368 SURGICAL APPLIED ANATOMY. [Chap. xvm. 



severely inflamed. For this reason strapping should 

 be applied with some care over the enlarged 

 testis, for against the hard mass of the affected 

 gland the integument of the scrotum can be 

 subjected to considerable pressure when the strap- 

 ping is tightly applied. In such a case I have seen 

 the whole of one side of the scrotum slough from an 

 indiscreet use of this familiar method of treatment. 



The laxity of the subcutaneous scrotal tissues is an 

 essential feature in those operations for the radical 

 cure of inguinal hernia where the fundus of the sac is 

 invaginated, through an incision in the scrotum, into 

 the orifice of the inguinal canal. Lastly, the great 

 mobility of the scrotum affords an admirable source 

 of protection to the testicle ; for when the part is 

 struck or squeezed the testis can slip about within 

 the scrotum, as a smooth ball would within a loose 

 indiarubber bag, and so very often eludes all injury. 



The testicle may be retained within the abdomi- 

 nal cavity, or may lodge for varying periods of time, or 

 for life, in the inguinal canal. It may, on the other 

 hand, pass beyond the scrotum into the perineum, or 

 may miss the inguinal canal altogether and escape 

 through the femoral canal and saphenous opening on 

 to the thigh. The testis proper is entirely invested 

 by the visceral layer of the tunica vaginalis, except 

 over a small part of its posterior border where the 

 vessels enter. The epididymis is entirely covered 

 with the serous membrane at its sides, is more or less 

 so covered in front, but is free or uncovered along the 

 greater part of its posterior border. It is about the 

 posterior border of the epididymis that the visceral 

 layer of the tunica vaginalis joins the parietal layer. 

 It is mainly by this uncovered part of the epi- 

 didymis, and by the vessels, etc., that enter there, that 

 the testicle is fixed, for were the whole organ to be 

 entirely enveloped by the serous membrane, it would 



