592 DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF GENERATION. 



by caustic. The horse was in the state of exhaustion and marasm afore 

 described. Ligature was attempted, but slipped off from not being got 

 high enough. Several different times it was tried to plunge an iron, 

 white-hot, into the cord, previously denuded of its softer parts by means 

 of a section of elder-wood, which served as a director ; but it destroyed 

 only some softer portions, and there was apprehension of inflammation 

 ensuing. Profiting by the cavity that had been made by the cautery, 

 we introduced into it a piece of caustic potash, and confined it with a 

 plug of tow ; surrounding the cord with tow besides, to protect it against 

 any caustic droppings, the tow being confined by sutures. The animal 

 was kept upon his back for a quarter of an hour, which was deemed 

 requisite to give the caustic time to combine with the tissues. Three 

 days afterwards an abundant suppuration brought away the plugs of 

 tow. Reduction of the enlarged cord followed, and suppuration ended ; 

 but for a year and a half afterwards, working and living well all the while, 

 the horse continued very thin. Nothing could be felt along the cord. 



Fistula of the scrotum^ having cicatrized or inverted edges 

 and discharging an ill-conditioned purulent matter, now and 

 then accompanies the enlargement of the cord. In other 

 cases abscess forms. This requires opening the moment it 

 points : such having been known to open inwards^ and 

 destroy life. 



The following case shows to what enormity of bulk, 

 neglected scirrhus of the cord, and spread of the disease to 

 the scrotum and sheath, may in time give rise. 



Mr. Megginnis, V.S., Horsham, sent a tumour for examination to the 

 Veterinary College weighing 29 lbs., which, during life, swung between 

 the horse's thighs from side to side, like a cow's udder ; and yet, large 

 as it was, it did not interfere with the act of staling. The horse was de- 

 stroyed on account of it in his fourteenth year. Mr. Megginnis knew him 

 when but three years old, " at which time he had the appearance of being a 

 rig, and there was always a discharge from the scrotum. For some time, 

 the enlargement was not greater than an egg ; it subsequently increased 

 to the size of a cricket-ball." After four years more, " being better fed 

 and not so much worked, the swelling began gradually to augment more 

 perceptibly; but it did not affect his health," he being regularly hunted. 

 — " The wound would occasionally cease discharging for a few days, and 

 then break out in a fresh place ; and so it continued up to the time the 

 horse was killed." "Lately, he began to lose his cheerful look and condi- 

 tion, and to^be rather tucked up, and to lose flesh," and, at last, to be in 

 pain ; on which account his owner had him killed. 



