440 DISEASES OF UEINARY ORGANS. 



in the bladder or urethra (the canal by which the urine escapes), 

 and to other causes affecting these parts. It may accompany colic 

 and other diseases. Although in colic there may be retention ; 

 still, when suffering from it, the animal does not make such fre- 

 quent attempts to stale, as he does when attacked by the ailment 

 under consideration. 



The chief manifestations of retention of urine when it exists to 

 such an extent as to be a diseased condition, are distension of the 

 bladder, and strangury, tHe term applied to the state in which a 

 horse is when he makes frequent, urgent, painful, and more or 

 less ineffectual attempts to stale, while adopting the stretched-out 

 position characteristic, in horses, of that act. The distended con- 

 dition of the bladder may be felt, if the hand is passed into the 

 rectum. 



TREATMENT. — ^Foment the loins ; give an enema of warm 

 water in which J oz. of opium has been boiled; clothe warmly; 

 give a pint of linseed oil ; and after that the following ball : — 



Opium ... ... 1^ drachm. 



Camphor 2^ „ 



Repeat the ball, if, after an hour or two, the horse has not 

 staled. If the symptoms are urgent, or the foregoing measures do 

 not succeed, pass a catheter (p. 666) ; or exert pressure on the 

 bladder with the hand in the rectum, in the event of the bladder 

 being paralysed. If spasm of the urethra prevents the passage of 

 tlie catheter, it is well tO' adopt the procedure of blowing air with 

 the mouth through the catheter, so that the expired air will over- 

 come the spasm, in which case the horse will expel urine along 

 with the air. Oiling the head of the penis and inside of the 

 sheath will facilitate urination, by disposing the penis to come 

 down. To counteract spasm of the neck of the bladder, stimulate 

 the skin outside it (just below the anus) by rubbing turpentine 

 into it. When the animal has staled, give linseed mashes and 

 linseed tea. 



Bloody UrinjB. 



The dark or bloody colour assumed by the urine is, usually, 

 caused by improper feeding, or by strains received during violent 

 exertion. I knew a steeplechase horse that was always more or 

 less affected in this manner after a race. Disease of the kidneys, 

 irritation of the urinary passages, and the presence of calculi, are 

 also causes of bloody urine, which must be carefully distinguished 

 from the condition of the blood in hsemoglobinuria (p. 504). 



