STONE IN THE URINARY PASSAGES. 97 



Stone in the bladder may be suspected, when there is much fever, 

 accompanied by a frequent turning of the head, and earnest gaze on 

 the flanks; when the hind limbs tremble, and there are ineifectual 

 endeavours to pass urine, or it is evacuated in small quantities, and 

 rninoled with l)lood. 



The suspicion may very easily be reduced to certainty, by examin- 

 ing the bladder with the hand introduced into the rectum, or last gut. 

 The bladder of the ox, as has already been described, lying so much 

 more in the pelvis than the bladder of the horse does, the stone cannot 

 fail of being felt if there is one. 



The presence of stone in the bladder having been thus proved, that 

 farmer will pursue the most judicious course who sends the beast 

 immediately to the butcher; for no medicine will dissolve it, and the 

 animal will lose condition every day. 



A skilful veterinarian is able, indeed, to remove the stone by the 

 operation of lithotomy: but he must well understand the anatomy of 

 cattle; and, after all, the operation would be attended with some 

 danoer and considerable expense. 



The retention of a small calculus in some part of the urethra occurs 

 much oftener than is generally suspected. The symptoms would be 

 nearly the same as those of stone in the bladder, except that the stop- 

 page of urine would be more complete. On examination, the stone 

 wiU be easily felt, and generally in the double curvature of the penis. 

 An incision may be made upon it, and it may be thus easily extracted. 

 Two or three sutures, according to the size of the calculus, having 

 been passed through the edges of the wound, it will usually heal in 

 a few days. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



DISEASES OF THE EYE. 



Oxen are very apt to receive injuries about the eye, as wounds 

 penetrating into the orbit of the eye, or even fractures of the orbit. 

 The principal thing is to prevent or abate inflammation, by fomenta- 

 tions or poultices, and a little physic, and to leave nature pretty 

 nearly to herself. Either from injurj'^, or from a disposition in the 

 bullock to throw out tumours of every kind, there are frequently bony 

 enlargements about the eyes of oxen. It will be easily seen how far 

 they are a nuisance to the animal, or impede the sight; and if it is 

 necessary to remove them, the aid of a professed practitioner on cat- 

 tle should be obtained, as an important vessel may be divided, or a 

 sad blemish left. 



Soft funo-ous tumours sometimes grow out of the orbit, or from the 

 bone around. These can only be got rid of by the use of the knife, 

 and that should be placed in a skilful hand : but even in the most 

 9 



