INFLAMMATION OF THE SPERMATIC CORD. 675 



Varicocele, or cirsocele, consists in dilatation of the veins of the 

 spermatic cord. It is commonest in old animals, but only excep- 

 tionally calls for treatment ; it is usually only discovered on 

 castration, and even then requires no particular precautions. 

 Aneurysmal varix has been observed in bulls. The dilatation of 

 the plexus pampiniformis associated with varicocele, is sometimes 

 so marked that the scrotum appears as much enlarged as in hydrocele, 

 or in inguinal hernia. Aneurysmal varix is sometimes denoted by 

 pulsation in the scrotum, or the passage of blood under the skin 

 may be felt ; both symptoms disappear, however, immediately 

 the scrotum is compressed above ; Meyer was able to feel the artery. 

 Castration is the only treatment, and care is required to prevent 

 rupture of the greatly distended vessels ; the vessels may be ligatured 

 with stout silk, or clams may be applied. 



X.— INFLAMMATION OF THE SPERMATIC CORD. SCIRRHOUS CORD. 

 FUNICULITIS CHRONICA. 



On account of its sheltered position the spermatic cord rarely 

 becomes inflamed, unless the scrotum be opened, though bruising 

 or hyper-extension may produce acute inflammation and hematocele. 

 It has already been stated that chronic inflammation may occasion 

 hydrocele. But none of these diseases compare in frequency with 

 scirrhous cord, a condition due to infection of the cord after castration. 

 In horses it is comparatively common, and in oxen by no means 

 unknown. 



A portion of the cord is removed in castration, and the remainder 

 then swells, partly in consequence of disturbed circulation, partly 

 of inflammatory irritation. This swollen condition generally dis- 

 appears completely in eight to fourteen days, sometimes a little 

 later. In horses, and occasionally in oxen and other animals, owing 

 to infection of the wound, the swelling increases, and the stump 

 of the spermatic cord may become as large as a man's head. The 

 enlargement may be confined to the extremity, but generally extends 

 further upwards, even beyond the inguinal canal and into the abdominal 

 cavity. Ringk noticed an extraordinary development in a horse, 

 the left spermatic cord on post-mortem weighing 24 lbs. and the 

 right 30 lbs. In such cases the operative wound refuses to heal ; 

 a slight opening remains, from which small quantities of pus are 

 discharged, and through which a probe can be introduced for a dis- 

 tance of 4 to 8 inches into the spermatic cord. 



It was long known that the disease was due to chronic inflammation 



