878 CATTLE. 



STONE IN THE BLADDER. 



It is with the calculus that has descended into the bladder and 

 there increased in size, or that was originally formed there, that the 

 practitioner will have most to do, either while it continues in the 

 bladder, or in its after progress through the urethra. 



Th% symptoms that would indicate stone in the bladder are some- 

 what obscure. 1'here are many that prove plainly enough a state of 

 suffering, and of general excitation or fever ; — rumination ceases — the 

 mouth is hot — the flanks heave — the animal is continually lying down 

 and getting up again — it is looking mournfully towards its flank. 

 Then comes a peculiar trembling of the hind limbs, and the frequent 

 straining to void urine — a straining at some times quite ineffectual, 

 at other times producing the discharge of a small quantity, and that 

 occasionally mingled with blood. These symptoms will direct the 

 attention of the practitioner to the urinary organs. In order to 

 ascertain the nature of the complaint, he will introduce his hand into 

 the rectum. The bladder will easily be detected. It will probably 

 be distended by urine ; he will gently press upon it, and the con- 

 tained fluid will be expelled, and if there is a calculus in the bladder, 

 it will be readily felt. He must not, however, be alarmed if this 

 pressure should at first produce violent pain resembling colic — he 

 must desist for a few minutes, and try again. A sound could not be 

 used for the purpose of detecting the calculus, nor even the flexible 

 catheter. 



There are two courses to be pursued in such a case — either to 

 slaughter the animal immediately, if it be should be in tolerable con- 

 dition, or to remove the stone by the usual operation of lithotomy. 



All attempts to dissolve the calculus by the use of muriatic or any 

 other acid will be as fruitless as they have proved to be in the human 

 being ; and the length and small caliber of the urethra, as well as its 

 double curve, prevent the possibility of having recourse to the safe 

 and effectual operation of breaking down the stone within the bladder. 



In the ox, on account of the length of the penis, or for other 

 reasons, two muscles descend from the anus, and pursue their course 

 until they arrive at about the middle of the penis, a httle in front of the 

 scrotum ; there they attach themselves to the penis, and draw it up, 

 and force it to bend or curve upon itself ; and it takes, as has already 

 been stated, the form of an inverted S. No stilett can be forced 

 through such a double curvature. The operator must either cut down 

 on the urethra, without any stilett within to guide him, at the point 

 where again, below the anus, it curves round tiie pelvic bones in order 

 to enter the pelvic cavity, and which, if he is a tolerable anatomist, and 

 proceeds with some caution, he may readily accomplish ; or he must get 

 rid of the first curve, and that may be effected without much difficul- 

 ty. The hair must be cut off immediately in front of the scrotum ; a 



