DISEASES OF THE BLADDER, ETC. 37S 



Retention of urine may be due either to inflammation of the 

 ueck of the bladder, occasioning a spasmodic closure of that part, 

 or there may be spasm unattended by inflammation and solely due 

 to the irritation of some ofl"ending substance, such as a calculus, 

 or a small dose of cantharides. The treatment in either case must 

 be directed to the spasmodic constriction, which is generally under 

 the control of large doses of opium and camphor, that is, from 

 one drachm to two drachms of each, repeated every five or six 

 hours. If the symptoms are urgent, bleeding may also be resorted 

 to, and when the bladder is felt to be greatly distended, no time 

 should be lost in evacuating it by means of the catheter, which 

 operation, however, should only be intrusted to a regular practi- 

 tioner accustomed to its use. 



Calculi in the bladder are formed of several earthy salts, and 

 present various forms and appearances, which may be comprised 

 under four divisions. 1st. The mulberry calculus, so named from 

 its resemblance to a mulberry, possessing generally a nucleus. 2d. 

 A very soft kind resembling fuller's earth in appearance, and being 

 'ihiefly composed of phosphate of lime and mucus. 3d. Calculi 

 of a white or yellowish color, rough externally and easily friable. 

 And 4th. Those which are composed of regular layers, and which 

 are harder than the second and third varieties. 



The mulberry calculus, from its extremely rough surface, occa- 

 sions more irritation than other forms, but during life it is impos- 

 sible to ascertain the exact chemical nature of the calculus which 

 may be ascertained to exist. These calculi sometimes attain an 

 immense size, weighing several pounds. The sT/mptoms are a dif- 

 ficulty of voiding the urine, which generally comes away in jerks 

 after great straining and groaning. The horse remains with his 

 legs extended for some time afterwards, and evidently indicates 

 that he feels as if his bladder was not relieved. Often there is 

 muco-purulent matter mixed with the urine, which is rendered 

 thick and glutinous thereby, but this only happens in cases of long 

 standing. The treatment must be either palliative or curative. If 

 the former, it should consist in the adoption of the means employed 

 for subduing irritation and inflammation of the bladder which 

 have been already described. The cxire can only be efi"ected by 

 removing the stone. This requires the performance of a difficult 

 and dangerous operation (lithotomy), the details of which can be 

 only useful to the professed veterinary surgeon, and I shall there- 

 fore omit them here. 



DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF GENERATION. 

 Balanitis, or inflammation of the glans penis {fidXavoq, glans"). 

 is very common in the horse, being brought on by the decomposi- 

 tion of the natural secretions, -nhen they have been allowed tc 

 3? ^ 



