650 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



through rupture of the urethra, from the violent strain- 

 ing efforts of the patient. There is generally great 

 impairment of the general health in these cases. The 

 patient complains of various disorders of the digestive 

 organs, great pain in the loins and back, chilliness, fol- 

 lowed by fever, especially after the use of the catheter, 

 which sometimes ]3roduces symptoms so serious as to 

 give rise to what is known as urethral fever. 



The treatment of stricture is a matter which be- 

 longs exclusively to the skilled surgeon. The man who 

 has any suspicion whatever that he is suffering with 

 even a moderate degree of obstruction of the urethral 

 canal, should at once seek skilful surgical advice. 

 Sometimes the narrowing of the urethra may exist only 

 at the orifice, and yet serious results may follow if the 

 difficulty is neglected. 



Balanitis. —Persons who have a long and rather 

 tight foreskin frequentl}^ suffer from inflammation of 

 the mucous membrane which covers the glans penis, or 

 foreskin. The symptoms are severe burning or itch- 

 ing of the affected parts, frequently accompanied by 

 violent erections and great sexual excitement. The 

 foreskin is red and swollen, sometimes to a very 

 great degree. A yellowish or whitish discharge of 

 a very disagreeable odor is also present. The most 

 common cause is neglect to keep the parts thoroughly 

 cleansed. 



Treatment.— The only treatment required in the 

 majority of cases is thorough cleansing of the parts 

 three or four times a day with tepid water and green 

 soap. If the disease persists, a slightly astringent 

 lotion may be applied, and if it is found impossible to 

 prevent the disease by daily cleansing, a portion of the 

 redundant prepuce should be removed by a surgeon. 



