198 DISEASES OE THE UKINARY SYSTEM. 



drctbral Calculi. 



Are deposits of stony materials whicli by their presence ob- 

 struct the passage of the urine through the urethra, causing its 

 accumulation in the bladder, with distension and perhaps rup- 

 ture of that organ or a filtering through its walls into the adjoin- 

 ing tissues, causing pyaemia, eventually septicaemia and death. 



Symptoms. 



The sheep is unable to void its urine, prefers the recumbent 

 position, on being forced to rise the back is suddenly curved, 

 after which a few drops of urine are passed. The respirations 

 are hurried, the sheep grunts frequently, is restless and uneasy, 

 refuses to feed. As the urine accumulates the animal becomes 

 stupid, symptoms of abdominal pain are evidenced, the temper- 

 ature is elevated, the mucous membranes becoming red and con- 

 gested, ui'aemic poisoning results, quickly followed by death un- 

 less previous to the \iraemia the calculus is forced through the 

 penis above the vermiform appendage, leaving a free passage for 

 the accumulated urine. 



Crcatment. 



This is necessarily operative. If the sheep is turned up on 

 its rump and an examination made of the skin covering the end of 

 the penis, called the prepuce, it will be found enlarged and in- 

 flamed ; a dropsical condition of the tissues of the belly will also be 

 frequentlynoticed, especiallyincaseswhere the trouble has existed 

 for some time. Push back the prepuce and draw out the penis; 

 an examination of the worm-like extremity will generally reveal 

 the presence of sediment, obstructing the end of the urethra. 

 This deposit may be in the form of gravel or fine sand, and un- 

 less it is removed little can be done to afford relief. "Where the 

 deposit is of a gravelly nature, the best method is to remove the 

 appendix entirely. When the deposit is very fine in character 



