14 
OBSERVATIONS ON SOUNDNESS. 
but here the second difficulty presented itself, viz., the 
mixture in the bladder was so thick that it could not 
run through the small fine passage of the catheter. What 
was to be done ? It appeared to me of vital importance that 
the contents of the bladder should be evacuated, as this dead 
weight was prostrating the energies of the organ. As a 
dernier ressort , I therefore resolved to cut down through the 
perinaeum upon the urethral canal, and introduce a gutta¬ 
percha tube of larger calibre. I did this, and out gushed, 
in a continued stream, a thick muddy mixture for two or 
three minutes. I again and again washed out the bladder, 
and then let the patient get up. But even after this there was 
no improvement whatever; he never once made the slightest 
attempt voluntarily to void his urine, and it was removed 
from him daily. Occasionally I injected diluted hydrochloric 
acid into the bladder, also gave tonics, and did everything 
that could be thought of; but he continued gradually sinking 
until September 30th, when I consented to have him de¬ 
stroyed. There had been a little sediment perceived once or 
twice in his urine since the operation, but nothing to speak 
of; its smell, however, was extremely offensive. 
Post-mortem Appearances .—The kidneys and ureters were 
quite healthy, and not a particle of calcareous deposit existed 
in the bladder, but the mucous membrane of that organ was of 
a leaden hue; it was likewise considerably thickened all 
through its entire extent, and especially so about the neck of 
the bladder, which was in a state of gangrene and emitted an 
insufferably offensive odour. 
OBSERVATIONS ON SOUNDNESS. 
By R. II. Dyer, M.R.C.V.S., Waterford. 
(Continued from vol. xxxvi, p. 668.) 
Splint, or splent as it is sometimes designated, is a dis¬ 
ease of the metacarpal bones, very frequently met with now-a- 
days; indeed, it is difficult to find an animal without a 
deposit of bony matter somewhere near the carpal joint. 
Every person having the least pretension to a knowledge of 
horseflesh believes himself fully competent to give an opinion 
as to the soundness of a horse with splint. There are many 
views published with reference to this disease, and various 
