GENERATION. 



although fome anatomifts liavc queflioncd it, probably be- 

 caufe the demonllration is rather difficult. That the nerves 

 of the organ are continued into thefe p?pil!a!, as they are in 

 the tongue, and that the exquifite fenfibility of the glans 

 arifes from this organization, is ratlier matter of probable 

 conjeAure, than the refult of direft proof. The blood-vcf- 

 fels of this cutaneous production are numerous, fo that a 



with the prepuce. It is thin, furnifiied with numerous fc- 

 baceous glands, particularly at the under furface, and marked 

 m that iituation by a ro gh line, called the raphe, running 

 along the middle of the organ, and continued with a fimilar 

 one on the fcrotum. It is darker coloured than the integu- 

 ments in general, and has a few hairs towards the root of 

 the organ. The cellular texture connefting the Hi in to the 



general rednefs is produced by minute injeftions. The op- penis is very loofe, and contains no fat except clofe to the 

 pofed furfaces of the glaus and prepuce ai-e fmeared over pubes ; hence the (kin adapts itfelf with the greateft facility 

 with a white, friable, and untluous lubftance, of a very pe- to the varying bulk of the organ, falling into wrinkles in the 



cuhar odour, moiftening the parts and preventing the efFefts 

 which might otherwife foUov/ their mutual attrition. In 

 animals there are manifeft glands to fecrete this fubftance, and 

 an appai"atus of glandular ftrudlure deftined to the fame 

 office has been defcribed i.n man. This kind of febaccous 

 matter is formed in other fituations of-the body by peculiar 



collapfed ft^te, and extended more fmoothly in the erected 

 condition. It is continuous with the cellular fubibnce of 

 the fcrotum, groins, and pubes, and air palTes readily between 

 them. Towards the furface of the corpus cavemofum it 

 becomes more dcnfe, and affumes the form of a regular mem- 

 branous covering ; it is more and more loofe towards the 



he 



properties of that fluid, would be immediately overturned denfe, cellular, elongated, and flattened band, proceed- 

 by the faft, that a fimilar depofition occurs under the pre- ing from the front of the fymphyfis pubis, running along 

 putium chtoridis of the female, where the urine could not the cellular tifTue of the oro-an, and expanded under the fldn. 



form it. Although in many fubjefts no glands can be feen. Its limits and figure are not very determined, and the knife 



they are occafionally obvious enough, and are now univer- "f •'-- j^t. r\_ r. ■ n ... 



fally admitted, under the name of glandule odoriferae. 



Morgagni, in his Adverfaria, has given a very particular de- 



fcription of them, and HaUer confirms his ftatements. They 



are hardifh, white, and very fmall bodies, particularly ob 



fervable about the corona glandis, and in the channel behind 



of the diffeftor cften influences its fize and appearance. 



The prepuce or forc-fldn is a loofe fold of the cutaneous 

 covenngof the penis, continued over the glans, without ad- 

 hering to it, and affording a more or lefs complete covering 

 to^the^ extremity of the penis, [ts length varies in different 



ind mdividuals ; fometimes it is produced confiderably in front 

 Ifo of the glans, and its opening is then generally fmall. Its ex- 



that part, where the prepuce is reflefted. Morgagni alio ui uue gians, anc us opening 



mentions them near the frenum in the prepuce. " I have ternal furface offers the fame ftrufture and appearance as th;> 

 feen," fays Haller, " five rows of them in the corona, but integuments covering the body of the penis, and is fmcoth 

 their number diminilhed towards the frenum,' fo that no more or wrinkled, according to the (late of the organ. The inner 

 than two rows could be feen."' They can be obferveJ moft furface, much fofter to the touch, is in contaA with the 

 advantageoufly when the cuticle has been removed. That glans, to which it has a membranous attachment below, 

 the orifices of thefe bodies can be feen, and their febaceous termed the frenum. The latter is continuous, on one fide, 

 contents fqueezed out, is not fo clearly afcertained ; but with the internal membrane of the prepuce, and fixed, on 

 both thefe fads are affi.-rted by competent witnefles. They the other, to the fmall longitudinal groove whicli we have 

 may be rendered more evident when enlarged in difeafe ; and defcribed in the under part of the rrlans ; and it ends in this 

 might be miftaken for venereal pimples, if their fym.metri- fituationby a prominent hne fixed to the very opening of the 

 cal arrangement did not throw light on the appearance, urethra. The frenum limits the extent to which the rctrac- 

 That the matter fecreted by thefe glands accumulates under tion of theprcpuce can be carried ; but allows the organ either 

 the fore-fliin, in the form of a white, foft, and greafy fub- to be brought'fufficientlv forwards to cover the whole glans, 

 Itance, where the necefiar)' attentions to perfonal cleanlinefs or to be carried backwards fai- enough to expofe ils whole 

 are neglected, and that in hot weatlier, it may become acrid furface. In the latter fliate the frenum is on the itretch, and, 

 and irritatmg, fo as to produce excoriation and even ulcera- if the prepuce be moved forcibly in this direction, it ma\- 

 tion, are well known fadts. The inhabitants of warm cli- even be corn, as in coition : this accident is partieularly 

 mates are chicly expofed to thefe inconveniences, and the likely to occur, if the (hortnefs of the fold allows only a 

 mofl; important advantage of circumcifion confifts in its ob- partial expofure of the glans. Such a difpofition of parts 

 viating fuch accumulations. Hence we knovv that Chriftians, rendering the aCt of copulation painful, might require a fee- 

 living under the burning fun of Senegambia, fubmit to this tion of the frenum. Thebafisofthc prepuce is attached, on 

 operation, and that uncircumcifed Europeans, living in the the infide, to the bafe of the glans, behind which it is reflected 



the fourteenth century, obferved that circunicifion was ufe- tirely back behind the glans ; and, even where it is more 



fultomany others befides Jews and Saracens :" propterea contrafted, much larger than the orifice of the urethra. In 



quod non congregantur fordities in radio balani et caleface- fome cafee its opening is fo fmall as not to allow the retrac- 



rent ipfum.'' Chirurgix, tr. vi. do6tr. ii. p. m. iii. tion of the organ, and even to obllruct the flow of urine ; 



The glans penis pofl'efies a very exquifite fenfibility, par- this conftitutes phymofis : in others, it can be withdrawn' 



ticularly m perfons where it is habitually covered by the pre- but the tightnef? is fo great that it may not be roffible to 



puce; this feehng is only obferved on certain occafions, reltore it ; that is termed paraphjT.iofis.' It has been affcrted 



and is the fource of that phyfical fenfation experienced at of fome races in tlie Eall that the prepuce is iinnfually lon»- 



the expidfion of the feminal fluid. It fwclls and becomes and that this ilrufture particularly favours the accumulation 



firm in the adt of eredtion, as well as the reft of the penis. of the matter fecreted bv the glandulx odoriferje ; fo that 



The cutaneous covering of thepenis is continuous, atone circumcifion has been more efpecially neceffarv on that 

 ■r,d, with that of the fcrotum and pubes, and at the other count. 



Vol. XVI. 



TUe 



