by the same causes as cystitis (which see); by the
passage and temporary arrest of small stones, or gravel; by the
irritation caused by foreign bodies introduced from without; by blows on
the penis by sticks, stones, or by the feet of a mare that kicks while
being served; by an infecting inflammation contracted from a mare served
in the first few days after parturition or one suffering from
leucorrhea; by infecting matter introduced on a dirty catheter, or by
the extension of inflammation from an irritated, bilocular cavity filled
with hardened sebaceous matter, or from an uncleansed sheath.

_Symptoms._--The symptoms are swelling, heat, and tenderness of the
sheath and penis; difficulty, pain, and groaning in passing urine, which
is liable to sudden temporary arrests in the course of micturition, and
later a whitish, mucopurulent oozing from the papilla on the end of the
penis. There is a tendency to erection of the penis, and in cases
contracted from a mare the outer surface of that organ will show more or
less extensive sores and ulcers. Stallions suffering in this way will
refuse to mount or, having mounted, will fail to complete the act of
coition. If an entrance is effected, infection of the mare is liable to
follow.

_Treatment_ in the early stages consists in a dose of physic (aloes 6
drams) and fomentations of warm water to the sheath and penis. If there
is reason to suspect the presence of infection, inject the urethra twice
daily with borax 1 dram, tepid water 1 quart. When the mucopurulent
discharge indicates the supervention of the second stage a more
astringent injection may be used (nitrate of silver 20 grains, water 1
quart), and the same may be applied to the surface of the penis and
inside the sheath. Balsam of copaiba (1 dram daily) may also be given
with advantage after the purulent discharge has appeared.

Every stallion suffering from urethritis should be withheld from
service, as should mares with leucorrhea.

STRICTURE OF THE URETHRA.

This is a permanent narrowing of the urethra at a given point, the
result of previous inflammation, caused by the passage or arrest of a
stone, or gravel, by strong astringent injections in the early
nonsecreting stage of urethritis, or by contraction of the lining
membrane occurring during the healing of ulcers in neglected
inflammations of that canal. The trouble is shown by the passage of
urine in a fine stream, with straining, pain, and groaning, and by