590 DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF GENERATION. 



liable to result. Nevertheless, Gillet, Bezier, Robert, 

 Poincelot, and Mathieu, have amuptated tumours of great 

 volume with success. In my opinion, amputation is only 

 advisable when champignons are of small size, have narrow 

 bases and lower surfaces spreading over the borders of the 

 scrotal wound, with cords but little enlarged. For the 

 operation, the horse is to be secured the same as for castra- 

 tion ; the external wound is then to be dilated by incisions 

 in front and behind; the base of the champignon to be 

 isolated by dissection ; and fluted clams, containing, if it be 

 thought necessary, some bichloride of mercury, applied. On 

 the second or third day the clams may be removed, and the 

 champignon cut ofi", without fear of hemorrhage. In other 

 cases ligature is to be preferred. Indeed, providing there 

 be not evident objections to its use, it may be considered 

 our general remedy. One would not think of applying 

 ligature in a case where the spermatic cord was swollen the 

 entire way up to the ring, or of carrying a ligature so high 

 up as that, even supposing the swelling terminated there; 

 and yet in such a case as this, unless the cord be divided at 

 the ring, the disease is almost certain to return, and proba- 

 bly in a worse form. We must take care that our remedy 

 prove not worse than the disease. Ligature, in point of 

 fact, is applicable only in those cases in which it can be 

 carried above the place of enlargement in the cord; and 

 inapplicable in such as have the enlargement extending 

 beyond the ring, too high to be surmounted by it, with 

 enormous tumefaction upwards as well : here, ligature must 

 necessarily include the scirrhous substance itself, the portion 

 of which still remaining, above it, will rapidly augment and 

 cause death. And when the base of the champignon has 

 acquired a certain volume, the spermatic vessels are found 

 to have become greatly enlarged also, rendering hemorrhage 

 almost certain to happen, indeed almost inevitable. 



Ligature, supposing it to be practicable and advisable, is 

 still not to be employed until inflammation has been subdued, 

 nor without some preparation of the patient. The horse 

 being secured as for castration, an incision is to be made 



