LITHOTOMY IN A BOG. 
437 
Being a little curious about the history of this case, I began to 
investigate the individual who brought him. He informed me 
that the animal had been unwell for a long time ; his urine had 
been continually dribbling down his thighs (which were evidently 
much excoriated), and that there was great difficulty in evacu- 
ating the contents of the bladder, which, in a slight degree, were 
tinged with blood and having a sacculous deposit. He had no ap- 
petite, and was greatly emaciated. On that account his master, 
as an act of humanity, determined to destroy him at once. 
As I w 7 as desirous to examine him, permission was asked, and 
a grant obtained. I then set to work to satisfy myself, if I possi- 
bly could, of the nature of the disease : and this brought me to 
the conclusion that there must either be a vesical calculus or some 
abnormal structure affecting the urinary passages. From my 
statement of this circumstance to his owner, I obtained him for 
experiment. However, I was a little sceptical regarding the re- 
sult of the operation, from the circumstance of the size of the 
animal, and also his being the first subject that I had had an op- 
portunity of operating oil I proceeded, without any previous 
treatment, as he was sadly reduced in his whole frame, to secure 
him properly with webbing, and put him in a right situation for 
the operation. After this, a small syringe full of tepid water 
was injected up the urethra, in order to distend it and facilitate 
the operation. A very small whalebone staff was then introduced 
along the urethral canal, which requires great precaution, owing 
to the orifice of the urethra being small. This being done, I cut 
down upon it at the curvature of the urethra in the perineum, and 
the staff was then withdrawn. With a bistoury I enlarged the 
opening in the urethra on the left side of the perineal space, or 
rather, opposite the ischial arch. The index finger of the left 
hand was now introduced as a director, with the back of the bis- 
toury against it, in order to carry the incision to the pelvic por- 
tion of the urethra and neck of the bladder. Having sufficient 
scope, I introduced the forceps into the bladder, and seized the 
calculus at its long axis, but not without a great deal of manipu- 
lation and loss of time in introducing the forceps after the stone 
was removed. 
I felt, by means of the sound, several other small stones in the 
bladder, which were immediately extracted. The parts were then 
cleaned with a little tepid water; and the dog was released from 
his situation, much exhausted by the operation, although the loss 
of blood was trifling during the operation, and it was not necessary 
to apply any ligatures to the vessels. 
He was now led into a comfortable place ; and, in about an 
hour afterwards, he exhibited symptoms of sinking, when I ad- 
vol. xvi. 3 N 
