THE URINARY APPARATUS. 163 



the gland can generally be detected by a finger inserted 

 into the rectum ; the enlarged belly, pelvic tumour, some- 

 times bulging perinEeum, also obstruction to passage of the 

 catheter and to expulsion of urine should suffice for detec- 

 tion of the abnormality. The age of the patient generally 

 renders treatment inadvisable, as it can be but palliative. 

 Incision into the tumour, or tapping the gland from the 

 perinEeum, may afford relief, but this disease is in dogs, as 

 in old men, generally cystic, there being multiple small 

 abscesses rather than one large collection of pus. The 

 causes are obscure, but it is evidently a senile change and 

 may be dependent on urethral inflammation, prostatitis, or 

 other obstruction of the ducts of the gland, which is large 

 and well developed in the dog and embraces the neck of 

 the bladder on three sides. Oowper's glands, on the other 

 hand, are absent. Urethritis occurs in the dog in asso- 

 ciation with Balanitis (inflammation of the lining mem- 

 brane of the prepuce) and Posthitis (inflammation of the 

 mucous investment of" the glans). It is caused by dirt, 

 over-feeding, want of exercise, and debility, and is a fre- 

 quent accompaniment of mange. It is generally seen in 

 both indoor pets and watch-dogs, and, although commonly 

 known as Gonorrh<ea is not specific nor communicable. It 

 cannot be traced to over-indulgence ' in sexual processes, 

 but rather to deficiency in this respect. According as the 

 external or internal parts are affected most, is the profuse- 

 ness of the discharge. When the urethra is the main seat 

 the glans is exposed, the penis being in a state of semi- 

 erection almost constantly, and a small amount of fluid 

 continually exudes from the opening. The animal licks 

 the protruded part, and evidently suffers pain in the pas- 

 sage of urine. The discharge is either a thick mucus or 

 purulent. When the external parts are the main seat of 

 disorder, the prepuce is swollen and conceals the glans, 

 phymosis to an extent being present. The prepuce con- 

 tains much pus, which gradually oozes from the orifice and 

 becomes dried on the hairs of the part, or flows profusely 

 on pressure. There is obstruction to the passage of urine, 

 the current of which is irregular. The animal resists 



