THE MALE GENERATIVE ORGANS 281 



testicle is well down in the scrotum the animal may be 

 valuable as a stock-getter ; if, however, both are in the 

 inguinal region and neither in the scrotum, the probability 

 is greatly against the procreation of stock, although the dog 

 or cat may mate satisfactorily. Finally, if neither testicle 

 can be seen or felt — i.e., if both testes are in the abdomen 

 — the prospect of the dog becoming a sire is exceedingly 

 remote — in fact, practically nil. 



When examined microscopically after removal, it is not 

 rare to find spermatozoa in testicles which have remained in 

 the lower part of the inguinal canal, but in those taken from 

 the upper part and in those taken from the abdomen this 

 is exceptional. Fertility, however, depends upon many 

 things, including the number and state of maturity of the 

 spermatozoa ; the actual presence, therefore, of a few 

 specimens in the semen removed from a testicle does not 

 necessarily imply power to propagate species. 



Retained testicles in the dog or cat, as is also the case 

 with the human subject and with the horse, are liable to 

 disease, and it is not infrequent to find them enlarged and 

 affected with carcinoma or sarcoma. 



In this connection the following case reported by Mr. W. Pauer, 

 M.R.C.V.S. {Veterinary Record, vol. xvii., p. 88), is of interest : 



The subject, a deer-hound, about nine years old, had had trouble in 

 passing fasces for about twelve months, and during the latter part of 

 the time the rectum had to be emptied artificially every other day. 

 Examination revealed this organ to be dilated so that a round mass of 

 fteces collected about the size of an orange. Any attempt to defaecate 

 caused the patient excessive pain. 



IVIanipulation and examination of the abdomen revealed a hard, round 

 body, the size of a pullet's egg, distinctly loose in the interior ; and as a 

 further examination revealed the absence of one testicle from the scrotum. 

 I concluded that this enlargement was the missing testis. On account 

 of the rectal trouble the dog was destroyed, and 2. post-mortem examina- 

 tion revealed the right testicle to be within the abdomen, cystic and very 

 much enlarged. It weighed 2 ounces, and was examined microscopically 

 by Professor IMcFadyean, who stated that it was carcinomatous. The 

 spermatic cord was twisted about eight times around itself, with the vein 



