Diseases Affecting the Kidneys, etc. 265 



commonly troubled with various urinary complaints, 

 some of a temporary, others more or less of a per- 

 manent nature. The urinary organs comprise the 

 right and left kidneys, the ureters or tubes conveying 

 the fluid from the kidneys to the bladder ; the bladder 

 and the urethra serving to conduct the urine ex- 

 ternally. The acid nature of the urine in carnivora 

 predisposes these animals to the formation of phos- 

 phatic calculi in some part of the urinary apparatus, 

 such as the kidneys, very commonly in the bladder. 

 The calculus may form in one situation of the uri- 

 nary track, but subsequently be transferred to some 

 other portion of it. It seems almost needless to 

 say that the formation of a stone or calculus in the 

 kidney is more immediately dangerous than stone 

 in the bladder, though not necessarily, so much 

 depending upon circumstances. No matter what 

 portion of the apparatus be involved, the existence 

 of a calculus is attended with considerable danger, 

 and whenever possible it is expedient to have pro- 

 fessional skill. 



Inflammation of the Bladder 



The bladder may, and occasionally does become 

 the seat of acute or chronic inflammation, brought 

 on through variable causes. In some instances one 

 or more calcuH will have set up such irritation, but 

 the degree of inflammation varies in extent and dura- 



