URINARY

is a bag with muscular walla, situated deeply within the pelvis and having three openings, two above, which give entrance to the two ureters or tubes connecting the kidneys and the bladder, and one below, which gives exit to the urine by opening into the urethra. The function of the bladder is to retain the urine that it receives from the kidneys continuously, and to discharge the same at intervals, The exit from the bladder is guarded a a sphincter or muscular ring, which by contracting keeps e urine pent up in the bladder. When water is pa ed the bladder contracts and the sphincter relaxes. The bladder is under the control of the will to some extent, but when sufliciently distended, involuntary pa age of urine normally occurs, though in many adults the urine can be hold longer than is good for the bladder. Any quantity above a pint over distends the bladder and fe harm. In nursing unconscious or delirious patients the bladder must be constantly remembered. If urine is not pa ed four-hourly, the doctor sbould be summoned, and the bladder relieved by artificial means. Again, if the urioe trickle away continuously medical aid is also reauired, as this symptom is often due to an over distended bladder relieving itself imperfectly; too often in such @ case the doctor is told that the patient is paring water freely, and is sent away with the impre ion that all is well. Bladder, Irritable, causes inability to hold the water for the normal length of time, especially at night. The causes are numerous: the urine may be too acid, a stone may be present in the bladder, worms or polypi in the bowel may be the cause, circumcision may be required, or the nervous system may be at fault from over-pre ure at school, fear, or at times from — fits ocourring at night. Pareats should bear these facts in mind, as many of the cases finally brought to the doctor give a history of repeated punishment for wetting the bed, an act over which the wretched child had no control whatever. Bladder, ruptured, is a rare accident generally due to a blow on the abdomen when the bladder is full, and at times due to retention of urine. The chance of recovery is ay Stone in bladder causes pain just after the bladder been emptied and when the body is ihe; blood and slime in the urine; frequent pa age of water, and at times stoppage of the water owing to the stone getting over tho outlet and plugging it. Tho treatment is surgical. Stoppage of the water is a serious accident requiring prompt [s. 336]