192 DISEASES OF THE HOKSE. 



The mare died on tbe ninth day, and, on examining the body 

 and opening the abdomen, a large quantity of fluid escaped, of 

 a brown colour and muddy appearance. The bladder was much 

 diminished in size, and a large hole was perceived near its 

 fundus. The edges of the orifice were smooth, and it appeared 

 to have been occasioned by ulceration ; the coats were thickened, 

 but the bladder itself did not appear to be much inflamed, ex- 

 cept immediately round the orifice. Every time the mare staled 

 a portion of the urine must have been discharged through the 

 orifice into the cavity of the abdomen. 



AYe may suspect the existence of such lesion when we find a 

 frequent disposition to stale, but very little urine appearing, and 

 this of the usual colour, the bladder at the same time being by 

 no means distended. — Ed.] 



[ Calculus in the Bladder, 



Compared with the human subject, is exceedingly rare, for many 

 years may elapse before a case comes under the notice of a 

 veterinary surgeon. From being a vegetable feeder, and having 

 water as his only article of drink, there is but little disposition 

 to produce these urinaiy concretions. Then, again, when 

 formed, fi'om the horizontal position of the animal, they more 

 frequently remain in the kidneys. A few years since, on 

 examining the body of a horse that Avas discharged on account 

 of being a bad roarer, a stone, weighing several ounces, was 

 found in one of the kidneys. There had not been any symptoms, 

 during life, to denote its presence. 



There is, in the Museum of the Veterinary College, a stone, 

 as large as a man's hat, found in the bladder of a horse which, 

 during life, for some length of time, had been accustomed to 

 stale every ten minutes, and was known round the country by 

 the name of the Pissing Horse. 



On analysing vesical calculi, they have nearly always been 

 found to contain the same component parts, principally car- 

 bonate of lime. They are readily dissolved by acids when 

 taken from the body ; but, although many attempts have been 

 made to accomplish this effect, in the living subject, by admi- 

 nistering vinegar and muriatic acid internally, and by injection, 

 yet the result has not been satisfactory : recourse must generally 

 be had to the operation of lithotomy, in order to remove a cal- 

 culus from the bladder. — Ed.] 



There are several successful cases on record, both English and 

 foreign, one of the earliest having been j)erformed and related 

 by La Fosse. He says, " The horse was about fourteen years 

 old, and was often observed to have pain and difiiculty in staling, 

 voiding only a small quantity, wdiich was sometimes bloody. 



