SECTIOlf II. 



DISEASES OF THE BLADDER. 



1. Catarrh of the Bladder. Catarrhus Vesicae Urinariae. 



{Cystitis catarrhalis, Urocystitis.) 



Etiology. Catarrh or inflammation of the mucosa of the 

 bladder is usually based upon an infection. Bacteria which 

 get into the bladder find favorable conditions for multiplica- 

 tion especially in urinary stasis, for instance in stricture, com- 

 pression or obturation of the urethra, or in paralysis of the 

 bladder, sometimes in the voluntary retention of urine in house 

 dogs. In such cases the bacteria enter the bladder from the 

 urethra, especially in female animals in which the vaginal 

 secretion may enter directly owing to the shortness and com- 

 parative width of the urethra. 



An artificial infection may be produced by catheterization. 

 Injuries of urethra and bladder, for instance during parturi- 

 tion, enable the bacteria to enter, and inflammatory processes 

 in the neighborhood of the bladder may be continued to its 

 walls or mucous lining. In this respect inflammatory diseases 

 of the urethra, the prostate, the internal female genital organs, 

 the kidneys, the renal pelvis and the ureters are to be men- 

 tioned. 



Sometimes a bladder catarrh develops in general acute 

 infectious diseases because bacteria have been carried to the 

 mucosa of the bladder with the circulating blood. Bacteria 

 may also reach the bladder from the diseased kidneys, or 

 through the intermediation of healthy kidneys from distant 

 organs (especially from the intestines [see Pyelonephritis]). 

 Of first importance as pathogenic agents are the pyogenic 

 bacteria but, especially in cystitis of intestinal origin, the colon 

 bacteria and their related bacteria are important factors. 



In many cases the occurrence of the disease is probably 

 to be referred to taking cold, which reduces the resistance 

 to the bacteria of the walls of the bladder. 



Among irritating chemicals cantharides especially give 

 rise to catarrh of the bladder which may, however, also appear 

 after the internal administration of balsamics and of resinous 

 remedies (oil of turpentine, etc.). It is not certain whether 

 the inflammatory process is aroused immediately by the sub- 



1031 



