SECTION VII. 

 GENITO^URINARY REGIONS, 



DISEASES OF THE URINARY APPARATUS, 



Symptomatology. The urinary apparatus comprises the organs of 

 secretion (the kidneys) and those of excretion (the ureters, the bladder, 

 the urethra). 



A thorough examination of the urinary apparatus should include, 

 firstly, that of the external organs (the sheath, glans penis and urethra) 

 in the male, and, in the female, the vulva, meatus and urethra ; 

 secondly, that of the internal organs (the bladder, ureters and kidneys) 

 in both sexes. 



To carry out the external examination, the head must first be fixed 

 and the hind limbs hobbled. If necessary, the animal can be attached 

 to the side of a wall. 



External examination comprises inspection and palpation, which is 

 only possible in males. Inspection will reveal at once the existence of 

 malformation, deformity, traumatic lesions, or tumours of the organs. 



By palpation the sheath and glans penis can be examined, and cel- 

 lulitis, abscess formation, calculi in the urethra, obstruction of the ex- 

 tremity of the canal by very fine gravel, as in the case of sheep, etc., 

 can be detected. 



The inner margin of the right kidney may also be examined by 

 external palpation, though only in very thin animals. The examination 

 is made from the flank region, behind the last rib, in an upward direc- 

 tion and towards the right (Fig. 227). The kidney, attached under the 

 lumbar region, sometimes extends back beyond the last rib, under the 

 transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae. On the left the presence 

 of the rumen prevents any examination. 



In sheep this examination requires special care. 



Examination of the internal urinary organs must be made through 

 the rectum. It should be undertaken slowly and gently. In the male 

 the hand detects the condition of the organs contained within the pelvic 

 cavity, the fulness or emptiness of the bladder, or the existence of calculi 

 within it. More deeply seated can be felt the entire length of the right 



