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INJURIES OF THE URETHRA, 
Strictures are recognised by the gradually increasing difficulty in 
urination. The stream of urine gradually becomes smaller as time 
elapses, the act is more and more protracted; finally fluid can only 
be discharged in drops. Passage of the catheter reveals the position 
and extent of the stricture. The symptoms produced by urethral calculi 
generally appear suddenly. 
Purulent catarrh of the urethral mucous membrane in dogs can be 
recognised by laying the animal on its back, drawing forward the penis 
(see c Urinary Calculi in the Dog”), and passing a sound over it with 
model ate piessuie fiom the corona glandis to the opening of the urethra, 
when, if urethritis exist, a purulent secretion will be discharged. 
The prognosis is very varied. In injuries, it depends on whether 
urination is impeded, and whether infiltration of urine exists or is to 
be expected. Impeded urination may be due either to inflammatory 
swelling or stricture. The less the inflammation and infiltration of 
urine, the more favourable the prognosis. Injuries of the urethra in 
carnivora are graver than in herbivora, because they readily lead to 
gangrenous cellulitis. 
Intra-urethral injuries, caused by careless management of the catheter, 
are seldom dangerous, for the wound opens forwards and hence is not 
favourable to infiltration of urine. On the other hand, injuries by 
foreign bodies easily induce retention of urine and inflammation in the 
mucous membiane, with the formation of urethral calculi, because such 
bodies carry with them organisms likely to determine decomposition of 
urine. Stricture is always grave, especially in horses, as it becomes 
aggravated with time ; the greater the interference with urination, the 
greater the danger. 
Treatment. The chief indications are to prevent retention and 
mfiltiation of mine, and to assist union. The more regularly and 
rapidly healing proceeds, and the less cicatricial tissue produced, the 
slighter the chance of cicatricial contraction and stricture formation. 
The wound is treated on general principles, and protected as far as 
possible from discharge of urine. Clean-cut wounds of the mucous 
membrane may be brought together with catgut or silk, and in herbivora 
sometimes heal by first intention. In carnivora it is still more 
important to suture the mucous membrane, in order to prevent infiltra¬ 
tion. For the same reason the skin wound is best left open. Under 
these ciicumstances healing by first intention occurs in exceptionally 
fa\ ouiable cases. If not, the skin wound, when not already larger than 
that in the mucous membrane, may be increased in size. In carnivora the 
injured spot should be washed every hour or two with an alkaline fluid 
(5 per cent, carbonate of soda), or powdered with iodoform and bicarbonate 
of soda (equal parts), and vegetable diet enforced until the wound 
