THE MALE GENEEATIVE ORGANS. 433 



cerouSj or non-specific, but a scrofulous form is most 

 frequent. The spermatic cord is liable to certain morbid 

 conditions of its various components. Aneurisms and vari- 

 cose veins are sometimes present, giving rise to swelling, 

 not necessarily of a painful character. These conditions 

 are generally associated under the name varicocele. 



In a specimen before us. Sterility was attributable to 

 fatty deposits around the structures of the cord. It may be 

 due also to morbid changes in the seminiferous passages 

 blocking them up ; and in other cases is attributable to 

 nervous disorder, due to over- excitement of the sexual 

 apparatus. In such cases high feeding, regular exercise, 

 and tonics should be tried, and the animal prevented from 

 the exercise of the generative functions for some time. 

 This derangement is especially liable to occur in young 

 bulls allowed too early to exercise their procreative powers. 



Sometimes on incision into the scrotum in castration 

 a considerable amount of fluid escapes. This dropsy of 

 the vaginal cavity is Hydrocele ; it is not frequent in the ox, 

 and seldom of much importance. 



The penis is liable to injury suh coitu, which interferes 

 with its protraction or retraction. The rapid perform- 

 ance of the act in cattle rather predisposes to this. 

 Generally the parts are restored to their healthy state 

 after a short period of inability ; but deposits may give 

 rise to permanent deformity. 



Such injuries predispose to Cancer of the organ, which 

 is occasionally seen in cattle. Cases of this kind are 

 given in the ^ Yeterinarian,^ vol. xii, p. 51, and the 

 ' Veterinary Eecord,^ vol. iii, p. 232. They may neces- 

 sitate amputation of the glans or of a still larger portion of 

 the organ. This is performed by casting the animal, 

 drawing out the penis, passing a sound along the urethral 

 passage, and retaining it in position by a ligature tightly 

 compressing the organ posteriorly to the seat of amputa- 

 tion. A circular incision must then be made on to the 

 sound all round, and the ligature be left on for a day or 

 two, the sound also remaining in position to keep open the 

 urethral passage. 



28 



