closely packed together at one spot. The 

 polypus noted by Matthias was 6 inches long, 1J broad, and had its 



