THE URINARY ORGANS 241 



abnormal distension of the abdomen of the patient, and 

 moans or cries indicative of pain or discomfort. 



In one case met with by the author^ the patient was 1 female kitten, 

 six weeks old. Its bladder was distended, and could be felt without 

 difficulty through the abdominal wall, whilst the urethral orifice was 

 entirely absent, the opening being replaced by a very thin skin, the 

 exterior being" moist owing to the presence of urine in the vaginal 

 passage. The urine appeared to filter slowly through this. 



When an incision was made with a lancet, the urine flowed out with a 

 rush. The edges of the wound were cauterized (with nitrate of silver) to 

 prevent them from uniting too quickly, and the animal made an excellent 

 recovery. 



Operation. — If the obstruction is due to a severe malforma- 

 tion, the probability is that the most humane course ^\■ould 

 be to kill the animal painlessly. It must be left to the 

 discretion of the operator to say whether an operation would 

 be likeh' to Rive permanent success or not. 



If the stoppage occurs at the extremity, and is merel}- due 

 to a fold of skin, an incision with a scalpel will give immediate 

 relief. Precautions must be taken to prevent union of the 

 edges of the wound, either by making a fairly large orifice 

 or by the application of some caustic. 



Calculi in the Urethra. 



In the dog and cat, particularly in the male animals, small 

 calculi are frequentl}' met with in the urethral canal. They 

 cause acute pain during their passage through the urethra, 

 and frequenth' give rise to cystitis, and even rupture of the 

 bladder. The obstruction may be due to one stone alone, 

 to gravel (especially in the cat), or to many small calculi 

 following one after the other. They vary in size up to that 

 of a pea, and may be rounded or uneven on their external 

 surface. In the bitch they may be much larger. 



1 Journal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeutics, vol. ix., p. 155. 



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