diseases of this urinary organs, 229 



Retention of Urine. 



Retention and suppression of urine are terms very often con- 

 founded with each other. We have just shown what is n eant by 

 suppression, and now it remains for us to understand the true na- 

 ture of retention. Retention signifies an undue delay of natural 

 discharges. The secretion of urine may be active as ever, yet the 

 animal has not the power to void it. The bladder soon becomes 

 distended beyond its physiological capacity. Its muscular fibers 

 are overstretched, and thus have not the power to contract again 

 until the fluid is evacuated by means of the catheter ; hence the 

 treatment of such a case as this pertains more to the art of sur- 

 gery than that of medicine. 



Treatment. — In most of these cases we find the neck of the blad- 

 der spasmodically contracted. The spasm may be either primary 

 or it may accompany spasmodic colic, which is often the case. In 

 fact some animals, when suffering from retention of urine, act just 

 as if they had colic; hence it is, in such cases, highly necessary 

 that the bladder be examined by introducing a hand into the 

 rectum. By this means, should the bladder be distended, it can 

 easily be discovered. The catheter must then be introduced, or 

 the animal will die from rupture of the bladder. Provided no 

 catheter should be at hand, I should throw into the rectum copi- 

 ous enemas of warm water, and administer one or two ounces of 

 tincture of assafetida as an antispasmodic, which may possibly 

 have the desired effect. 



Diabetes, or Profuse Stalling. 



Many veterinary writers contend that diabetes is caused by tne 

 administration of diuretics, or else in consequence of improper 

 food. In some instances this may be true. Errors of this kind 

 may produce an excessive flow of urine, but this does not consti- 

 tute diabetes. 



Symj)toms. — The characteristic symptom of diabetes is a most 

 remarkable change in the quality of the urine. It becomes loaded 

 with sugar. It has been found that in true diabetes the urine is 

 never without sugar. The most ready test for sugar i-n urine is 

 as follows: Invert a test-tube, filled with urine, to which a small 

 quantity of yeast has been added, into a saucer, also containing 



