ON IRRITABLE BLADDER. 
257 
sufficient to keep up the regular and full action of them. When 
this is accomplished, vegetable tonics should be administered, 
in conjunction with the alkalies, so as to increase the general 
tone of the system, and neutralize not only. the acidity of the 
stomach, but likewise the uric acid which is so abundantly 
secreted in these cases, occasioning great irritation of the 
mucous membrane of the bladder. No medicines are better 
adapted for these purposes than sulphate of magnesia, sulphate 
of soda, ol. ricini, or ol. lin. The carbonate of soda, conjoined 
with some stomachic, or given in infusion of gentian, uva ursi, 
or infusion of chamomile flowers, may be said to be almost a 
specific. The aqua kali purse, is likewise an equally if not 
more excellent remedy, given in linseed tea. The horse should 
have for his beverage lime-water ; and linseed tea should be horn- 
ed into him, if he will not drink it freely. His diet should con- 
sist of the choicest upland hay and linseed mashes. Locally, re- 
course should be had to warm fomentations along the pubic 
region and the course of the perineum. Where there is a calculus, 
this should, be removed in the mare, if possible, by simple dila- 
tation of the urethra, and extracted with the forceps ; but in the 
horse, by performing the operation of lithotomy. In all cases in 
the horse, it should be an invariable rule with the practitioner, to 
satisfy himself that there is no stricture, by passing the elastic 
catheter*, or a bougie, constructed on purpose ; for if there should 
only be spasmodic stricture, it will create more local and constitu- 
tional irritation than is generally suspected ; and nothing but 
stealing a bougie very gradually along the urethra through the 
strictured portion occasionally , will relieve the symptoms arising 
out of it. This disease is one of that nature that may be so 
untraetable as not to admit a perfect cure, the irritable state 
of the bladder remaining, to a certain degree, through life; but 
the mode of treatment suggested will, no doubt, in the worst 
cases, alleviate the symptoms, so as to enable the animal to enjoy 
life, and perform the duties required from it. 
Herewith I forward you an account of two cases which have 
come under my care. The first was that of a mare, in which 
I found all the symptoms described above. She was in the prime 
of life, and did not appear much affected in condition by it. 
This case, from the distance it was from me, 1 only saw once, 
and consequently cannot tell what became of it afterwards. 
The second case occurred in a cart-horse, six years old. He was 
much emaciated, and incapable of work ; his urine was continu- 
ally dripping away from him, without pain ; his penis half drawn 
* Elastic guin catheters, of beautiful construction for the horse, maybe had 
of Mr. Arnold, No. 31, West Smithfield, and of Mr. Read, in Regent Street. 
