CYSTIC OR VESICAL CALCUIJ. 497 



detected the phosphate of lime, and in some, traces of the 

 ammoniate-magnesian phosphate/^ ' The carbonate of lime 

 is soluable with effervescence in the weakest acids ; and this 

 is an important fact to be acquainted with, because it leads 

 to the suggestion of the medicines best adapted to — if any 

 will — work some solution or diminution of them. As a 

 rare exception to this unvarying composition, M. Lambert 

 mentions an instance where a calculus so large was discovered, 

 that it completely filled the bladder, which was found to 

 contain a pretty considerable proportion of oxide of man- 

 ganese. 



The Symptoms in the early stages of the formation of 

 calculus are, in general, either of a nature too trivial to 

 attract notice, or they are of that indefinite character, that 

 we are unable to draw from them any practical or safe de- 

 ductions ; and either of these states may continue for an 

 unlimited length of time — years even. 



These indefinite or suspicious symptoms, according to 

 D^Arboval, are — " Less freedom in the movements of the hind 

 quarters ; lying down less, or reposing with the fore parts 

 raised from time to time, seated upon the croup ; frequent 

 motions of the tail ; the state of the urine — its growing by 

 degrees thicker and whiter, and depositing, on standing, a 

 sediment of the same nature as the composition of the soft 

 or first kind of calculus ; frequent desire to stale, and diffi- 

 culty and pain in accomplishing it. In some cases, the walk 

 will be tardy and straddling; the loins reached and stiff; 

 the urin acrid and irritating; and the sheath or perineum 

 tumid. At Alfort College it has been remarked that the 

 penis sometimes becomes paralysed, and hangs out of its 

 sheath.^' 



More characteristic symptoms '' are likely to arise at 

 the time that the urinary concretion begins to assume the 

 solidity and hardness of a true calculus^ in consequence of 

 the irritation produced by it upon the membrane of the 

 bladder; though in general^^ — according to the same autlior 

 from whom I am now transcribing — " the pains are not 



^ Op. cit., p. 10. 



II. 32 



