The Epididymis 75 



2. The Epididymis 



The epididymis and scrotal section of the vas deferens are 

 also palpable. The commonest point for the lodgment of 

 chronic infections is in the tail of the epididymis which 

 should be examined accordingly with special care. 



In the stallion, bull, and perhaps other males, there is a 

 tendency towards the obliteration of the peritoneal sac of 

 the scrotum due to adhesions between the parietal and vis- 

 ceral layers of peritoneum. This lessens or destroys the mo- 

 bility of the gland within its peritoneal sac but the very loose 

 areolar fascia between the cremaster and the dartos and 

 skin leave the testicle, with the adherent parietal peritoneum 

 and the closely applied cremaster, movable within the dartos. 

 The adhesions between the two peritoneal layers are not 

 very readily diagnosed and accordingly careful search should 

 be made. 



The size of the penis is not generally of clinical import- 

 ance, but it is occasionally so large in the stallion that it im- 

 perils the vagina of the mare. This can be best determined 

 by bringing a mare into the presence of the stallion and 

 causing complete erection, when the examiner can make a 

 reasonable estimate of the safety or danger when mated 

 with a mare of a certain size. In some cases urethral hemor- 

 rhage follows coitus so that it is essential to cause the ani- 

 mal to copulate in order to render the examination effective. 



An examination of the relaxed penis of the horse may be 

 made by passing the hand up through the sheath into the 

 prepuce and grasping the glans firmly behind the corona. 

 By exerting moderate traction, sometimes for several min- 

 utes, the retractor muscle becomes fatigued and the penis 

 can be completely exposed and examined. If the organ is 

 moist and not readily grasped with the hand, the hold may 

 be rendered secure by wrapping the penis in a dry towel or 

 a piece of gauze. 



The S-curved penis of ruminants cannot ordinarily be ex- 

 amined satisfactorily while the patient is standing. Copula- 

 tion is virtually instantaneous so that only a hurried glance 

 can be had at such times. The sheath is so narrow that the 



