DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS. 123 



easily- about, and with a straddling gait. When lying down 

 he performs the act with extreme care, and moans or emits a 

 sharp cry after the effort. The abdomen is enlarged, hot, and 

 tense to the feel. As the case advances, the pain, increases, 

 there is repeated straining, with retching and vomiting ; the 

 pulse becomes rapid and small; the breathing hurried; 

 -tongue dry and furred; the poor animal looks piteously at 

 its master, gazes from time to time at its flanks, finally reels 

 about, becomes comatose, and dies. 



Treatment— li the bladder be emptied, immediate relief 

 is afforded, but this is often only temporary, the urine is 

 quickly secreted again, and often with the same result ; watch- 

 fulness is therefore necessary. If the patient be not thus 

 relieved, the intense pressure on the bladder gives rise to 

 acute inflammation or paralysis, decomposition of the urine 

 takes place, sloughing of the coats of the bladder follow, 

 ultimately they give way, and the contents are poured into 

 the abdominal cavity. 



The passage of the catheter is necessary in all cases where 

 the retention occurs from mechanical impediment to the out- 

 ward flow of urine. 



When the retention results from urethritis, leeches, hot 

 fomentations, loin baths, opiates, mucilaginous drinks and 

 emollient clysters are the measures to be adopted. 



The same treatment will apply to retention, of urine, owing 

 to bruises of the perinasum. 



Imperforate urethra, or prepuce, requires immediate open- 

 ing. 



Retention from paralysis necessitates the use of the cathe- 

 ter, which should be repeated from time to time ; but it is 

 advisable not to withdraw the whole contents at first, other- 

 wise collapse without contraction is likely to ensue ; a small 

 quantity of urine left in is more likely to stimulate the organ, 

 and by its warmth aid in restoring it to a natural condition. 

 Strychnine or nux vomica is, in such cases, exceedingly use- 

 ful. 



