RETENTION OF UEINE. 757 



the retentiou, relief must be afforded by the introduction of 

 the catheter, and it is highly important, in all cases where 

 animals retain the recumbent posture, to examine the condition 

 of the bladder, and afford the necessary relief by the introduction 

 of the catheter. Sometimes, however, the evacuation may be 

 effected by firm but not violent pressure upon the bladder with 

 the open hand introduced into the rectum, taking care that the 

 mucous membrane of the rectum be not injured by the finger 

 nails or by too violent pressure. In introducing the catheter in 

 the cow, care must be taken not to injure the thin, delicate, 

 membranous valve which guards the urethral opening ; and in 

 order to introduce the catheter without causing injury, the 

 valve is to be lifted upwards by the finger, and the point of the 

 catheter carefully introduced beneath it. If retention be due to 

 the accumulation of dirt within the sheath of the penis, it may 

 not be necessary to introduce the catheter, but to wash the parts 

 thoroughly with soap and warm water ; a little carbolic acid in 

 the latter will render this operation much less offensive to the 

 nostrils by destroying the foetid smell. 



INCONTINENCE OF UEINE. 



This is the reverse of retention, being a continual flow of 

 urine. It arises from a variety of causes, namely, paralysis of 

 the sphincter vesicae, the muscular power of the walls of the 

 bladder remaining intact; calculi; and from pervious uraclms 

 shortly after birth. 



For the treatment of the two latter causes see Principles and 

 Practice of Veterinary Surgery; and for that arising from paralysis 

 cathartics may be necessary, succeeded by rmx vomica and can- 

 tharides, with injections of cold water into the rectum. 



" Incontinence is said to occur in pigs after eating of poly- 

 gonum, hydropiper, and lapathifolium." — (Gamgee.) 



The following terms are applied to the checked discharges of 

 urine : — suppression — ischuria ; painful discharge of little urine 

 — dysuria ; and the passage of urine in drops — strangury. 



