272 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



Treatment. — The treatment of retention is essentially 

 surgical. Careful catheterization is necessary in most cases, 

 though in some instances pressure on the distended bladder 

 by the hand passed througli the rectum will suffice. 



INCONTINENCE OF URINE. 



By incontinence we mean an inability to retain the 

 urine. 



In some instances retention is accompanied by incon- 

 tinence of urine, which continually dribbles, owing to the 

 great distension of the bladder. In other cases incontinence 

 may be due to the presence of calculi, or to paralysis of the 

 sphincter vesicae. 



When due to over-distension, the incontinence must be 

 treated by catheterization. 



When due to paralysis, nux vomica and vegetable tonics 

 with injection of cold water into the rectum are indicated. 



