616 DISEASES OF THE BLADDER. 



When the sediment or the calculus reaches the bladder there is a 

 tendency for it to be passed during micturition. " The signs then become 

 more strongly marked, because they point to obstruction of the urethra. 

 If the deposit is simply of the nature of sediment, there is merely a 

 little difficulty in urination, accompanied by some moderate amount of 

 pain, and sediment is afterwards found within the sheath or adhering 

 to the groups of hair at its extremity. 



If, however, the deposit is in the form of small calculi, these are 

 pushed towards the neck of the bladder and the urethra, which then 

 appears to be obstructed. 



The obstruction may occur at the origin, at the ischial curve, or 

 at the S-shaped curve of the penis (Fig. 226). Henceforth strongly 

 marked and unmistakable symptoms rapidly develop. Vesical colic 

 appears, owing to retention of urine, and rapidly acquires extreme 

 intensity, though it instantly ceases with rupture of the bladder in 

 cases where no treatment is attempted. This form of vesical colic is 

 accompanied by continual but unsuccessful efforts to urinate and by 

 spasmodic contractions of the accelerator urinae. 



Appetite and rumination cease, and the animal shows extreme anxiety. 

 Palpation along the course of the penis reveals unusual tenderness, and 

 the calculus can sometimes be felt near the S curve, though more fre- 

 quently in the ischial arch. The litter is not soiled with urine. 



Cautious rectal examination proves the bladder to be extremely 

 distended, or, in the case of rupture having occurred, entirely col- 

 lapsed. In the latter case the spasmodic contraction of the accelerator 

 urinse completely ceases soon after rupture, and the animal appears to 

 be recovering. This deceptive calm is due to the disappearance of the 

 vesical colic, but the animal's condition is still graver in consequence, 

 and it must of necessity die. Eupture of the bladder is followed by 

 inundation of the peritoneal cavity with urine, which is partly re- 

 absorbed by the peritoneum, producing a kind of urinary intoxication, 

 so that despite the elimination of certain volatile principles through 

 the lungs (the breath has an odour suggestive of urine), the animal 

 very soon dies. 



In many cases, also, the urine is not aseptic, and after rupture of 

 the bladder acute peritonitis supervenes and carries off the patient in 

 from six to ten days. 



Even when the urine appears to be aseptic, clironic exudative peri- 

 tonitis is produced by the irritant action of the urine on the peritoneal 

 endothelium. The exuded liquid mixes with the urine, and the animal 

 soon shows marked ascites. Despite this condition, some animals have 

 been known to survive as long as from three to six weeks without 

 showing very marked disturbance. 



