144 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



organ having been drawn out of its sheath until the S-shaped curve 

 has been effaced and the course of the canal rendered straight. Upon 

 the end of this staff the incision can be made with far more confi- 

 dence and certainty. The operation can only be undertaken by a 

 skilled veterinary anatomist, but the hints given above may be valu- 

 able in showing the stock owner when he is being properly served in 

 such a case. 



In outlying districts, where no skilled operator can be had, a trans- 

 verse incision may be made with a clean, sharp knife through the root 

 of the penis, just over the arch of the hip bone, when the urine will 

 flow out in a full stream. The attendant bleeding may be ignored, or 

 if profuse it may be checked by packing the wound firmly with cotton 

 wool for some hours. The urine will continue to escape by the 

 wound, and the ox should be fattened for the butcher. 



The immediate relief is not to be looked upon as a permanent cure, 

 as the calculi in the affected ox are usually numerous and later attacks 

 are therefore to be looked for. ITence it is desirable to fatten and 

 kill such cases after a successful operation. If a breeding animal is 

 too valuable to be killed, he should be subjected to preventive meas- 

 ures, as laid down under " Stone in the kidney," page 139. 



It should be added that when the bladder is filled with a soft 

 magma a catheter may be introduced through the whole length of the 

 urethra to be emplayed in pumping water into the bladder. This 

 water is extracted through the same channel when it has been charged 

 with the suspended solids by manipulations of the bladder with the 

 oiled hand introduced through the rectum. 



Calculi^ or gravely in the prepuce^ or sheath. — This is usually a col- 

 lection of gravel, or a soft puttylike material which causes distinct 

 swelling of the sheath and gives it a soft, doughy feeling when 

 handled. It may be removed in part by the oiled fingers introduced 

 into the cavity, assisted by manipulation from without, or a tube may 

 be inserted until the end extends behind the collection and water 

 pumped in until the whole mass has been evacuated. Should even 

 this fail of success, the sheath may be slit open from its orifice back 

 in the median line below until the offending matter can be reached 

 and removed. In all such cases the interior of the sheath should be 

 finally lubricated with sweet oil or vaseline. It is unnecessary to 

 stitch up the wound made in the sheath. (See " Inflammation of the 

 sheath," p. 153.) 



