96 SURGERY. 



tartar emetic, and opium ; cold or warm lotions, according to the 

 patient's feelings. Low diet, and the recumbent position are essential. 

 The weight of the tumour must be sustained by a suspensory or 

 handkerchief. After the acute symptoms have subsided, friction 

 with mercurial ointment, astringent lotions, and compression by ad- 

 hesive straps will be useful. In discussing the hardness and swelling 

 which generally remain, the iodide of potash has the best effect. 

 Abscess may result, but oftener results from chronic inflammation or 

 sarcocele. 



Neuralgia of testes causes such severe pain that patients fre- 

 quently apply to be castrated. The cause should be ascertained 

 before treatment is commenced. 



HYDROCELE. 



This is a collection of serum in the tunica vaginalis testis ; com- 

 mencing at the lower part of the scrotum, and gradually ascending. 

 It is smooth on its surface, fluctuating. The testicle is situated at 

 the posterior part of the sac, near the middle. It is to be distin- 

 guished from hernia by its transparency and progress : there is no 

 impulse upon coughing : it does not retire by recumbency. 



Treatment. — The palliative treatment consists of evacuation of 

 the serum by a trocar. The radical cure is performed by injecting 

 stimulating fluids, such as port wine and water, or solutions of zinc 

 and iodine into the sac ; or, by introducing a seton. 



CIKSOCELE. 



Varicocele or cirsocele is a varicose condition of the veins of the 

 cord. Some restrict the term varicocele to the enlargement of the 

 veins of the scrotum. The causes are such as produce obstruction 

 to the return of blood ; constipation, corpulence, tight belts around 

 the abdomen, and warm climate. The left side is more frequently 

 affected than the right, because the left spermatic vein is more likely 

 to be compressed by faeces in the sigmoid flexure, and because it is 

 longer and not so direct in its course. The swelling is pyriform, 

 and feels like a bunch of earth-worms. 



Treatment. — The disease may be palliated or cured by removing 

 the causes, bathing the testicle in cold water constantly, and sup- 

 porting it with a suspensory. The radical cure often requires an 

 operation for obliteration of the veins, — such as the actual cautery, 

 compression by sutures, wires, springs, &c. The scrotum may be 

 diminished with advantage. 



ANEURISM. 



An aneurism is a pulsating sac, filled with blood, which commu- 

 nicates with an artery. 



A true aneurism is the result of disease, and the sac consists of 



