DISEASES OF THE UKINAKY ORGANS. 151 



Williams says he has never seen any benefit accrue from external ap- 

 plications to the loins or back; that, on the contrary, fomentations, fric- 

 tions, stimulants, or blisters increase the irritability of the animal, cause 

 it to struggle when it otherwise would remain quiet, and do much harm; 

 while Robertson advises them. 



During convalescence care must be taken not to overload the stomach, 

 and to promote a healthy condition by judicious variety in food. 



BLOODY URINE. 



Etiology. — Bloody urine generally arises from sprain of the muscles 

 in the neighborhood of the kidneys. It may also be due to an escape of 

 the coloring matter of the blood, without any inflammation being pres- 

 ent. 



Treatment. — The treatment in such cases is rest and laxative diet, 

 especially grass. Linseed tea should also be given. 



PHIMOSIS 



Definition. — *' A morbid condition of the prepuce or sheath, which, 

 from contj'action of the orifice, prevents the drawing in or exit of the 

 penis. " — (Percivall. ) 



Etiology. —Phimosis is the result of inflammation or engorgement of 

 the sheath round about the orifice, or of enlargement of the glans penis, or 

 of co-existence of these states. Blows, kicks, contusions, wounds, abscesses 

 within the sheath, the presence of warts or excrescences of any kind, polypi 

 even, may all be set down as occasional causes. In geldings the penis 

 becomes diminished in volume and length, so much so in some horses as 

 not to appear protruded in the act of urination; in which case the sebaceous 

 secretion furnished by the interior of the prepuce accumulates within the 

 folds of the integument, and acquires, by detention, irritating properties, 

 which cause the glans penis to inflame and swell to that degree that the 

 animal can no longer pass his urine. In addition to these causes phimo- 

 sis is occasionally seen Avhen the sheath is much swollen from oedema, 

 reduced by want of exercise, disease, the stings of insects, or castration. 



Treatment. — The treatment must depend upon the cause. If that be 



