THE URINARY ORGANS 251 



Hernia of the Bladder. 



The bladder sometimes passes backwards through the 

 bony pelvis and becomes involved in a perineal hernia (see 

 p. 336). It is apt to ha\'e serious consequences for the 

 patient when the bladder becomes distended (as in dogs of 

 clean habits when kept for too long a time in the house with- 

 out a chance of passing urine), because the animal may not 

 be able to \'oluntarily exercise sufficient pressure on the 

 bladder wall to overcome the resistance offered by the ' kink ' 

 in the bladder neck. The bladder in a severe perineal 

 hernia is so placed that it cannot be acted upon by the 

 abdominal muscles. Fig. 153 was a case of this kind, and 

 the urine had repeatedly to be withdrawn by a trocar and 

 cannula (see p. 61). Under such a condition an operation 

 becomes a necessity. 



Operation. — Under general anaesthesia and strict antiseptic 



precautions, laparotomy is performed either in the median 



line (in the bitch) or about an inch on one side of the prepuce 



(in the dog). The bladder is withdrawn and carefully 



sutured to the abdominal wall either \\ith silk or catgut (see 



p. 211). 



Prolapse of the Bladder. 



This condition, which might legitimately be included 

 under the above heading of ' hernia,' is occasionally met 

 with in the bitch, the bladder becoming everted through the 

 relaxed and enlarged urethral opening. 



Rupture of the Bladder ; Washing- out the Interior. 



This accident may occur during an operation, or from 

 over-distension due to obstruction of the urethra from some 

 tumour growth, 1 and subsequent cystitis ; or as the result 

 of violent injury, such as that caused by a blow or the 

 wheel of a vehicle. It has also been known to occur when 



' Journal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeutics, vol. xi., p. 50. 



