DISEASES PECULIAR TO MEN 651 



When cases of this sort are neglected, thickening 

 and narrowing of the foreskin is frequently the result, 

 and this is sometimes so great as to be an obstruction 

 to the passage of urine. We have met cases in which 

 the result was an adhesion of the foreskin to the glans 

 penis. 



Phimosis.— This is a condition in which the fore- 

 skin is so tight that it cannot readily be drawn back 

 over the glans penis. In some cases, the orifice is so 

 small that there is barely room for the passage of the 

 stream of urine in the evacuation of the bladder. A 

 person may be born with this condition, or it may be 

 the result of long-continued inflammation or irritation. 

 This matter is one which should receive attention, as 

 the irritation arising from phimosis may occasion vari- 

 ous sexual disorders, particularly nocturnal emissions, 

 a disease which is always aggravated by it, though 

 originally induced by other causes. 



As soon as discovered, this condition should be re- 

 moved by the proper operation. It is rarely necessary 

 to resort to the old method of circumcision, as the same 

 results may be obtained by an operation less formi- 

 dable and painful. 



This condition is often present in young boys, even 

 infants. Prompt attention is necessary for preventing 

 serious disorders of the nervous system as well as disas- 

 trous local results. 



Paraphimosis.— This condition is one rarely met 

 with, except in cases of venereal disease, though some 

 years ago we encountered a very severe case in the 

 person of a little boy who was suffering from partial 

 phimosis, and having accidentally drawn the prepuce 

 over the glans, was unable to return it. In a short 

 time, so great swelling occurred that sloughing of the 



