STONE IN THE BLADDER. 



247 



The symptoms of stone in the bladder much resemble those of spasmodic cOlic, 

 except that, on careful inquiry, it will be found that there has been much irregularity 

 in the discharge of urine and occasional suppression of it. When fits of apparent 

 colic frequently return, and are accompanied by any peculiarity in the appearance or 

 the discharge of the urine, the horse should be carefully examined. For this pur- 



ftose he must be thrown. If there is stone in the bladder, it will, while the horse 

 ies on its back, press on the rectum, and may be distinctly felt if the hand is intro- 

 duced into the rectum. Several cases have lately occurred of successful extraction 

 of the calculus ; but to effect this it will always be necessary to have recourse to the 

 aid of a veterinary practitioner. 



Both the practitioner and the amateur will be gratified by the description of a cathe- 

 ter, invented by Mr. Taylor, a veterinary surgeon of Nottingham, which may be in- 

 troduced into the bladder without difficulty or pain, and the existence and situation of 

 the calculus readily ascertained. 



It is made of polished round iron, three feet long, one and a half inch in circum- 

 ference, and with eight joints at its farther extremity. The solid part between each 

 joint is one and a quarter inch in length, and one and a half in circumference, the 

 moveable part being ten inches, and the solid part two feet two inclies. The latter 

 has a slight curve commencing one foot from the handle, and continuing to the first 

 joint of the moveable part, in order to give it facility in passing the urethra, where 

 it is attached to the parietes of the abdomen. The joints are on the principle of a 

 half joint, so that the moveable part would only act in a straight line, or curve in one 

 direction. The joints are perfectly rounded and smooth when acting either in a 

 straight line or a curve. It is represented both in its straight and curved state in the 

 following cuts. 



Many horses occasionally void a considerable quantity of gravel, sometimes with- 

 out inconvenience, and at others with evident spasm or pain. A diuretic mio-ht be 

 useful in such case, as increasing the flow of urine, and possibly washing o'ut the 

 concretions before they become too numerous or bulky. 



The urine having passed the neck of the bladder, flows along the urethra, and is 

 discharged. The sheath of the penis is sometimes considerably enlarged. When 

 at the close of acute disease, there are swellings and effusions of fluid, under the 

 chest and belly, this part seldom escapes. Diuretics, with a small portion of cordial 

 medicine, will be beneficial, but in extreme cases slight scarifications may be neces- 

 sary. The inside of the sheath is often the seat of disease. The mucous matter, 

 naturally secreted there to defend the part from the acrimony of the urine, accumu- 

 Jates and becomes exceedingly offensive, and produces swelling, tenderness, and even 

 excoriation, with considerable discharge. Fomentation with warm water, and the 

 cleansing of the part with soap and water, aided perhaps by the administration of a 

 diuretic ball, will speedily remove every inconvenience. Carters are too apt to neg- 

 lect cleanliness in this respect. 



