654 INFLAMMATION OF THE PREPUCE IN OXEN. 



in drops or in a fine stream. The prepuce cannot be drawn back 

 over the penis ; phymosis exists. In the prepuce a grey-black 

 smegma is found, the removal of which gives pain. The bladder, 

 when examined per rectum is found greatly distended and painful 

 on pressure. Colic soon sets in. The animals stop feeding, may 

 show fever, and if relief be not soon afforded may die. 



The risks are numerous. There is, firstly, the chance of necrosis 

 of the prepuce and penis ; sloughing of large portions of the penis 

 has often been observed. Then there is the danger of infiltration of 

 urine into the subcutaneous tissues, causing septic cellulitis, necrosis, 

 and severe general disturbance from infection. Finally, rupture of 

 the bladder may be threatened. The condition is, therefore, in no 

 way trivial, and imperatively calls for early treatment. 



Treatment consists in cleansing and making patent the orifice 

 of the prepuce to allow of urine escaping ; if the entrance is too much 

 swollen and no urine is passed, the prepuce must be laid open. As 

 the animal strikes out when the penis is handled, it should be placed 

 in stocks, or restraint applied. If stocks are unavailable, restive 

 animals may be placed against a wall, the hind legs being secured 

 by a rope applied above the hocks ; Pflug recommends casting such 

 animals. On account of the great pain, it is often impossible to free 

 the entrance to the sheath in the standing position. The bunch of 

 hairs must first be cut away, and lukewarm oil injected into the 

 prepuce, whilst its outer surface is rubbed with the same material. 

 If urination is moderately free, the animal may then be allowed 

 to rise, and the task of emptying the prepuce left until next day. 

 To facilitate this, Pflug first injects lukewarm water, solution of 

 acetate of lead or Goulard's solution. Others recommend a 5 per 

 cent, solution of chloride of lime. Permanganate of potash (3-5 per 

 1,000), sulphate of zinc, tannic acid (3-5 per cent.), are also useful. 

 The points to be kept in view are to cleanse the sheath as completely 

 as possible, to remove decomposing material, or destroy its injurious 

 properties by disinfectants, and to combat the inflammation. Bathing 

 the sheath, or frequently washing its surface with lukewarm water, 

 is therefore first indicated. Necrotic parts should be removed, or 

 their separation assisted by bathing with lukewarm aromatic fluids, 

 or frequently washing them with warm carbolic lotion. 



In many cases it is necessary to lay open the prepuce. A strong 

 probe-pointed tenotome is introduced, and the cut made either 

 downwards or to one side. Pflug prefers the latter direction on 

 account of the parts not being so easily moistened by urine, which 

 is likely to produce fresh strictures. For contagious balanitis in 



