OPERATION FOR CYSTIC CALCULI. 
719 
removing- it two or three times each day and returning it after 
thoroughly cleansing. The wound healed kindly and the 
animal was discharged from the hospital at the end of two 
weeks. There were no indications of further trouble so long 
as I knew the animal, which was for a period of two or three 
years. In this case no anaesthetic was used. 
The second case was a mare of mature age; a fine strong 
farm animal. She had been subject to colicky pains for more 
than a year. There was occasional difficulty in passing the 
urine. At such times the discharge would be slight and at¬ 
tended with pain. The history of the case suggested examina¬ 
tion for calculus. Exploration per vaginum revealed the 
presence of a large calculus, very rough on its exterior and 
spheroidal in shape. The animal was conditioned by light 
rations of laxative food for two days previous to the opera¬ 
tion. The patient was placed upon the operating table and 
chloroform administered. So soon as complete anaesthesia 
had set in a thorough examination was made. The stone 
proved to be much too large to be extracted through the 
meatus. All my efforts at breaking down the concretion 
proved unsuccessful. It was so large that l could not suc¬ 
ceed in securing it between the jaws of the lithotrite in such 
a way as to crush it. I finally determined to enlarge the pas¬ 
sage. I carried a probe-pointed bistoury into the vagina with 
the left hand. With the right I pushed the instrument into 
the meatus and made a careful cut upward and slightly to one 
side of the median line. With the muscular fibres thus severed, 
it was an easy matter to secure such a hold as would enable 
me to extract the object. The bladder was thoroughly 
cleansed and washed with antiseptics. Two or three catgut 
sutures were placed, and the animal removed from the table 
as soon as consciousness had returned. The patient did ex¬ 
cellently well and was sent home in ten days. 
The third case was a favorite family'mare, twenty-two 
years old. She had been troubled with periodic attacks of 
colic-like pains for some years. She was brought to the col¬ 
lege hospital a few weeks ago for treatment. After getting 
the history of the case, I directed one of my students to make 
