DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 579 



Sheep afflicted with the presence of these stones in the urethra are 

 dull and restless, pant and grunt, abstain from taking their food, 

 attempt to urinate, and rise up and lie down alternately. These 

 symptoms, and especially the abdominal pain, increase in point 

 of severity, marked febrile signs manifest themselves, and, unless 

 relief is obtained, the suffering animals at length die. In some 

 cases, however, recovery may take place spontaneously, owing to 

 the escape of the calculus through the urethral canal at a place 

 above the vermiform process. If this occurs in rams, they are 

 thereby rendered useless for breeding purposes. If, as is usually 

 the case, this does not happen, it is advisable for the surgeon to 

 €ut with care down on to the calculus, and then to remove it. 



Occasionally sheep may discharge the material which in the 

 general way composes calculi, and in these cases the deposit 

 may be detected in the urine, and the bladder is irritated by 

 the presence of the calculus-forming sediment. Owing to this 

 deposition of phosphates, strangury may occur in rams and 

 wethers. The cause is no doubt the consumption of food which 

 is rich in phosphates. Moreover, preputial calculi may be 

 present on the wool around the prepuce of sheep. In these cases 

 the triple phosphates, being deposited from the urine, block up 

 the urethra, and escape of the obstructing material is prevented 

 by the presence of the vermiform appendage. Indeed, rupture 

 of the bladder may often occur, and after death has resulted, 

 general congestion is observed, and an odour like that of urine 

 pervades the body. 



The only eflPectual method of doing any real good is either to 

 cut off the vermiform appendage in order to allow of the escape 

 of the deposit, or to cut into the urethral canal itself above the 

 place where the obstruction exists. In very mild cases aperients 

 and mineral acids may be highly beneficial. 



CYSTITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER. 



Cystitis, or inflammation of the bladder, is very rare in the ox. 

 It may, however, arise from the use of cantharides, or may 

 result from injuries. The whole bladder, or the neck only, 

 may be implicated. There is retention of urine, which, when 

 evacuated, is found to contain albumen. Anxious looking 

 at the flank with general anxious expression indicate pain, 

 and acute febrile symptoms come on. The urine should be 



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