INFLAMMATION OF THE SPERMATIC CORD. 



677 



nective tissue lying between the tunica vaginalis and the dartos 

 is seldom affected. 



Symptoms and course. The swelling of the testicular cord does 

 not completely subside after castration, but continues to discharge 

 pus and slowly increases in circumference. This seldom receives 

 early attention, and expert assistance is only called for when the 

 owner fancies the discharge has lasted too long, or when several 

 attacks of acute cellulitis have occurred. As soon as the fistulous 



Fig. 442. — Scirrhous cord formation in the horse, a. Thickened spermatic cord ; 

 b, tunica vaginalis ; c, thickening external to tunica vaginalis. 



aperture has closed, the swelling suddenly increases, spreads to 

 neighbouring tissues, including the connective tissue around the 

 tunica vaginalis, often even to the sheath itself, and only subsides 

 when a new opening has been established. This acute cellulitis 

 returns at varying intervals. It may, however, never occur, and 

 the disease exist for an indefinite time without making much 

 progress or occasioning disturbance, indeed without ever being 

 recognised. The swelling, which is firm, hard, and slightly painful, 

 usually remains confined to the lower end of the spermatic cord, 

 but sometimes extends upwards, and may even reach the abdominal 



