378 COMPENDIUM OF THE VETERINARY ART 



cause of that complaint; but when the cplic 

 is removed, the horse stales freely. In ob- 

 stinate cases of suppression, where the liorse 

 has not been observed to stale for two or 

 three days, it is necessary to examine the 

 bladder, which may be easily done by intro- 

 dacinjT the hand into the rectum or straiirht 

 gut, through which the bladder is readily 

 felt when distended with urine: when the 

 bladder is found in this state, an evacuation 

 must be speedily obtained, or the animal 

 may be destroyed. In mares there is no 

 difficulty in introducing a catheter, or hollow 

 tube, into the bladder, through which the 

 urine will flon^ out. In a horse this operation 

 is not practicable, on account of the great 

 length and curvature of the passage: it Iibs 

 been recommended, however, in such cases, 

 to introduce a bougie, or long smooth probe, 

 into the passage, and to pass it forward, 

 until it arrives at that part where tiie principal 

 curvature is ; that is, about two or three inches 

 below the anus. The probe being held 

 steadily in this situation by an assistant, the 

 operator is to make an incision carefully, so 

 as to cut upon the top of the probe, and lay 

 open the passage. This being done, a hollow tube. 



