PERVIOUS URACHUS 121 



In cases of pervious or persistent urachus the 

 urine passes from the umbilicus in a stream or by 

 drops during the act of urination and in occa- 

 sional cases drips continuously. The hair around 

 the umbilicus is generally wet. As the affliction 

 gets older there is a catarrhal discharge and later 

 pus. Occasionally, perhaps often, there is an in- 

 fection present which if unmolested, works up 

 the umbilical vein to the portal vein, then quickly 

 to the liver, next the joints swell and the battle 

 for life is on. 



In 1907 I treated nine cases of pervious 

 urachus which later developed septic arthritis. 

 I used ligatures, cautery, injections, and, as the 

 disease developed, several pounds of echinacea 

 and other drugs too numerous to mention. Eight 

 died of the nine and one lived but remained an 

 unthrifty dwarf. I had about the same success, 

 or rather failure, with my cases in 1908 and 1909. 



In the spring of 1910 a veterinarian recom- 

 mended pure oil of turpentine to me as a cure 

 for Sweeney and gave me a bottle to try. After 

 seeing the swelling it caused I decided to try it 

 on a case of pervious urachus to close the opening. 



