TUMOURS IN THE URETHRA AND BLADDER. 
387 
cancer of the mamma; the growth could be recognised as a painful swelling 
on examination per anum. The animal showed progressive emaciation and 
died in a short time ; on post-mortem a perforation was found in the upper 
wall of the bladder, through which urine had flowed into the abdominal 
cavity. Near the neck of the bladder lay a carcinoma which had prevented 
the passage of urine. 
Symptoms. Tumours in the urethra are recognised, like strictures, by 
their gradually causing increased difficulty in urination. During the act 
the stream of urine becomes smaller and smaller, until finally drops alone 
are passed. Displacement of the tumour, slight swelling of the mucous 
membrane, or the formation of a blood clot may tend to the sudden 
development of symptoms. On passing the catheter the obstruction is 
found to be more or less soft, which differentiates a tumour from a 
urinary calculus. 
The growth of tumours in the bladder gradually diminishes its capacity 
and causes urine to be passed more frequently. New growths sometimes 
cause profuse bleeding ; the urine takes on a bloody character, usually 
blood clots of various sizes are discharged; dysuria may also occur, 
especially if the tumour lie near the neck of the bladder. Purulent 
inflammation in some cases accompanies new growths ; the urine appears 
turbid, and on standing deposits a sediment. The presence of tumours 
in the bladder is often signalised by the deposit of salts and the formation 
of precipitates, hence microscopical and chemical examination may be 
necessary to discover the origin of turbidity. These symptoms having 
suggested tumour formation, the diagnosis can be verified by examina¬ 
tion per rectum or per vaginam. Not until the new growth attains a 
considerable size does it give rise to disturbance; a soft mass may be 
felt in the bladder, just as a hard mass may be felt when a calculus is 
present. In mares and cows the swelling may sometimes be felt from 
the urethra. 
Inflammatory swellings of the mucous membrane of the urethra and 
calculi may sometimes be mistaken for tumours. 
The prognosis is usually unfavourable. Only when the new growth is 
near the exit of the urethra and can be removed is prognosis hopeful. 
Though tumours in other parts of the urethra may occasionally be 
removed by performing urethrotomy, yet their existence and position 
can seldom be so exactly determined as to justify operation, especially as 
more or less serious consequences always ensue. Bemoval of tumours 
from the bladder is likewise very difficult, and this of itself sufficiently 
explains the unfavourable character of the prognosis. 
Treatment. Pedunculated tumours near the free end of the urethra 
may be torn away with dissecting or dressing forceps. Where in male 
animals the growth cannot be grasped, the lower wall of the urethra is 
c c 2 
