140 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



forced the urine back upon the kidney. The result is the production 

 of symptoms 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 containing fluid with a urinous odor. In small cattle, in 

 which the oiled hand introduced into the last gut may reach the 

 affected part, the distended ureter may be felt as a tense, elastic cord, 

 extending forAvard 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 

 usuall}^ follows, in the midst of which may often be found gritty 

 masses. If the outlets from both kidneys are similarly blocked, the 

 animal l:»ecomes poisoned by the retention in the blood of the elements 

 of the urine, and by their reabsorption after secretion. 



Treatment of remd and ureteral calcidi. — Treatment is not veiy 

 successful, 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 

 progressive increase there, so that later they may cause the symptoms 

 of stone in the bladder. Fortunat^ily, ordinary dairy, growing, or 

 fattening 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 difl'erent, 

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

 be fitted for the butcher. "\A"lien treatment is demanded it is pri- 

 marily soothing and antispasmodic. Fomentations with warm water 

 over the loins should be persisted in without intermission until relief 

 has l)een secured. The soothing effect on the kidney will often relieve 

 inflammation and irritation, should the stone be in that situation, 

 while if in the ureter the wann fomentations will at once soothe irri- 

 tation, relax spasm of the muscular coat of the canal, and favor an 

 abundant secretion from the kidney, which, pressing on the obstruct- 

 ing 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 onl}^ 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 

 waterj^ urine, which will not only serve to obviate irritation and con- 

 tinued deposit caused by a highly concentrated 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 its elements, and thus 

 to favor its crumbling and expulsion. This is a principle which must 

 never be lost sight of in the treatment of calculi. The immersion of 

 the stone in a liquid of a lower specific gravity than that in which it 



