756 SPORADIC DISEASES. 



neck of the bladder; so induced, it is often a complication of colic; 

 j)aralysis of the bladder. Eetention is a common complication 

 in parturient apoplexy and in paraplegia ; enlargement of the 

 prostate in aged males ; cystic or urethral calculi ; cancer of the 

 penis ; any cause of obstruction at the urethral opening ; pro- 

 lapsus of the uterus or vagina, and excessive accumulations of 

 feeces in the rectum, and of dirt in the sheath. Inability to 

 urinate may also result independently of the above causes and 

 of any disease of the bladder or urethra, when an animal is 

 unable or unwilling to rise upon its feet, as in azoturia, laminitis, 

 or paralysis. 



The symptoms are frequent and ineffectual attempts to urinate; 

 if standing, the animal will stretch itself out, strain violently, and 

 groan with pain, discharging but a few drops of urine, or none 

 at all. Examination per rectum will enable the practitioner to 

 feel the distended bladder with the hand, and this distension of 

 the bladder is the diagnostic symptom. Such an examination 

 will also often enable him to discover the cause ; if from en- 

 larged prostates, these will be felt as oval bodies immediately 

 within the pelvis pressing upon the urethra. I have one case 

 recorded where the animal had suffered, according to my infor- 

 mant, for five weeks from what appeared to be incontinence of 

 urine — there being a continual dropping of urine night and day 

 — but which proved, upon examination, to be a case of retention 

 from the pressure of large prostates. The bladder was enor- 

 mously distended, and the continual dropping of urine was the 

 mere overflow ; upon the catheter being introduced relief was 

 immediately given by the withdrawal of a large quantity of 

 urine. It was necessary to introduce the catheter two or three 

 times a day for about a week, when the enlarged prostates, under 

 the influence of iodine internally administered, and applied as 

 an ointment to the perinaeum, diminished in size, and permanent 

 relief was afforded. 



Paralysis of the bladder, if not caused by cerebro-spinal or 

 spinal derangement, may be induced by retention of urine, as 

 when an animal is compelled to perform a long journey without 

 the opportunity of relieving itself. In this case the muscular 

 fibres of the bladder, unnaturally stretched by the pressure of 

 the contained urine, lose their tonicity, and become unable 

 to contract upon their contents. Whatever be the cause of 



