90 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



raw mucous membrane and causing the worst type of cystitis. Sup- 

 j)ression and incontinence of urine are common also to obstruction 

 of the urethra by stone or otherwise; hence this source of fallacy 

 should be excluded by manual examination along the whole course 

 of that duct. 



Treatment. — Treatment is only applicable in cases in which the de- 

 termining cause can be abated. In remedial sprains of the back or 

 disease of the spinal cord these must have approj^riate treatment, and 

 the urine must be drawn off frequently with a catheter to prevent 

 overdistention and injury to the bladder. If the paralysis persists 

 after recovery of the spinal cord, or if it continues after relief of 

 spasm of the neck of the bladder, apply a pulp of mustard and water 

 over the back part of the bellj^ in front of the udder, and cover with 

 a rug until the hair stands erect. In the male the mustard may be 

 applied between the thighs from near the anus downward. Daily 

 doses of 2 drams extract of belladonna or of 2 grains powdered 

 Spanish fly may serve to rouse the lost tone. These failing, a mild 

 current of electricity daily may succeed. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER ( CYSTITIS, OR UROCYSTITIS) . 



Cystitis may be slight or severe, acute or chronic, partial or general. 

 It may be caused by abuse of diuretics, especially such as are irritat- 

 ing (cantharides, turpentine, copaiba, resin, etc.), by the presence of 

 a stone or gravel in the bladder, the irritation of a catheter or other 

 foreign body introduced from without, the septic ferment (bac- 

 terium) introduced on a filthy catheter, the overdistention of the 

 bladder by retained urine, the extrication of ammonia from retained 

 decomposing urine, resulting in destruction of the epithelial cells and 

 irritation of the raw surface, and a too concentrated and irritating 

 urine. The application of Spanish flies or turpentine over a too ex- 

 tensive surface, sudden exposure of a perspiring and tired horse to 

 cold or wet, and the presence of acrid plants in the fodder may cause 

 cystitis, as they may nephritis. Finally, inflammation may extend 

 from a diseased vagina or urethra to the bladder. 



Symptoms. — The symj^toms are slight or severe colicky pains; the 

 animal moves his hind feet uneasily or even kicks at the abdomen, 

 looks around at his flank, and may even lie down and rise frequently. 

 More characteristic are frequently rej)eated efforts to urinate, result- 

 ing in, the discharge of a little clear, or red, or more commonly floc- 

 culent urine, always in jets, and accompanied b}^ signs of pain, which 

 persist after the discharge, as shown in continued straining, groan- 

 ing, and perhaps in movements of the feet and tail. The penis hangs 

 from the sheath, or in the mare the vulva is frequently opened and 

 closed, as after urination. The animal winces when the abdomen is 

 pressed in the region of the sheath or udder, and the bladder is found 



