340 STOXE I^' THE BLADDER. 



the presence of some acrid or irritant matter in the urine, or of calculus or 

 stone in the bladder. Witli reference to inflammation of the body of the 

 bladder, mischief has occasionally been done by the introduction of cantha- 

 rides 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 

 animal should drink freely of water or thin gruel. 



In inflammation of the neck of the bladder there is, on the contrary, a 

 great dread of and disinclination to urinate, and often ending in almost 

 total suppression ; and to such an extent does this proceed, that the case can 

 never be mistaken by him who will pay sufficient attention to the case, for 

 the bladder is distended vnth urine, and can be distinctly felt under the 

 rectum. It is spasm of the sphincter, closing the neck of the bladder so 

 powerfully, that the contraction of the bladder and the jiressure of the 

 muscles are unable to force out the urine. 



Here the object to be attempted is sufiiciently plain. This spasm must 

 be relaxed, and the most likely means to eflPect it is to bleed largely, and 

 even to fainting. This "vvill sometimes succeed, and there will be at once 

 an end to the disease. To the exhaustion and loss of muscular power occa- 

 sioned by copioiis bleeding, should be added the nausea consequent on 

 physic. Should not this speedily have effect, another mode of abating 

 spasm must be tried — powdered opium, made into a ball or drink, should 

 be given every two or three hours, and at the same time half an ounce of 

 crude opium should be introduced into the rectum ; while active counter- 

 irritation 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 compound fluid. In the 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 

 bladder, contrary to the experience of the human surgeon. The explana- 

 tion of this, however, is not difficult. In the human being the kidney is 

 situated above the bladder, 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 kidney, until it has increased so 

 much in size as to fill it. We know not of any symptoms that would satis- 

 factorily indicate the presence of a stone in the kidney ; and, if the disease 

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

 be adopted. The composition of calculi found in the bladder differs from 

 those in the intestines — in the latter the phosphate of lime is the principal 

 ingredient, in the former they consist of the carbonate of lime and animal 

 matter. 



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

 colic, except that, on careful enquiry, it will be found that there has been 

 much irregularity in the discharge of urine and occasional suppression of 

 it. Wlien fits of apparent cohc frequently return, and are accompanied 

 by any peculiarity in the appearance or the discharge of the urine, the 

 horse should be carefully examined. This generally may be satisfactorily 

 done by introducing the hand into the rectum, and with the other manipu- 



