STONE IN THE BLADDER. 341 



lating the groin, wlien Avitli the aid of an assistant it will readily be felt — 

 should this not prove decisive the horse maybe thrown. If there is stone 

 in the bladder, it will, while the horse lies on its back, press on the bowel, 

 and may be distinctly felt by the hand in 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 descrip- 

 tion of a catheter, mvented by Mr. Taylor, a veterinary surgeon of Notting- 

 ham, which may be introduced 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 circumference, 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 inches. 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 iii the following- cuts. 



_u u, l:^— 



Many horses occasionally void a considerable quantity of gi'avel, some- 

 times without inconvenience, and at others with evident spasm or jmin ; 

 and in some few cases a small calculus has escaped from the bladder and 

 remained in the urethra. A diuretic might be useful in the first case, as 

 increasing the flow of urine, and possibly washing out the concretions 

 before they become too numerous or bulky, but in the latter the canal must 

 be dilated to allow the stone to pass, or opened for its removal. 



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

 and is discharged. The sheath of the penis is sometimes considerably en- 

 larged. When at the close of acute disease, there are swellings and effusions 

 of fluid under the chest and belly, this part seldom escapes. Diuretics will 

 be beneficial, but in extreme cases slight scarifications may be necessary". 

 The inside of the sheath is often the seat of disease. The mucous 

 matter, naturally secreted there to defend the part froin the acrimony of 

 the urine, accumulates and becomes exceedingly offensive, and produces 

 swelliiig, tenderness, and even excoriation, with considerable discharge. 

 Fomentation with Avarm 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 often apt to neglect 

 cleanliness in this respect. 



