THE URINARY ORGANS 247 



acid (grs. x. to 5!.). In some cases it is a wise plan to leave 

 the cannula of the catheter in situ for some hours after 

 the operation. The wound itself is treated with antiseptics 

 in the usual manner. 



If only small, it is better to suture and cover with iodoform 

 and collodion; but if of some length, a small orifice should 

 be left for drainage, as otherwise the urine will find its way 

 through and disturb all the sutures. In any case it does not 

 much matter, and many operators advise using no sutures 

 at all, but treating the place as an open wound. 



In the female the shorter urethral canal does not offer 

 quite so many difficulties. A calculus lodged in it can some- 

 times be grasped and crushed or withdrawn by a pair of fine 

 forceps, or if necessary a fine blunt-pointed tenotome or 

 Paget knife may be used to enlarge the orifice. Material 

 assistance in removing calculi from the urethra of the bitch 

 can often be obtained by manipulation with the fingers 

 through the rectum and vagina. 



The Prognosis of these cases is excellent except where the 

 patient has been left until almost in a state of collapse before 

 surgical aid is attempted. The internal administration of 

 bladder and urethral sedatives, such as urotropin, hyoscyamus, 

 buchu, pearl-barley-water, etc., afterwards are useful aids to 

 convalescence. The chief dangers in the future are those of 

 stricture or the presence of another stone which may eiscape 

 from the bladder. 



Stricture of the Urethra. 



This condition is liable to follow any operation involving 

 cutting into, or other injury of, the mucous membrane of the 

 urethra of either male or female. To avoid its formation, a 

 patient whose urethra has been the subject of operation 

 should be brought at least once a week or once a fortnight 

 to the surgeon for some months afterwards (at his discretion), 

 in order that a bougie or catheter may be passed and the 



