ANIMAL CASTBATION. 91 



tion it may be merely a growth at the end of the 

 cord, becoming, as determined by its location, of an 

 extra-inguinal character, or if the diseased process 

 extends as far as the npper inguinal opening, or be- 

 yond it, it becomes, and is so denominated, intra- 

 ablominal. There is also an extra-intra-scrotal growth, 

 when it is partly within and partly external to the 

 scrotum. This tumor will vary greatly in size, being 

 sometimes very small in dimensions, and at others 

 having those of a man's fist. We have ourselves 

 observed it equalling a child's head in size. 



The causes from which it originates are obscure, 

 and cannot be very well defined. Still, they may be 

 arranged under the heading of any of the morbific 

 causes which may excite an excess of inflammatory 

 action at the end of the cord. Amongst these may 

 be enumerated all violent tractions upon the cord at 

 the time of the operation ; all unnecessary manipu- 

 lations during the process of cicatrization, such as 

 the too frequent introduction of the finger into the 

 wound with destruction of the granulations already 

 adherent to the cord, and the application of the ap- 

 pliances for its division too low down upon it, leav- 

 ing that organ hanging too much, and the retraction 

 of the organ being insufficient to retain it in the in- 

 guinal sac. Still, as a champignon may be developed 

 in the absence of all these causes, it would seem that 

 their growth may be attributed also to some specific 

 idiosyncrasy in the animal affected, the true nature 

 of which cannot be very accurately or easily under- 

 stood. It is held, however, by certain German and 



