498 DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS. 



great, except at the time that the calculus gets into the neck 

 of the bladder, obstructing the passage, either partially or 

 completely, and occasioning more or less difficulty in staling, 

 or altogether preventing the act. The irritation set up 

 causes frequent desire to stale, and to satisfy this the horse 

 is continually making efforts, violent in proportion to his 

 feelings : he stretches himself out and draws his yard, but 

 often in vain, or with ability only to dribble a little, and 

 that with extreme pain. What he does pass is perhaps 

 bloody, perhaps gravelly. The urinary irritation may induce 

 colicky pains j in which case he will try to strike his sheath 

 with his hind feet, and will look at his flank, grind his teeth, 

 and shake his head from pain : in fact, during suffering, he 

 may manifest all the worst symptoms of acute enteritic 

 disorder. In their agony, mares have been known to expel 

 their calculi, and in this manner effect their own cure. 

 A horse has stopped himself all at once in his gallop to make 

 water, and, being unable to accomplish the act, has refused 

 to set off again. The animal can stale only at such times 

 as, through relaxation of the bladder, the stone has fallen 

 into its fundus. Towards the termination of this painful 

 disorder, a horse has been known to experience seven or 

 eight paroxysms of pain daily, and at last sink through 

 extreme suffering. On the other hand, cases occur wherein 

 calculus is breeding fatal mischief for years, and the horse 

 feeding and working and looking in health all the while, 

 even up to the day of his death.^^ 



Examination per Rectum — a mode of inquiry known 

 even to Vegetius — is the veterinarian's grand confirming 

 test of the presence of calculus : it may be said to consti- 

 tute his diagnosis, for it will assuredly resolve all his doubts 

 and apprehensions, and, moreover, can be easily and readily 

 practised without the risk of any injury to the patient. The 

 most favorable moment for examination is immediately 

 after the voiding of the urine ; it being much easier to de- 

 tect the stone in an empty than in a full bladder. Should 

 the bladder be distended at the time, we may by pressing 

 upon it endeavour to force some urine out; and if none 



