140 



DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



forced the urine back upon the kidney. The result is the production 

 of symptoms more violent than in renal calculi, though not varying, 

 save in intensity, from those of renal colic. In case of complete and 

 unrelieved obstiiiction, the secretion of the kidney on that side is 

 entirely abolished, and it becomes the seat of passive congestion, and 

 it may even be absorbed in greater part or as a whole, leaving only a 

 fibrous sac containing fluid with a urinous odor. In small cattle, in 

 which the oiled liand introduced into the last gut may reach the 

 affected part, the distended ureter may be felt as a tense, elastic cord, 

 extending forward from the point of obstruction on the lateral wall 

 of the pelvis and beneath the loins toward the kidney. If relief is 

 obtained by the onward passage of the stone a free flow of urine 

 usually follows, in the midst of which may often be found gritty 

 masses. If the outlets from both kidneys are similarly blocked the 

 animal becomes poisoned by the retention in the blood of the elements 

 of the urine, and by their reabsorption after secretion. 



Treatment of renal and ureteral calcvZi. — Treatment is not very 

 successful, as only the smallest calculi can pass through the ureter 

 and enter the bladder, and even if they should do so they are liable to 

 a progressive increase there, so that later they may cause the symp- 

 toms of stone in the bladder. Fortunately, ordinary dairy, growing, 

 or fattening cattle rarely show evident symptoms of illness, and even 

 though they do so they can usually be fattened and slaughtered before 

 the health is seriously impaired. In work oxen the case is different, 

 and acute symptoms may develop, but even then the animal may often 

 be fitted for the butcher. When treatment is demanded it is pri- 

 marily soothing and antispasmodic. Fomentations with warm water 

 over the loins should be persisted in without intermission until relief 

 has been secured. The soothing effect on the kidney will often relieve 

 inflammation and irritation, should the stone be in that situation, 

 while if in the ureter the warm fomentations will at once soothe irri- 

 tation, relax spasm of the muscular coat of the canal, and favor an 

 abundant secretion from the kidney, which, pressing on the obstruct- 

 ing stone, may slowly push it on into the bladder. Large doses of 

 laudanum (2 ounces) or of solid extract of belladonna (2 drams) will 

 not only soothe the pain but relax the spasm and favor the onward 

 passage of the calculus. The animal shoidd be encouraged to drink 

 large quantities of cool water to favor the free secretion of a very 

 watery urine, which will not only serve to obviate irritation and con- 

 tinued deposit caused by a highly concentrated urine, but will press 

 the stone onward toward the bladder, and even in certain cases will 

 tend to disintegrate it by solution of some of its elements, and thus 

 to favor its crumbling and expulsion. This is a principle which nuist 

 never be lost sight of in the treatment of calculi. Tlie immersion of 

 the stone in a liquid of a lower specific gravity than tliat in wliich it 



