CHAPTER XVni 

 THE URINARY ORGANS 



Examination of the Urethra and Bladder; Passing- the 



Catheter. 



In the male the bone of the penis, which is furrowed to 

 allow of the passage of the urinary fluid, malves the choice 

 of a sound or catheter of smaU calibre a necessit}-. In fact, 

 in cats and in puppies of some of the \'ery small toy breeds 

 the passage of the instrument through this furrow is a matter 

 of impossibihty. To examine the urethra and bladder for 

 stricture or for calculi and other foreign bodies, a catheter, 

 bougie, or flexible metal sound, is used. Catheters and 



Fig. 156. — Flexible Metal Sound. 



bougies are made in sizes, known according to the diameter, 

 as Nos. J to 12. For canine and fehne work Nos. 3 to 5 

 answer in the majority of cases. 



The metal sound is of especial value when a calculus 

 is present, as, when its extremit)' strikes the hard stone, 

 a distinct ' jar ' is communicated to the operator's 

 fingers. 



In the female of the larger breeds the instrument can be 

 passed whilst che animal is standing, but in the smaller ones 



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