86 



HEALTH AND DISEASE 



ORCHITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE TESTICLES 



Inflammation of the glandular substance whose office it is to secrete 

 semen. 



The causes are usually to be found in external violence, inflicted at the 

 time of "service" by kicks, blows, and misdirected efforts in leaping; 

 excessive intercourse, and over-stimulation by artificial food and administra- 

 tion of drugs with a view to 

 exciting the sexual instinct. 

 The disease may involve only 

 one, or both organs. 



Symptoms. A painful 

 swelling of the injured gland, 

 enlargement of the scrotum, 

 a tense glistening appearance 

 of the skin, excessive tender- 

 ness to the touch, febrile dis- 

 turbance resulting in loss of 

 appetite, dulness and depres- 

 sion, straddling gait, pain in 

 the region of the loins, and 

 frequent raising of the hind- 

 legs. In some cases abscesses 

 form in the structure of the 

 gland, and ultimately destroy 

 it as a functionizing organ. 

 There are others in which 



such great violence has been suffered that a portion of the investing 

 membranes and of the common integument are destroyed and eventually 

 slough away. The testicle in this case becomes exposed, in some in- 

 stances necessitating removal. 



Treatment consists in adopting such antiphlogistic measures as will 

 most rapidly ensure reduction of the inflammatory condition of the gland. 

 Assuming that in the majority of animals high feeding has been the rule, 

 it will be prudent to prepare for and administer a bold dose of aloes. 

 The diseased testicle should be slung and the whole scrotum surrounded 

 by a poultice (fig. 234). Some entire horses are not under sufficient 

 control to enable the attendants to do this, but every effort should be 

 made to carry it out. Antiseptic lotions, containing some cooling and 

 sedative agents, may be syringed upon the parts in animals not otherwise 

 approachable. Great relief will be afforded by the administration of warm 



Fig. 234. Orchitis Testicle Suspended 



