DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 479 



enlarged, firm, non-elastic, and comparatively insensible. The skin of 

 the scrotum is tense, and it may be edematous (pitting on pressure), as 

 are the deeper envelopes and spermatic cord. If liquid is present in the 

 sac, the symptoms are masked somewhat. As it increases it causes awk- 

 ward straddling, dragging movement of the hind limbs, or lameness on 

 the affected side. The spermatic cord often increases at the same time 

 with the testicle, and the inguinal ring being thereby stretched and en- 

 larged a portion of intestine may escape into the sac, complicating the 

 disease with hernia. 



The only rational and effective treatment is castration, and even this 

 may not succeed when the disease is specific. 



IV. Varicocele. 



This is an enlargement of the venous network of the spermatic cord, 

 and gives rise to general thickening of the cord from the testicle up to the 

 ring. The same astringent dressings may be tried as in orchitis, and, 

 this failing, castration may be resorted to. 



V. Degeneration of the Testicles. 



The testicles may become the seat of fibrous, calcareous, fatty, carti- 

 laginous, or cystic degeneration, for all of which the appropriate treat- 

 ment is castration. They also become the seat of cancer, glanders, or tu- 

 berculosis, and castration is requisite, though with less hope of arresting 

 the disease. Finally, they may become infested with cystic tapeworms 

 or larval stages of the armed roundworm {Strongylus equinus) . 



VI. Warts on the Penis. 



These are best removed by seizing them between the thumb and fore- 

 finger and twisting them off. Or they may be cut off with scissors and the 

 roots cauterized with nitrate of silver. 



VII. Degeneration of Penis. 



The penis of the horse is subject to great cauliflower-like growths on its 

 free end, which extend back into the substance of the organ, obstruct the 

 passage of urine, and cause very fetid discharges. The only resort is to 

 cut them oft", together with whatever portion of the penis has become dis- 

 eased and indurated. The operation, which should be performed by a 

 veterinary surgeon, consists in cutting through the organ from its upper 

 to its lower aspect, twisting or tying the two dorsal arteries, and leaving 

 the urethra longer by half an inch to 1 inch than the adjacent structures. 



