DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS. 225 
of irritation which proceeds from intestinal calculi, the surfaces of 
which are always rough. 
Mr. Youarr says that ‘‘ the symptoms of stone in the bladder 
much resemble those of spasmodic colic, except that, on careful 
inquiry, it will be found that there has been much irregularity in 
the discharge of urine, and occasional suppression of it. When 
fits of apparent colic frequently return, and are accompanied by 
any peculiarity in the appearance or the discharge of the urine, the 
horse should be carefully examined. For this purpose, he must 
be thrown. If there is stone in the bladder, it will, while the 
horse lies on his back, press on the rectum. Several cases have 
lately occurred of successful extraction of the calculus, but to 
effect this it is always necessary to have recourse to the aid of a 
veterinary practitioner.” 
It is not necessary to cast the horse in view of ascertaining the 
presence of calculus. The hand can be introduced into the rectum 
while the horse is standing. The rectum should, however, first be 
evacuated by enemas of warm water. But we have a better plan 
than this. A sound or jointed catheter has been invented, which, 
when passed into the bladder, determines, by percnssion, the pres- 
ence of calculi. The operation of lithotomy can only be performed 
by one skilled in the science ; yet the reader may desire to kuow 
something about the mode of performing it ; therefore I introduce 
a case of the kind, which occurred in the practice of Mr. FIEup. 
The following is the case : 
““The animal was cast, in the usual manner, and both hind 
legs were drawn to the shoulders, as if for castration. Read’s new 
flexible catheter being passed into the bladder, a quantity of warm 
water was injected sufficient to distend that organ and the urethra 
moderately. The catheter being withdrawn, and holding the penis 
with the left hand, a slightly-curved grooved staff, two feet long, 
was introduced, so as for the curved part to come into the subanal 
portion of the urethra, above the posterior edge of the ischium, 
extending toward the sphincter ani. An assistant, kneeling on 
the left side of the horse, drew the penis forward with his left 
hand, and gently pushed the staff backward with the right, at the 
same time keeping the groove exactly beneath the raphe. This 
elevated the portion of the urethra to be incised. I then made an 
incision a line from and on the right side of the raphe, through 
the skin and fascia, extending the length of from three to four 
15 
