PARAPIIYMOSIS. 633 



diseases, or a paralysis sui generis, or from swelling of the glans 

 penis, with protrusion and enlargement of it, arising from an 

 accident or castration ; the sheath forming a tight constriction 

 round it, and preventing its retraction. "The penis paraphy- 

 mosed " (says D'Arboval) " appears protruded out of its sheath 

 to the extent of half a foot, swollen to the size perhaps of a 

 man's thigh, evidently in consequence of effusion into the cel- 

 lular tissue of its envelopes, and is curved in the form of an arc, 

 and knotted from partial circular contractions, which, when 

 excessive, are productive of coldness of the organ. Its ex- 

 tremity, the part most tumefied, turns of a red brown ; violent 

 inflammation accompanies all this, and the consequent pain is 

 extreme. For all there is so much swelling, however, in general 

 the urine gets a passage, though, should the inflammation run 

 very high, and spread to the body of the penis, gangrene may be 

 the result." 



In this country paraphymosis arises from oidema or inflam- 

 mation of an already weakened or paralysed penis, and is 

 usually met with in old geldings, or in young ones when suffering 

 from debility or disease. In the one case the paralysis is usually 

 a permanent condition ; whilst in the other it is temporary, de- 

 pending upon muscular debility, and usually disappearing when 

 the general strength of the animal is restored. Instances are 

 recorded where the pendulous penis has been retiirned into its 

 sheath, and maintained there by firm stitches, and the animal 

 sold as a sound one, the trick not being discovered until the new 

 owner has had possession for a few hours, or even a day or two, 

 when, the sutures giving way, the penis has returned to its former 

 pendulous position. 



Treatment. — For paraphymosis resulting from paralysis, am- 

 putation is the only remedy ; but for the same condition, when 

 arising from accidental causes, or from a state of general debility 

 brought about by disease or other weakening influences, the 

 symptoms of urgency only, namely, the pain, swelling, febrile 

 disturbance, and other associated conditions, demand the practi- 

 tioner's attention. In many instances the swelling will depend 

 upon an cedematous condition of the parts generally ; the sheath 

 will be swollen, forming a constricted neck around the pendulous 

 penis, arresting its circulation to some extent, and finally pro- 

 ducing a tense inflammatory swelling. In cases of general 



