MEMOIR ON VESICAL CALCULI, &C. 195 
These earthy ingredients are associated and mixed up with more 
>r less animal, matter which is mucus. 
We are now arrived at that part of our author’s “ Memoir” 
vhich concerns us the most—a part we shall have no occasion to 
■all our readers’ especial attention to, when we inform him, it is 
ntended to afford a clue to those steps by which this insidious 
nalady slowly progresses, with or without the knowledge of the 
>ractitioner in attendance. 
“ Generally speaking, a stone may exist for a length of time, and acquire 
•onsiderable magnitude, before it is productive of any perceptible disorder, 
ir at least such as to direct the attention of the groom to the complaint, or 
nake it certain that such is its real nature. The sedimentous depositions 
v hich we have ranked in the first class of vesical concretions, are indicated 
»y the urine gradually becoming thicker and whiter; by frequent desire to 
tale; by the difficulty and pain with which these desires are executed. In 
>ne case, the penis hung, being in a state of paralysis, down out of the 
heath. 
“ A calculus may lie over or within the neck of the bladder, creating more 
ir less difficulty in the expulsion of the urine, or inducing complete retention, 
n general, however, its irritation occasions frequent staling. Sometimes 
he urine is bloody, and voided with distressing and painful efforts. The 
rritation may run so high as to give rise to colics, which may be either in- 
ermittent or continued. It is always an easy matter to distinguish between 
hese colics and common intestinal gripes. So long as the pain is not ver} 
cute, the subject of cystic colic paws, makes efforts to strike the sheath 
vith his hind feet; looks back at his flanks,even reaches them with his teeth, 
nd every now and then shakes his head. Should the pains increase, the 
nimal will lie down and roll, experience occasional relief, and,in fact, display 
he symptoms of common gripes. The sweat the animal breaks into diffuses 
i strong urinous odour. In this paroxysm of pain, mares have been known 
o expel the calculus, and thereby obtain momentary relief, and from that 
: ime to recover.” 
| It appears that the other mode of disencumbering an animal 
bf a stone in the bladder, viz. that by solution, can scarcely be 
( ;aid to have been put to trial. Fourcroy gave it out, in the year 
1798, that vinegar mixed with water might be considered as a 
• eritable lithontriptic. Unfortunately for the surgeon, however, it 
happens but too often that that which proves so perfect a solvent 
n the laboratory, ceases to have any such power when introduced 
nto an animal body. Be that, however, as it may in the instance 
>efore us, according to our author there is but a single case on re¬ 
cord to show that any such agency has proved effectual; and 
j hat occurred at the school at A1 fort. 
. “The experiment was made in 1806 on the same horse that was seized 
vith paralysis of the yard. He discharged his urine with pain; and it was 
vhite, very thick, and yielded a considerable deposit. The cause of his 
maladies being ascertained, frequent injections were thrown into his bladder, 
consisting of warm water slightly acidulated with vinegar, progressively 
augmenting the proportion of acid. The urine by degrees lost its white 
