NECK OF THE BLADDER, &C. 2C1 
aloes cape 3iij opii gr. lxxx dissolved in half a pint of warm 
water; one half to be given now, and the rest about twelve 
o’clock. Died some time in the afternoon. 
Examination .—The bowels quite sound, and faeces perfectly 
soft, with the exception of some in the rectum. The peritoneum 
lining the abdominal muscles was in a high state of inflammation, 
the blood in the vessels being nearly black. There was no effusion 
in the abdomen. The bladder was completely tilled with water, 
and about its neck highly inflamed, and the vessels ramifying in 
the bladder were much distended and gorged with blood. The 
lungs had the usual air-bladders upon them as in broken wind, 
and they were principally seated round the edges of them, and 
especially upon the small branch on the left side that occupies 
the space on the side of the heart. The heart was very large. 
The lungs contained a great many miliary tubercles; some were 
as large as peas, white, and similar to them, and quite hard and 
round. 
Remarks .—It is very clear, I think, that this horse died of 
inflammation, or, perhaps, I may rather say, spasm of the neck 
of the bladder. I am also well aware that the bladder ought to 
have been tapped, but, not having a trochar, I was not able to do 
so, but have since ordered one. In what manner this operation 
ought to be performed there are divers opinions. Mr. Blaine re¬ 
commends the bladder to be punctured through the rectum, and 
Mr. Percivall, in front of the pubes; the latter doubting whether 
the urine would be expelled through the rectum, but acknow¬ 
ledging at the same time that he never operated through the rec¬ 
tum. Now, for my own part, I do not doubt but what the 
bladder may be in a great measure emptied through the high 
operation, for the bladder would scarcely ever be punctured but 
when it was fully distended; and I think that, so soon as 
the trochar has penetrated the bladder, the urine will begin to 
flow into the rectum through the elasticity and contractiblity of 
the bladder, the usual method the horse has by contracting 
the abdominal muscles, thereby forcing the intestines against the 
bladder, as clearly shewn in this case, and which may be very 
much assisted by pressing the bladder with one’s hand ; and I 
think that, when part of the urine is evacuated, the bladder 
will have regained its capability of contracting, and that sufficient 
will be got rid of so as for the means employed to remove the 
exciting cause. Even if all these probable means fail, it would 
be no difficult affair to bolster'the horse sufficiently on his side, 
or even on his back, which would completely set aside the ob¬ 
jection of the urine not being able to escape after the punc¬ 
turing. 
