The Abdomen 261 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



CBgny— Rev. VStSr. 1894. 



GrlfflthB — Jonrn. of Anat. and Pbjs. 18S2-S3, p. 209. 



Hobday — ^The Veterinary Record. 1899. 



Lelserlng— Ber. ne. d. Teterinaerw. Im Koenlgr. Sachgen. 1864-TO. 



Satton — Jonm. of Anat. and Phya. 1884. 



The Postate Gland 



EZAinNATION. 



The prostate gland is examined by digital palpation, the index 

 finger, which may be incased in a rubber glove and well-oiled being 

 passed into the rectum. Enlargements are easily discernible in this 

 manner. Pronounced enlargements may be felt by abdominal pal- 

 pation in the pelvic region. 



PROSTATITIS. 



Acute inflammation of the prostate gland is uncommon. A 

 subacute or chronic type is more often seen. The disease is caused 

 by microbic invasion, usually by way of the urinary tract, and tends 

 towards abscess formation. A unilateral or symmetrical swelling 

 is formed which may attain the size of a hen's egg or the human 

 fist. The pus may escape by the urethra, or it may break through 

 into the peritoneal cavity or into the rectum, or even discharge 

 by fistulous tract in the perineal region. The swelling, by com- 

 pression, occludes the urethral canal. 



Symptoms and Diagnosis. The principal symptoms are sus- 

 pension of normal defecation and micturition, coupled with febrile 

 manifestations. The animal makes frequent and often painful at- 

 tempts to urinate. Urine may be voided freely or may pass by 

 drops, or there may be complete suppression of the flow. Con- 

 stipation may be present, the animal refraining from defecating on 

 account of the pain induced by the act. By abdominal palpation 

 the bladder is felt distended. Passage of the catheter calls forth 

 expression of great pain when the instrument reaches the prostatic 

 portion of the urethra. In some cases the compression is so great 

 that the instrument cannot pass. Finally, rectal exploration with the 

 index finger reveals the presence of a painful inflammatory enlarge- 

 ment, which fluctuates when it contains pus. If pressure is applied 

 the matter may be forced out by the urethra. In other cases the 



