CONSULTATIONS. 
31 
hence bloody urine. It may arise from sand or stone in the kid- 
neys or bladder, from cattle drinking hard water, &c. In addition, 
we have now fungus hsematodes, carcinomatous enlargement-of 
the spleen : — see my Case in Veterinarian, vol. vii, page 
363. A singular variety of cystitis is common and destructive to 
cattle in the south of France, particularly to sheep, by feeding on 
broom. By cattle eating that shrub, being a strong diuretic, the 
mucous coat of the vesica urinaria may be eventually inflamed, and 
produce fungus haematodes and haematuria. The following ef- 
fects of broom I have translated from the French, out of Hurtrel 
d’Arboval’s Diet. Vet. Mr. Blaine, in his Outlines of the Vete- 
rinary Art, 4th edit., page 372, has quoted the same in the 
margin : — 
“ The inflammation of the bladder is supposed to be epizootic 
amongthe ‘ beastsofwool,’ — sheep, — in the south of France, where 
it is known under the name of genestade. It is observed to shew 
itself nearly every year in the districts where the commons are 
planted with the Spanish broom, and where the inhabitants of the 
country are in the habit of frequently gathering a pretty great quan- 
tity of the vegetable, in order to give it as food to the flocks during 
winter. The broom produces the same effect when it is abundant 
in the meadows where they go to graze. The sheep are fond of 
this plant ; they are, above all, fond of the pods which contain 
the seed, and which they prefer to the twigs. It is particularly 
the seeds which occasion, as it appears, the disease, or that 
give to it more intensity. The sick sheep, on returning to the 
fold, crawl on by themselves, and make, from time to time, some 
steps in a slow manner. They eat no more ; the eyes are dull ; 
the ears drooping ; the belly swelled ; and the animal crouches 
often to stale. There exists in some, to the orifice of the urethra, 
a thick and slimy humour, which cannot flow unless the hand is 
pressed on the canal for the greatest part of its length. When 
death must ensue, it happens commonly from the second to 
the third day. When the animal dies, that which is not very 
rare, the disease kills a tenth part at least, and sometimes a 
fifth part of those which it attacks. At the opening of the 
body, all the effects of a strong inflammation of the bladder 
are observed, particularly towards the neck. It is in shape like a 
balloon, and commonly filled with urine, yellowish, and of a bad 
smell. The mucous membrane presents evident traces of inflam- 
mation, particularly some spots like gangrene, but which, perhaps, 
are only ecchymosis, and which are seen particularly at the sphinc- 
ter. This phlegmasia appears, then, to have effect especially on 
the neck of the bladder. The most sure means to prevent it would 
be not to make use of the broom during winter, nor during the 
