DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS. 207 



Album/noui Urine, wliich is always ropy in horses, is no proof 

 cf the existence of Bright's disease, but is an attendant on nearly 

 all extensive inflammations of important organs, on rheumatism, 

 fevers, and certain poisoned conditions of the blood. 



SPASM OF THE NECK OF THE liLADDER. 



Causes. — Prolonged retention of urine in mares at work or in 

 horses hard driven. Chill when heated. Nervous irritation. 

 Is a common attendant on severe colic and gives way when 

 that is relieved. Males suffer most frequently. 



Symptoms. — Frequent attempts to urinate, which prove 

 ineffectual or secure a dribbling only after much pain and 

 straining. There may be anxious looking at the flank and 

 uneasy shifting of the limbs, or in cattle twisting of the tail. 

 There is tenderness in the back part of the abdomen in the 

 median line below. The hand, oiled and introduced into the 

 rectum, will feel the distended bladder, with its firm dense neck, 

 and no enlargement either there or backward in the urethra, as 

 trom stone. 



If unrelieved the bladder becomes immoderately distended 

 and finally bursts, especially in ruminants. This is followed by 

 tenderness of the abdomen, febrile symptoms, dulness, and 

 languor, and if the bladder is examined it is found to be flaccid 

 and tender. Perforation of the lower part of the abdomen 

 with the nozzle of a hypodermic syringe allows the escape of 

 urine, easily recognised by it. ^dour. 



Treatment. — Spreading freafi litter under the horse will some- 

 times induce staling. If not, use antispasmodics introduced 

 by the rectum or even by the mouth (opium, laudanum, bella- 

 donna, or hyoscyamus extract, tobacco smoke or solution, 

 chloral-hydrate, lobelia, prussic acid, cyanide of potassium, etc.) 

 Solutions of any of these agents may be rubbed on the peri- 

 njeum. Sometimes the spasm will give way under gentle 

 pressure on the bladder with hand or finger in the rectum. 



