1040 Veterinary Obstetrics 



Symptoms. The symptoms of perforate urachus may be 

 divided into two groups, according to causes. 



1 . In cases where the urachus is for some reason abnormally 

 open, or has become in some way abnormally divided, or if the 

 meatus urinarius is constricted or absent, the young animal, in 

 urinating, discharges a large part or all of the urine through the 

 navel. If the urethra is closed, the entire amount must flow 

 through the navel ; while, if the normal passage is open, a part 

 of the urine may flow from each opening. 



2. When the urachus becomes secondarily re-opened, as a con- 

 sequence of umbilic infection, the discharge of urine through the 

 navel is not very great in amount, but dribbles awaj- or flows in 

 a very small stream during urination, and perhaps oozes some- 

 what continuously from the navel, keeping the region soiled, 

 moist and fetid. In such cases the navel is inflamed, and may 

 be swollen, or the patient may show well-defined symptoms of 

 pyo-septhaemia or inflammation of the umbilic vessels. In these 

 cases the foal or other young animal has remained apparently 

 well for some days after birth, and no discharge of urine from 

 the navel has been noted during this period. After infection of 

 the umbilicus takes place, perhaps three to five days after birth, 

 the dribbling of urine from the navel appears. This condition is 

 by no means a rare one in foals, and in our observation has been 

 most frequently seen when the cord has been ligated and cut 

 long, causing the stump to undergo putrid decomposition and the 

 urachus to re-open. 



Handling. The method of handling pervious urachus must 

 be based primarily upon its cause. If the opening is present at 

 the time of birth, it must be regarded as a menace to the health 

 of the patient, because it invites infection of the umbilicus by 

 keeping the stump of the cord constantly moist and preventing 

 its dessi cation. If it is due simply to an abnormally large or 

 inefficient urachus, it may be closed by applying to the part 

 dessicating and astringent antiseptics, which, at the same time, 

 guard the umbilicus against infection. 



If the pervious urachus is dependent upon an imperforate 

 urethra, the urachus must on no account be closed until the 

 urethra has been satisfactorily opened, since otherwise a rupture 

 of the bladder or other serious result must necessarily ensue. 



When the urachus becomes re-opened as a consequence of 



