Il8 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY. 



can readily be diagnosed when an attempt is made to pass 

 the catheter, as they form an obstruction which prevents the 

 instrument from going beyond a certain point. In the majority 

 of cases the calculi become lodged in that portion of the canal 

 which runs through the os penis or immediately behind that 

 bone. Sometimes the catheter can be so manipulated as to 

 dislodge the stone, when, if it is not of too large a size, it may 

 be washed out of the urethra with the next outflow of urine. 

 in large dogs a pair of long thin urethral forceps can be 

 passed up the urethra and the stone rem.oved, but this is 

 re;idered exceptionally difficult in small patients on account 

 of the narrowness of the groove in the bone of the penis. 

 Failing these, the operation of urethrotomy must be performed.' 

 For this operation in the male, the dorsal position is the 



Fig. 04. 



Urethral forceps. 



best, but struggling must be avoided as much as possible on 

 account of the risk of rupturing the bladder ; this latter accident 

 is indicated by the sudden collapse of the patient. A local or 

 general anaesthetic is made use of, the parts are thoroughly 

 cleaned with some antiseptic, and a catheter is passed up the 

 urethra as far as the obstruction. An incision is made in the 

 median line directly over the calculus, which is then removed 

 together with any others within reach, and the parts are 

 thoroughly washed with a fluid antiseptic. Sutures may or 

 may not be applied, according to the size of the wound and 

 the discretion of the operator. We have been in the habit of 

 using them, suturing the muscles and skin separately without 

 touching the mucous membrane of the urethra ; Mliller^ recom- 



' "Diseases of the Dog" (Glass's translation), p. 179. 



