424 STONES IN THE BLADDER. 



acid may be mingled with every pail of water, and of the 

 mingled fluids the horse will drink with pleasure in a little 

 time, if other diluents be withheld. 



STONES IN THE BLADDER, OR VESICAL CALCULI. 



The presence of stone in the bladder has long been ac- 

 knowledged as a disease that has occurred in the horse ; 

 but it was always considered as a rare one. Our more 

 extended knowledge has brought many cases to light ; it 

 also exists in horned cattle ; and swine are not exempt 

 from it. It is by no means improbable that it occurs far 

 more frequently than we are aware of, as would appear 

 when we recollect how many horses are parted with on 

 account of being subject to what is considered habitual 

 strangury, the supposed consequence of a strain. Here- 

 after, therefore, all cases of this kind which have resisted 

 the ordinary treatment, and are not based on a known 

 cause, should be subjected to examination by the rectum. 



The symptoms which denote a stone in the bladder are 

 various. Generally speaking, a stone may exist for a length 

 of time, and acquire considerable magnitude, before it is 

 productive of any perceptible disorder. The sedimentous 

 depositions are indicated by the urine gradually becoming 

 thicker and whiter ; by frequent desire to stale ; by the 

 difficulty and pain with which these desires are executed. 

 Sometimes the urine is bloody, and voided with distressing 

 and painful efforts. The irritation may run so high as to 

 give rise to colic. It is not always easy to distinguish 

 between these fits of colic and common intestinal gripes. 

 So long as the pain is not very acute, the subject of cystic 

 colic paws ; makes efforts to strike the sheath with his hind 

 feet ; looks back at his flanks, even reaches them wuth his 

 teeth, and every now and then shakes his head. Should 

 the pains increase, the animal will lie down and roll, ex- 

 periencing occasional relief, and, in fact, will display the 

 symptoms of common gripes. The sweat the animal breaks 

 into diff"uses a strong urinous odour. In this paroxysm of 

 pain, mares have been known to expel the calculus, and 

 thereby obtain instantaneous relief, and from that time to 

 recover. 



The treatment of stone in the bladder may either be 



