160 DISEASES OF THE HOBSE, 



Sometimes this magma is condensed into a solid mass in the bladder 

 by reason of the binding action of the mucus and other organic mat- 

 ter, and then forms a conglomerate stone of nearly uniform consist- 

 ency and without stratification. 



Symptoms of stone in the Uadder. — The symptoms of stone in the 

 bladder are more obvious than those of renal calculus. The rough, 

 mulberry calculi especially lead to irritation of the mucous mem- 

 brane and frequent passing of urine in small quantities and often 

 mingled with mucus or blood or containing minute, gritty particles. 

 At times the flow is suddenly arrested, though the animal continues 

 to strain and the bladder is not quite emptied. In the smooth, phos- 

 phatic variety the irritation is much less marked and may even be 

 altogether absent. "With the pultaceous deposit in the bladder there 

 is incontinence of urine, which dribbles away continually and keeps 

 the hair on the inner side of the thighs matted with soft magma. In 

 all cases alike the calculus may be felt by the examination of the 

 bladder with the oiled hand in the rectum. The pear-shaped outline 

 of the bladder can be felt beneath, and within it the solid, oval body. 

 It is most easily recognized if the organ is half full of liquid, as then 

 .it is not grasped by the contracting walls of the bladder, but may be 

 made to move from place to place in the liquid. If a pultaceous mass 

 is present it has a soft, doughy feeling, and when pressed an indenta- 

 tion is left. 



In the mare the hard stone may be touched by the finger introduced 

 through the short urethra. 



Treatment of stone in the hladder. — ^The treatment of stone in the 

 bladder consists in the removal of the offending body; in the mare 

 this is easily effected with the lithotomy forceps. These are slightly 

 warmed and oiled, and carried forward along the floor of the passage 

 of the vulva for 4 inches, when the orifice of the urethra will be felt 

 exactly in the median line. Through this the forceps are gradually 

 pushed with gentle, oscillating movement until they enter the bladder 

 and strike against the hard surface of the stone. The stone is now 

 grasped between the blades, care being taken to include no loose fold 

 of the mucous membrane, and it is gradually withdrawn with the 

 same careful, oscillating motions as before. Facility and safety in 

 seizing the stone will be greatly favored by having the bladder half 

 full of liquid, and if necessary one oiled hand may be introduced 

 into the rectum or vagina to assist. The resulting irritation may be 

 treated by an injection of laudanum, 1 ounce in a pint of tepid water. 



The removal of the stone in the horse is a much more difficult pro- 

 ceeding. It consists in cutting into the urethra just beneath the anus 

 and introducing the lithotomy forceps from this forward into the 

 bladder, as in the mare. It is needful to distend the urethra with 



