The Abdomen 225 



oxalate of lime in the ureters in his experiments for the production 

 of concretions. 



Symptoms and Diagnosis. This is as difficult as in the case of 

 renal calculi. A calculus impacted in the ureter obstructs the flow 

 of urine and results in the formation of hydronephrosis. If the 

 presence of the latter condition can be determined it remains to 

 make an explorative celiotomy to discover the cause of the obstruc- 

 tion. 



Treatment. If the obstruction proves to be a calculus, ure- 

 terolithotomy or incision of the duct and extraction of the body 

 is indicated. 



SURGICAL WOUNDS. 



In operating on abdominal viscera it is possible to sever the 

 ureter by mistake or by a slip of the knife. The accident has hap- 

 pened in human surgery. 



Treatment. Such a lesion can be remedied by the operation 

 of Anastomosis or Uretero-ureterostomy. 



Surgery of the Ureters 



The necessity for surgical interference with these important 

 ducts may only occur as a remote contingency, nevertheless every 

 veterinarian should know how to carry such an undertaking to a 

 successful conclusion. Hence, a brief review of the experimental 

 surgery that has been accomplished will not be superfluous. 



The ureters are reached by exerting gentle traction on the 

 bladder, whereby they are made to stand out prominently beneath 

 the peritoneal fold under which they are loosely embedded. The 

 latter is opened by snipping with scissors, and the ureter can then 

 be drawn forward. It must not be confounded with the vas deferens 

 with which each ureter runs a short parallel course along the sides 

 of the bladder. The two ducts are very similar in size and out- 

 ward appearance, but the vas deferens is firmer, feeling like a piece 

 of whip cord. 



The principal operations consist of Ureterolithotomy, Anas- 

 tomosis of the severed ureter, and Implantation of the ureter in 

 abnormal positions. The ureters have been experimentally im- 

 16 



