98 DISEASES OF THE URETHRA. 



retention of urine be absolute, puncture of the bladder may be neces- 

 sary. Fluctuating abscesses of the perinaeum are to be opened 

 promptly. For further information regarding inflammation of the 

 prostate, we refer to the books of surgery. 



The lymphangitis and lymphadenitis usually subside quickly under 

 simple rest in bed. If, after the gonorrhoea has entirely abated, there 

 still remain a swelling in the inguinal region, we should resort to com- 

 pression, a practice which has often and very improperly been applied 

 to syphilitic buboes. If the patient be walking about, let him wear a 

 hernia truss with a large pad. If he be confined to his bed, a heavy 

 bag of shot, which, not being quite full, yields and makes a uniform 

 pressure over the tumor, is the best means of compression. In order 

 to avert gonorrhceal orchitis, it is desirable to cause all patients with 

 gonorrhoea to wear a suspensory bandage, to which suitable appliances 

 may be attached to save their linen from becoming soiled. This latter 

 precaution is necessary, as the envelopment of the penis in rags, made 

 fast with bandages, does harm. We should select and apply the sus- 

 pensory ourselves, so as to make sure that it does not " bind " any- 

 where. Badly-fitting ones, of course, do more harm than good. Upon 

 the first sign of orchitis the patient must betake himself to bed, and 

 there remain, with a wedge-shaped cushion between his thighs, upon 

 which the scrotum is to be so arranged that there shall not be the 

 slightest strain upon the spermatic cord. Besides this, a large number 

 of leeches should be applied to the cord, the after-bleeding from 

 which should be encouraged. The pain almost always subsides after 

 the depletion. When this has been accomplished, hot poultices must 

 be applied night and day to the scrotum, and, should there be any 

 fresh attack of pain, the leeching must be repeated. Much benefit 

 has also been ascribed to the internal exhibition of calomel combined 

 with opium in this affection. Compression of the testicle, by means of 

 which abatement of the pain and rapid subsidence of the tumor are 

 sometimes effected, is a procedure which often fails, and which, accord- 

 ing to my experience, generally can be dispensed with. 



CHAPTER II. 



NON-VIRTJLENT CATAERH OP THE URETHRA. 



SIMPLE non-virulent catarrh of the urethra is a somewhat rare af- 

 fection. Local irritation of the urethra by foreign bodies, irritating 

 injections, sexual excess, especially coitus practised during the men- 

 strual period, are its most usual causes. A symptomatic catarrh also 

 accompanies urethral ulcers, particularly urethral chancres. In other 



