Symptoms. There is slight hyperthermia or none, stiff or straddling gait, frequent passage of urine in small quantities and cloudy, or straining without passage, the penis or clitoris is semi-erect, eversion of the lips of the vulva is frequent, and the bladder is tender (through prepubian wall, vagina or rectum). If a finger is inserted into the bladder in the mare the thickening of the walls can often be recognized. The urine often contains precipitated crystals of ammonio-magnesian phosphate, and even clots of blood. It has an alkaline reaction even in herbivora.
Treatment. The danger centres around the bacteridian fermentations, and a main object must be to disinfect the bladder. This will be all the more effectual if the lotions used are of an acid reaction. Thus boric acid or salicylic acid in 3 per cent. solution, injected after evacuation of the bladder and repeated a number of times a day may soon establish a healthy action. If the bladder is especially irritable a boiled weak solution of gum arabic will form a suitable medium. Other antiseptics are often used as creosote (0.5:100), carbolic acid (3:100), chloride of zinc (3:100), chlorate of potash (3:100), mercuric chloride (1:5000), silver nitrate (0.5:100), or astringents are often better: PbA, ZnSO4 tannic acid, ferri chloridi in dilute solution so as not to cause pain.
The bowels should be kept open by an occasional saline laxative, pain moderated by codeine, and abundance of pure water and a laxative diet enjoined. Linseed tea, and infusions of slippery elm or marsh mallow have long been employed, and by soothing and relaxing the bowels they act favorably on the urinary mucosa. Stimulants of the urinary track like buchu, uva ursi or copaiba in small doses, or antiseptics like creosote, boric acid, salicylic acid, piperazine, are available in slight cases or when the acute symptoms have subsided somewhat. With prior infection of the kidneys, the latter may be used. Constant drainage may be necessary to avoid distension.
Perfect rest is absolutely essential, a restricted laxative diet, and a careful avoidance of cold, and stimulants.
When urine is retained it should be removed with a thoroughly aseptic catheter.
In case of blood clots in the bladder, wash out with a boiled normal salt solution.
ACUTE CROUPOUS CYSTITIS.
This has been found to follow the use of cantharides and other irritant diuretics, and to follow on certain specific diseases. Its nature is that of catarrhal inflammation, but with a fibrinous product or false membrane formed more or less extensively on the inflamed mucosa.
Symptoms are essentially those of catarrhal cystitis from which it is distinguished by the presence in the urine of flakes of the fibrinous membrane.
Treatment is essentially the same as in the catarrhal form, to which may be added the injection of a solution of 4 grains scale pepsin to the ounce of sterilized water. The boric acid solution may be of the strength of 20 per cent. Irrigate two or three times a day.