DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORCxANS. 



By Dr. JAMES LAW, F. R. C. V. S., 



Professor of Veterinary Science, etc., in Cornell University. 



COXGESTIOX AND INFLAMMATION OF THE TESTICLES — ORCHITIS. 



• lu the prime of life, in vigorous liealtli, and on stimulating food 

 stallions are subject to congestion of the testicles, which become 

 swollen, hot, and tender, but without any active inflammation. A 

 reduction of the grain in the feed, the administration of 1 or 2 ounces 

 of Glauber salts daily in the food, and the bathing of the affected 

 organs daily with tepid water or alum water will usually restore them 

 to a healthy condition. 



When the factors producing congestion are extraordinarily potent, 

 when there has been frequent copulation and heavy grain feeding, 

 when the weather is warm and the animal has had little exercise, and 

 when the proximity of other horses or mares excite the generative 

 instinct without gratification, this congestion may grow to actual 

 inflammation. Among the other causes of orchitis are blows and pen- 

 etrating wounds implicating the testicles, abrasions of the scrotum by 

 a chain or rope passing inside the thigh, contusions and frictions on the 

 gland under rapid paces or heavy draught, compression of the blood- 

 vessels of the spermatic cord by the inguinal ring under the same cir- 

 cumstances, and finally, sympathetic disturbance in cases of disease 

 of the kidneys, bladder, or urethra. Stimulants of the generative 

 functions, like rue, savin, tansy, cantharides, and daniiana may also 

 be accessory causes of congestion and inflammation. Finally, certain 

 specific diseases like vial du coU, glanders, and tuberculosis, localized 

 in the testicles, will cause inflammation. Apart from actual wounds 

 of the parts the symptoms of orchitis are swelling, heat, and tender- 

 ness of the testicles, straddling with the hind legs alike in standing 

 and walking, stiffness and dragging of the hind limbs or of the limb 

 on the affected side, arching of the loins, abdominal pain, mani- 

 fested by glancing back at the flank, with more or less fever, ele- 

 vated body temperature, accelerated pulse and breathing, inappetence, 



139 



