146 VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SUEGEEY. 



for two or three days, after which discontinue. Either of these last may 

 be given in the drinking water or food. 



RETENTION OF URINE. 



Synonyms. — Suppression of urine; Ischuria; Dysuria; Strangury. 



Etiology. — Anytliing which impedes the flow of the urine from the 

 bladder, such as spasm of the neck of the bladder, stone in the bladder, 

 cancer of the penis, dirt in the sheath. It may also result from inability 

 or disinclination of the animal to rise upon its feet, as in paralysis, lami- 

 nitis, etc. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms are frequent and ineffectual attempts to 

 urinate; if standing, the animal will stretch itself out, strain violently, 

 and groan with pain, discharging but a few drops of urine, or none at all. 

 Examination per rectuxn will enable the practitioner to feel the distended 

 bladder with the hand, and this distention of the bladder is the diagnos- 

 tic symptom. Such an examination will also often enable him to discover 

 the cause; if from enlarged prostates, these will be felt as oval bodies im- 

 mediately within the pelvis pressing upon the urethra. 



Treatment. — The making up of the bedding and shaking about fresh 

 straw sometimes creates a desire and attempt to pass urine, and the 

 effort may be successful. The steady pressure of the hand passed through 

 the anus on the fundus of the bladder will often cause the urine to be 

 discharged. Hand-rubbing of the belly is also beneficial. 



If the cause be paralysis of any sort, the bladder must be emptied by 

 the catheter, Figs. 58 and 59. Fig. 60 shows the direction taken by 

 the catheter to the bladder. In the absence of a catheter, or preference 

 not to attempt its use, foment the] loins with cloths wrung out in hot 

 water, clothe warmly, and give: 



Linseed oil 1 pint 



and afterward a ball of 



Ground opium. 3 iss. 



Gum camphor 3 ij. 



Linseed oil and molasses suflBcient. 



