The manipulation is as follows:—
The animal having been fixed by the head and front legs in a standing position, and if possible thrust against a wall, the operator stands on its left side. With his right hand he seizes the penis and the skin immediately in front of the scrotum and pushes them forward in the direction of the opening of the sheath.
The extremity is nipped between the first fingers of the left hand, and to prevent the glans slipping or escaping when the right hand is removed (for the purpose of taking a fresh hold of the body of the penis further back) the operator may reverse the free extremity of the penis so that it forms a loop, and thus secure a firmer hold. With the right hand the skin is thrust backward, a new portion of the sheath fixed, and the organ again pushed forward. In this way the penis is gradually extended. When the animal is cast, this manipulation is much easier.
URETHROTOMY IN THE OX.
Urethrotomy consists in incising the urethra, usually for the purpose of extracting a foreign body or calculus which impedes micturition. In the ox, calculi may become fixed either in the intra-pelvic portion of the urethra, though this is very rare; in the ischial curvature, or more commonly at some point in the S-shaped curve of the penis; or sometimes even within the sheath itself.
Urethrotomy is performed in the ischial or scrotal region, according to the point where the obstruction exists.
ISCHIAL URETHROTOMY.
Urethrotomy is performed in the ischial region either to displace or indirectly to abstract a foreign body fixed in the membranous portion of the urethra, or directly to remove one from the spongy portion opposite the ischial curve.
Calculi fixed in the intra-pelvic region are detected by rectal exploration.
The exact position of the foreign body is determined by inspection and palpation, whilst distension of the urethra by urine may be noted even before more striking symptoms appear.