The dog being placed upon its side

The dog being placed upon its side

The dog being placed upon its side

The dog being placed upon its side, and retained there in a position such as the operator may think most advantageous to his movements, the catheter is introduced with one hand while the penis is held by the other. The meatus being found there is no great ingenuity required to discover it the instrument is inserted and pushed gently onward. At first its passage is easy, but it has not gone far before a check is felt. The stoppage arises from the spasmodic contraction of the canal, caused by the point of the instrument having reached the bone of the penis. For a period the passage is effectually closed; but no force must be employed to overcome the obstacle. Gentle but steady pressure is kept up; and under this it is rarely longer than a few minutes before the spasm yields. The catheter then glides forward, and the operator, resigning the hold of the penis to his assistant, passes his free hand to the perinæum. When he feels the point of the tube below the anus, he uses his fingers to direct its course, for at this part the canal curves, taking a direction forward, and after a little further way has been made, another check is experienced. This last springs from the contraction of the neck of the bladder; and once more gentle, but steady pressure must he employed to overcome the spasm. It rarely resists long; but the sudden absence of all opposition, and the flow of urine, shows that the object of the operation has been obtained.