Azoospennie from Systemic Disease 137 



trodiicing an exploratory trocar and withdrawing a portion of 

 the contents. 



The handling of hydrocele is not usually highly successful. 

 Sometimes good results maj' be had b}' aspirating the fluid and 

 injecting tincture of iodine or Lugol's solution into the cavity. 

 When these measures fail, a radical cure of the local disease may 

 be brought about by castration, the covered method being used. 

 When the hydrocele is dependent upon a general constitutional 

 malady, with dropsy of the abdomen, there is, usually, no suc- 

 cessful method of treatment. 



5. Torsion of the testicles, it is claimed, operates at times to 

 cause their atrophy and inhibit the formation of spermatozoa 

 because of interruption of their nutritive supply. The reversal 

 of the testicle of the stallion, so that the tail of the epididymis 

 is turned forward, is alleged to interfere with fertility. Such a 

 result from this slight and common displacement is, probably, 

 purely mythical. It is well known that emasculation can be 

 produced in ruminants by the process known as double subcu- 

 taneous torsion, in which the testicles are twisted and turned 

 upside down in a manner which interrupts their vascular supply 

 and induces atrophy, with disappearance of sexual desire and 

 power. 



C. AZOOSPERMIE FROM Sy.STEMIC DISEASE. 



I. Debilitating Diseases and Overwork. Any constitu- 

 tional disease which produces profound depression of the general 

 system is usually accompanied by suspension of the powers of 

 reproduction. Most serious constitutional disorders not only de- 

 stroy the sexual desire for the time being, but also prevent the 

 formation of spermatozoa and thus lead to essential sterility dur- 

 ing the period of the existence of the disea.se. In some acute 

 fevers, the sexual powers are not in complete abeyance and male 

 animals affected with a disease accompanied by a high fever may 

 be fertile. In one ca.se, we observed a, stallion affected with 

 brustseuche, with a temperature of 107° F., which, in spite of 

 the very high fever, served a mare and successfully impreg- 

 nated her. 



In chronic debilitating diseases, there is sometimes seen a 

 tendency to sterility, especially in the constitutional bone dis- 



