Those who recommend this method of treatment can never have followed closely the development of a grave case of acute cystitis, and if the practice is at all permissible, only a soft catheter should be used.
In chronic cystitis, on the other hand, washing out the bladder might be useful.
CHRONIC CYSTITIS.
Chronic inflammation of the bladder is still rarer than acute cystitis. It usually attacks females as a consequence of acute inflammation, though the condition may be chronic from the first, in which case the early stages are commonly overlooked.
Symptoms. The chief functions of the body do not appear to be disturbed, although the urine seems abnormal. Micturition is difficult, slow, and somewhat painful, and is followed by long-continued tenesmus.
The urine appears whitish, purulent, slimy, or of a deeper tint, rapidly becoming blackish. It is of ammoniacal or fœtid odour, and decomposes quickly.
The period of development may be prolonged, and recovery rarely occurs spontaneously. The condition often leads to ascending infection, inflammation of the ureters, pyelitis, and nephritis.
On post-mortem examination of animals slaughtered before complete wasting has occurred the vesical mucous membrane is found to be thickened, granulating, or suppurating. The muscular tissue shows infiltration and localised sclerosis, and is very irregularly thickened, inelastic, and wanting in contractile power. The peri-vesical tissues may be chronically inflamed.
Diagnosis. The diagnosis is easy, provided the peculiar characteristics of the urine are noted, and an examination is made through the vagina of the condition of the walls of the bladder, of the ureters and of the kidneys.
Prognosis. The prognosis is grave, because treatment would occupy too much of the practitioner’s time to allow it to be rigorously carried out, and therefore animals are usually slaughtered.