Hypertrophy of the Prostate. 277 



morbid growths and developments at the time when in advancing 

 age, the normal generative functions are undergoing a rapid 

 decline. The two conditions may well be recognized without con- 

 sidering them as mutually excluding each other as causative 

 factors. 



Lesions. The enlargement is usually general, but it may pre- 

 dominate in the right, left or median lobe, the latter as a rule 

 exercising greater compression of the urethra so that this is often 

 marked in the worst cases. The hyperplasia may feel firm and 

 resistant or it may be more or less soft from sacs of muco-puru- 

 lent fluid imprisoned by the obstruction of the outlet canals. 

 On the surface and on section the general appearance of the 

 gland is pale, bloodless and uniformly solid. This comes from 

 the great hypertrophy of the fibro-muscular stroma which has in 

 many cases compressed the parenchymatous or secreting struc- 

 ture so as to cause its atrophy. The presence of calculi (mainly 

 phosphatic) in the follicles is not uncommon. 



The complication of infective cystitis is frequent, the congestion, 

 redness, ecchymosis, maculation, puckering and thickening of 

 the mucosa, the granular degeneration and desquamation of the 

 epithelium, the exposure of a raw vascular surface, the dis- 

 coloration of the urine by mucus, pus and blood, and the forma- 

 tion of ammonia and other products of decomposition, becoming 

 marked phenomena. Vesical calculus is not uncommon, the 

 slowness of the exit current of the urine retarded by the en- 

 larged prostate, tending to prevent its impaction in the orifice 

 and thus minimizing one of the most prominent symptoms. 



Symptoms. Among the earliest symptoms, is some modifica- 

 tion in the act of micturition. Straining a few seconds before 

 urine comes, retention, incontinence and dribbling, discharge in 

 a small or weak stream, and sudden arrest of the flow and the 

 last few drops may contain muco-pus showing abundance of sper- 

 matic crystals, on the addition of ammonia phosphate. Impac- 

 tion of the rectum tends to occur sooner or latter, the animal 

 making little effort to unload the viscus, and the overdistended 

 organ becoming more and more atonic, congested and catarrhal 

 and reacting injuriously on the urinary organs. Incontinence 

 may be especially marked during sleep, the sphincter being suf- 

 ficiently controlled by volition during waking hours. Retention 



