THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. XXIX, 
No. 341. 
MAY, 1856. 
Fourth Series, 
No. 17. 
Communications and Cases. 
URETHRAL CALCULUS IN THE HORSE. 
By E. Bailey, M.R.C.Y.S., Leicester. 
On the 12th February last a half-bred boat-horse was 
brought to me for examination, evincing the following symp- 
toms. For some time past he had been gradually losing 
flesh, was occasionally in great pain, with constant dripping 
of the urine, and often making ineffectual efforts to stale. 
On examination, there was found to exist a calculus in the 
urethra, at the part where it curves round the symphysis pubis. 
A laxative was given, the diet restricted to bran mashes, 
and on the following day lithotomy was performed. 
The animal being properly secured, chloroform was ad- 
ministered, and the patient was fully under its influence in 
four minutes. An incision being now made through the 
perineum down upon the calculus (where it could be dis- 
tinctly felt,) into the urethra, a large quantity of urine imme- 
diately escaped, which prevented me for a few seconds pro- 
ceeding with the operation. A pair of spoon-bladed forceps 
were then introduced, and the calculus extracted ; a small 
portion of it only being broken off, which was subsequently 
syringed out with tepid water. A catheter was now' intro- 
duced, but no further obstruction could be felt. The in- 
cision was closed by three sutures. 
The horse was nearly half an hour under the influence of 
the chloroform ; at the end of w hich time he rose, and staled 
freely, partly by the natural passage, and partly through the 
w'ound. On the third day after the operation, the urine 
passed altogether through the penis. 
XXIX. 
32 
