DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 



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

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



CONGESTION AND INFLAMMATION OF THE TESTICLES — ORCHITIS. 



In the prime of life, in vigorous health, and on stimulating food stall- 

 ions 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 j^roximity of other horses or mares excite the generative in- 

 stinct without gratification, this congestion may grow to actual inflam- 

 mation. Among the other causes of orchitis are blows and penetrating 

 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 circumstances, 

 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 damiana may also be accessory causes of 

 congestion and inflammation. Finally, certain specific diseases like 

 mal du Go'it, glanders, and tuberculosis, localized in the testicles, will 

 cause inflammation. Apart from actual wounds of the parts the symp- 

 toms of orchitis are swelling, heat, and tenderness 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, manifested by glancing back at 

 the flank, with more or less fever, elevated body temperature, acceler. 

 ated pulse and breathing, inappetence, and dullness. In bad cases the 

 scanty urine may be reddish and the swelling may extend to the skin 

 and envelopes of the testicle, which may become thickened and doughy, 

 pitting on pressure. The swelling may be so much greater in the con- 



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