100 ORGANS OF GENERATION. 



As soon as the testicle has reached the scrotum, the neck of 

 the pouch has a tendency to close and to become obliterated, 

 which is commonly accomplished at the period of birth; yet it 

 sometimes remains open for a longer time and becomes the oc- 

 casion of congenital hernia. Very generally, at birth, the ori- 

 fice of the pouch will receive the end of a probe to the depth of 

 a line or two; but all below is perfectly closed, and has its 

 structure so condensed and aftered, that no one, from a view of 

 it alone, would suppose that the cavity of the tunica vaginalis 

 had ever communicated with that of the peritoneum.* 



SECT. iv. OE.THE MUSCLES AND FASCIAE or THE PERINEUM, 

 Perinea! Fascia. 



The Perineal Fascia is plaeed just beneath the skin of the 

 perineum, and covers the muscles. It is spread over nearly all 

 the space between the anus and the posterior margin of the 

 scrotum, and between the rami of the pubes and the ischia on 

 each side: it is very firmly fixed to these bones, and is gradu- 

 ally blended with the cellular substance of the posterior part of 

 the scrotum. This fascia is rather thin, but, in case of a rupture 

 of the posterior part of the urethra, prevents the urine from 

 showing itself in the perineum, and drives jt into the cellular 

 structure of the scrotum. In abscesses of the perineum, it also 

 prevents the fluctuation from being very evident. 



The Musculus Erector Penis * 



Is so situated, as to cover the whole of the erus of the penis 

 which is not in contact with the bony margin of the pelvis. It 

 arises, therefore, tendinous and fleshy, from the anterior part of 

 the tuber ischii ; its fleshy fibres adhere to the internal and ex- 



* The explanations and anatomy of this process have been treated at large in 

 the following works: 



Girardi, Tabul. II. adj. Septemd. Tab. Santorini. 



Hunter, Observations on certain parts of the Animal (Economy. W. Hunter 3 

 Med. Commentaries. 



Edwardi Sandifort, Opusc. Anat. 



"Wrisberg Comment. Medic. Physiolog., &c. 



