140 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



and twisting of the tail, also frequent lying down and rising, but 

 these symptoms are exceptional. 



When the obstruction is low down between the thighs (at the S- 

 shaped flexure), the line of the pulsating urethra from the anus down- 

 ward may be felt distended with liquid, and though it is seldom easy 

 to distinguish the exact seat of the stone by the hard swelling of the 

 urethra, yet there is usually tenderness at the point of obstruction, 

 and from this it may be accurately located. 



Treatment. — The treatment of stone in the bladder or urethra con- 

 sists in the removal of the stone by incision and the use of forceps. 

 (PI. XI, fig. 4. ) When the stone has been arrested at the S-shaped 

 flexure just above the scrotum, the patient being lean, the thickened 

 tender part of the penis may be seized between the fingers and thumb 

 of the left hand, while the calculus is exposed by a free incision with 

 the knife held in the right. If there is no other obstruction between 

 this point and the bladder, and if the latter has not yet ruptured, a 

 flow of urine should take place from the opening. If there is no escape 

 of liquid a catheter or sound, one-fourth of an inch in diameter, must 

 be passed up through the canal (urethra) until it is arrested by the 

 next stone, on which a similar incision should then be made to effect 

 its extraction. In case the stone has been arrested in the portion of 

 the urethra which is in front of the arch of the hip bone and inside 

 the pelvis, it can only be reached by making an opening into the ure- 

 thra beneath the anus and over the arch of the hip bone, and from 

 this orifice exploring the urethra with fine forceps to the neck of the 

 bladder or until the stone has been reached and extracted. The opera- 

 tion requires a very accurate knowledge of the parts, owing to the 

 small size of the canal (urethra) to be opened and the great thickness 

 of erectile tissue to be cut through, while the free flow of blood is 

 blinding to the operator. A staff should always be passed up through 

 the urethra from the lower wound, if such has been made, or, in case 

 of its absence, through the whole length of the penis, that organ hav- 

 ing been drawn out of its sheath until the S-shaped curve has been 

 effaced and the course of the canal rendered straight. Upon the end 

 of this staff the incision can be made with far more confidence and 

 certainty. The operation can only be undertaken by a skilled veter- 

 inary anatomist, but the hints given above may be valuable in show- 

 ing the stock owner when he is being properly served in such a case. 



In outlying districts, where no skilled operator can be had, a trans- 

 verse incision may be made with a clean sharp knife through the root 

 of the penis, just over the arch of the hip bone, when the urine will 

 flow out in a full stream. The attendant bleeding may be ignored, or 

 if. profuse it, may be checked by packing the wound firmly with cotton 

 wool for some hours. The urine will continue to escape by the wound, 

 and the ox should be fattened for the butcher. 



