172 DISEASES OF THE URIXARY AND SEXUAL APPARATUS 



abscess indicated by fever and fluctuation of the prostate. The pros- 

 tate may be covered by a number of irreguhxr knob-like bodies, in- 

 variably painless to the touch. A remarkable diminution of an enlarged 

 prostate invariably follows castration in the male. 



Examination of the Bladder. 



The bladder is almost entirely covered by peritoneum and lies just 

 anterior to the brim of the pelvis, or in some cases it lies entirely in the 

 aljtlominal cavity. When the bladder is very much distended, it extends 

 as far as the umbilicus and fills up the lower portion of the abdomen. 



Fig. 73. — .Speculums. Fig. 74. — Section through the pelvis of the 



male: 1, Bladder; 2, opening of the ureters into 

 the bladder; .3, spermatic ducts; 4, prostate gland; 

 5, urethra, showing Wilson's muscle; 6, arch of 

 the urethera; c, pelvis. 



It can be distinguished by manipvilation. It is a round, distended, tumor- 

 like body, giving a dull sound on percussion. On examination of the 

 rectum we not only feel the neck of the bladder and the prostate, but 

 the bladder itself can be easily distinguished. Percussion in the region of 

 the bladder when it contains a very little urine or is empty gives a hollow 

 sound. Tumor or stones in the bladder can be felt by pressing down 

 toward the wall of the abdomen, provided the bladder is empty or only 

 partially filled; pain on pressure in the region of the bladder indicates 

 an inflammatory condition of the bladder (catarrh of the bladder), and 

 in this condition the animal evinces more or less pain even when the blad- 

 der is normally distended and any pressure put on it. 



