PARALYSIS AND INJURIES OF THE PENIS. 657 



certainly sometimes see paralysis of the muscle in question. More 

 often the condition is due to injury of the penis, causing swelling 

 of the glans and hindering its withdrawal into the sheath. Several 

 reported cases also point to thrombosis of the vessels of the penis 

 itself. Bang saw a gelding with thrombosis of the veins of the 

 sheath. 



In the horse, inability to retract the penis is rarely caused by 

 contraction of the outer folds of the prepuce. Their width and 

 disposition are unfavourable to the production of paraphymosis ; 

 but swelling of the inner folds may in these animals cause prolapse 

 of the penis and inability to retract it. Such swelling, incorrectly 

 described as paralysis of the penis, occurs temporarily during 

 inflammation of the sheath and neighbouring parts, as, for example, 

 after castration or injury to the penis. Slight wounds are sometimes 

 followed by cellulitis of the sheath, as Haase noted after a blow from 

 a whip. Moller has repeatedly seen this condition after irritant 

 substances like pepper had been rubbed into the penis and sheath. 

 Bang noted it in a gelding, following thrombosis of the veins of the 

 sheath. 



Swelling of the prepuce often remains after subsidence of the 

 inflammation and interferes with the return of the penis. 

 Inflammatory symptoms being absent, such cases have erroneously 

 been looked on as paralysis of the penis. Cases do occur, however, 

 where nothing abnormal can be detected either in the penis or prepuce, 

 and yet, despite this, the glans cannot be retracted, or if replaced 

 within the prepuce, at once falls forward. In such cases the retractor 

 penis may be paralysed. Paralysis may also afford an explanation 

 of the cases which follow diseases like influenza and purpura 

 hemorrhagica (Cagny) ; but at present we have no accurate 

 information on the point. Injury and ulceration of the penis often 

 occur as sequelae of paralysis, as the penis occasionally protrudes 

 to such an extent as to be struck by the hind feet and wounded 

 during movement. 



Local examination does much to differentiate the nature of the 

 case. When no change is visible, and the penis is insensitive to 

 pricks or pinches, paralysis may be surmised. In paralysis of the 

 retractor penis, sensibility remains unimpaired. Particular attention 

 must be paid to the prepuce ; it suffers more frequently than is 

 generally supposed. 



Ruminants and swine very seldom suffer from paraphymosis, 

 because in oxen the glans is very small, and in sheep and swine is 

 altogether wanting. In dogs the condition is favoured by the presence 



