SURGERY IN FISTULA-PIPE OR REED ? 
181 
and a long series of clinical observations fully uphold this 
judgment. 
Even the passing of the catheter in a nervous, irritable 
animal, especially a stallion or gelding, would, according to 
our views, be wrong in the earlier stages of the disease, and 
this too is supported by clinical facts, we having once 
attended an irritable gelding in the earlier stages of a mild 
attack of azoturia, the animal perfectly able to stand and walk, 
which on attempting to withdraw the penis from sheath in 
order to pass the catheter, became so badly agitated in resist¬ 
ing our efforts that the disease increased in violence to a serious 
extent, the animal falling to the floor, unable to rise for some 
time; when, had he been let alone, he would have urinated 
naturally in a short time or after the lapse of a few hours, the 
catheter could have been passed with perfect safety and equal 
efficacy. 
These views as to the pathology of this peculiar disease 
are not submitted as incontestable facts, but we believe thev 
possess sufficient harmony with the history, symptoms, thera¬ 
peutics, course and termination, as to invite careful study in 
this direction, with a view to arriving at the true pathological 
doctrine upon which the veterinary profession as a body can 
heartily unite. 
SURGERY IN FISTULA-PIPE OR REED? 
By S. Mylne, Y.S. 
A paper read before the joint meeting of the Indiana and Illinois Veterinary 
Medical Associations. 
A solution of continuity of greater or less depth and sinu¬ 
osity, the opening of which is narrow and the disease kept up 
by an altered texture of parts, so that it is not disposed to 
heal. It is lined throughout its whole course by a membrane 
analogous to mucous membrane. 
A fistula is said to be either complete or incomplete. 
Complete when there are two openings, one external, the 
other communicating with an internal cavity. 
