URO-GENITAL SYSTEM 193 



Treatment. — Treatment is available only during distention, and 

 effort should be directed principally to removing the cause. If it 

 is a urethral obstruction in the male and the obstruction is below 

 the ischiatic arch an artificial opening may be made into the urethra 

 where it passes over the ischiatic arch, giving temporary relief, and 

 if the obstruction cannot then be removed the temporary opening in 

 the urethra may be made permanent. In valuable animals obstructive 

 calculi may be removed from the bladder by surgical procedure and 

 the condition thus corrected. Tumors and abscesses that effect 

 urethral obstruction may be removed and permit of the ready outflow 

 of urine through the urethra. 



CALCULI 



Cystic calculi are of common occurrence in swine. There may 

 be a single calculus or there may be myriads of them. In size they 

 vary from mere grains of sand to masses as large as English walnuts. 

 In shape they may be spherical, ovoid, or various kinds of irregu- 

 lar surfaces and outlines may be presented. Some have been ob- 

 served that were practically the shape of jack straws. When several 

 occur together they may be faceted. As a rule they are of a dirty- 

 white color, though they may be of any color. They are usually 

 composed of magnesium and calcium phosphates and carbonates. 



Etiology. — Retention and fermentation of urine in the bladder 

 favor calculous formation. Retention and urine fermentation also 

 favor catarrhal inflammation, which is associated with epithelial 

 desquamation, and this serves as a nucleus for the calcareous de- 

 posits. 



Lesions. — The presence of calculi is the principal thing to be sought 

 for, and they are not difficult to identify. There is also more or 

 less evidence of catarrhal cystitis, and there may be retention of 

 urine. 



Symptoms. — Evidence of catarrhal cystitis — that is, frequent void- 

 ing of relatively small quantities of urine — characterizes most cases 

 of cystic calculi. The urine in these cases is frequently acrid and 

 may produce disturbances in and around the prepuce of the male 

 and in the perineal region of the female. Should the calculi produce 

 obstruction to the outflow of urine there will be symptoms of cystic 

 distention. 



Treatment. — Solvents for cystic calculi are not wholly successful. 



