DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 151 



* Treatment.— The treatment of this affection will depend on the 

 stage. If recent and no instant danger of rupture of the bladder, the 

 narrow opening of the sheath should be freely cut open in the median 

 line below, and the sac emptied out with a finger or spoon, after 

 which it should be thoroughly washed with tepid water. To make 

 the cleansing more thorough a catheter or a small rubber tube may 

 be inserted well back into the sheath, and water may be forced 

 through it from a syringe or a funnel inserted into the other end of 

 the tube and considerably elevated. A fountain syringe, which 

 should be found in every house, answers admirably. The sheath 

 may be daily washed out with tepid water, with a suds made with 

 Castile soap, or with a weak solution of sulphate of zinc (one-half 

 dram to a quart of water). If these attentions are impossible, most 

 cases, after cleansing, will do well if merely driven through clean 

 water up to the belly once a day. 



In case the disease has progressed to absolute obstruction, with the 

 bladder ready to rupture any moment, no time must be lost in open- 

 ing into the urethra with a sharp knife over the bony arch under the 

 anus, where the pulsations are seen in urinating. This incision is 

 best made in the median line from above downward, but in the 

 absence of a skillful operator a transverse incision with a sharp knife 

 over the bone in the median line until the urine flows with a gush is 

 better than to let the patient die. Considerable blood will be lost and 

 the wound will heal tardily, but the ox will be preserved. Then the 

 slitting and cleansing of the sheath can be done at leisure, as described 

 above. If the bladder is ruptured, the case is hopeless. 



INFLAMMATION OP THE SHEATH AND PENIS PROM BRUISING. 



This also is an affection of work oxen, caused by the pressure and 

 friction of the sling when the animals are held in the stocks for shoe- 

 ing. This crushing of both sheath and penis for half an hour or more 

 leads to the development, some hours later, of a hard, hot, and pain- 

 ful swelling, extending from the scrotum as far as the opening of the 

 sheath. Fever sets in, with dry muzzle, red eyes, hard, full, rapid 

 pulse, accelerated breathing, and elevated temperature. The ox 

 stands obstinately with his hind legs drawn apart and urine falling 

 drop by drop from the sheath. Appetite and rumination are sus- 

 pended. In twenty-four hours there may be indications of advancing 

 gangrene (mortification), the swelling becomes cold, soft, and doughy; 

 it may even crack slightly from the presence of gas ; a reddish brown 

 fetid liquid oozes from the swelling, especially around the edges, and 

 if the animal survives it is only with a great loss of substance of the 

 sheath and penis. 



Prevention. — The prevention of such an injury is easy. It is only 

 necessary to see that the slings shall not press upon the posterior 

 part of the abdomen. They must be keep in front of the sheath. 



