162 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



URETERAL CALCULI. 



These are small stones which have passed from the pelvis of the 

 kidney into the canal (ureter) leading from the kidney to the bladder, 

 but being too large to pass on easily have blocked that canal and forced 

 the urine back upon the kidney. The result is the production of symp- 

 toms more violent than in renal calculi, though not varying, save in 

 intensity, from those of renal colic. In case of complete and unrelieved 

 obstruction, the secretion of the kidney on that side is entirely abolished, 

 and it becomes the seat of passive congestion, and it may even be 

 absorbed in greater part or as a whole, leaving only a fibrous sac con- 

 taining fluid with a urinous odor. In small cattle, in which the oiled 

 hand introduced into the last gut may reach the affected part, the dis- 

 tended ureter may be felt as a tense, elastic cord, extending forward 

 from the point of obstruction on the lateral wall of the pelvis and 

 beneath the loins toward the kidney. If relief is obtained by the 

 onward passage of the stone a free flow of urine usually follows, in 

 the midst of which may often be found gritty masses. If the outlets 

 from both kidneys are similarly blocked, the animal becomes poisoned 

 by the retention in the blood of the elements of the urine, and by their 

 reabsorption after secretion. 



Treatment of renal and urcieral calculi. Treatment is not very suc- 

 cessful, as only the smallest calculi can pass through the ureter and 

 enter the bladder, and even if they should do so they are liable to a pro- 

 gressive increase there, so that later they may cause the symptoms ot 

 stone in the bladder. Fortunately, ordinary dairy, growing, or fatten- 

 ing cattle rarely show evident symptoms of illness, and though they 

 should do so they can usually be fattened and slaughtered before the 

 health is seriously impaired. In work oxen the case is different, and 

 acute symptoms may develop, but even then the animal may often be 

 fitted for the butcher. When treatment is demanded it is primarily 

 soothing and autispasinodic. Fomentations with warm water over the 

 loins should be persisted in without intermission until relief has been 

 secured. The soothing effect on the kidney will often relieve inflam- 

 mation and irritation, should the stone be in that situation, while if in 

 the ureter the warm fomentations will at once soothe irritation, relax 

 spasm of the muscular coat of the canal, and favor an abundant secre- 

 tion from the kidney, which, pressing on the obstructing stone, may 

 slowly push it on into the bladder. Large doses of laudanum (2 ounces) 

 or of solid extract of belladonna (2 drams) will not only soothe the pain 

 but relax the spasm and favor the onward passage of the calculus. The 

 animal should be encouraged to drink large quantities of cool water to 

 favor the free secretion of a very watery urine, which will not only serve 

 to obviate irritation and continued deposit caused by a highly concen- 

 trated urine, but will press the stone onward toward the bladder, and 

 even in certain cases will tend to disintegrate it by solution of some of 



