246 DISEASES OF THE INTESTINES. 



termed the. pelvis. It has three coats, the outer one covering the greater part of it, 

 and being a portion of the peritoneum : the muscular, consisting of two layers of fibres, 

 as in the stomach ; the external, running longitudinally, and the inner circularly, so 

 that it may yield to the pressure of the urine as it enters, and contract again into an 

 exceedingly small space as it runs out, and by that contraction assist in the expulsion 

 of the urine. The inner coat contains numerous little glands, which secrete a mucous 

 fluid to defend the bladder from the acrimony of the urine. The bladder terminates 

 in a small neck, round which is a strong muscle, keeping- the passage closed, and 

 retaining the urine until, at the will of the animal, or when the bladder contains a 

 certain quantity of fluid, the muscular coat begiirs to contract, the diaphragm is ren- 

 dered convex towards the intestines, and presses them on the bladder, and by these 

 united powers the fluid is forced through the sphincter muscle at the neck of the blad- 

 der, and escapes. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER. 



There are two varieties of this disease, inflammation of the body of the bladder, 

 and of its neck. The symptoms arc nearly the same with those of inflammation of 

 the kidney, except that there is rarely a total suppression of urine, and there is heat 

 felt in the rectum over the situation of the bladder. The causes are the presence of 

 some acrid or irritant matter in the urine, or of calculus or stone in the bladder. With 

 reference to inflammation of the body of the bladder, mischief has occasionally been 

 done by the introduction of cantharides or some other irritating matter, in order to 

 hasten the period of horsing in the mare. The treatment in this case will be the same 

 as in inflammation of the kidneys, except that it is of more consequence that the ani- 

 mal should drink freely of water or thin gruel. 



In inflammation of the neck of the bladder there is the same frequent voiding of 

 urine in small quantities, generally appearing in an advanced stage of the disease, 

 and often ending in almost total suppression. There is also this circumstance, 

 which can never be mistaken by him who will pay sufiicient attention to the case, 

 that the bladder is distended with urine, and can be distinctly felt under the rec- 

 tum. It is spasm of the part, closing the neck of the bladder so powerfully that the 

 contraction of the bladder and the pressure of the muscles are unable to force out the 

 urine. 



Here the object to be attempted is sufficiently plain. This spasm must be relaxed, 

 and the most likely means to effect it is to bleed largely, and even to fainting. This 

 will sometimes succeed, and there will be at once an end to the disease. To the 

 exhaustion and loss of muscular power occasioned by copious bleeding, should be 

 added the nausea consequent on physic. Should not this speedily have effect, an- 

 other mode of abating spasm must be tried — powdered opium, made into a ball or 

 drink, should be given every two or three hours; while an active blister is applied 

 externally. The evacuation of the bladder, both in the mare and the horse, should 

 be effected through the medium of a veterinary surgeon. 



STONE IN THE BLADDER. 



The urine is a very compoiind fluid. In a state of health it contains several acids 

 and alkalies variously combined, which, under disease, are increased both in number 

 and quantity. It is very easy to conceive that some of these may be occasionally 

 separated from the rest, and assume a solid form both in the pelvis of the kidney and 

 in the bladder. This is known to be the case both in the human being and the brute. 

 These calculi or stones are in the horse oftener found in the kidney than in the blad- 

 der, contrary to the experience of the human suroeon. The explanation of this 

 however is not difficult. In the human being the kidney is situated above the blad- 

 der, and these concretions descend from it to the bladder by their weight. The belly 

 of the horse is horizontal, and the force of gravity can in no way affect the passage 

 of the calculus ; therefore it occasionally remains in the pelvis of the kidnev, until 

 it has increased so nnich in si/.e as to fill it. We know not of any symptoms that 

 would satisfactorily indicate the presence of a stone in the kidney; and if the dis- 

 ease could be ascertained, we are unable to say what remedial measures could be 

 adopted. 



