DOaS : THEIR MANAGEMEKI. S31{ 



tageous to his movements, the catheter is introduced with 

 one hand while the penis is held by the other. The 

 meatus being found — there is no great ingenuity req^uired 

 to discover it — the instrument is inserted and pushed 

 gently onward. At first ita passage is easy, but it has 

 not gone far before a check is felt. The stoppage arises 

 from the spasmodic contraction of the canal, caused by 

 the point of the instrument having reached the bone of 

 the penis. Tor a period the passage is effectually closed; 

 but no force must be employed to overcome the obstacle. 

 Gentle but steady pressure is kept up ; and under this it 

 is rarely longer than a few minutes before the spasm 

 yields. The catheter then glides forward, and the opera- 

 tor, resigning the hold of the penis to his assistant, passes 

 his free hand to the perinaeum. When he feels the point 

 of the tube below the anus, he uses his fingers to direct 

 its course, — for at this part the canal curves, taking a 

 direction forward, — and after a little further way has 

 been made, another check is; experienced; This last 

 springs from the contraction of the neck of the bladder ; 

 and once more gentle, but steady pressure must be 

 employed to overcome the spasm. It rarely resists long ; 

 but the sudden absence of all opposition, and the flow of 

 urine, shows that the object of the operation has been 

 obtained. 



The dog offers no resistance to the passage of the 

 instrument. I have never known one to cry, or seen 

 one exhibit a struggle. I could not account for this by 

 attributing it to any fondness for the necessary restraint, 



