MALE GENERATIVE SYSTEM 



1939 



met with (p. 1943); in a few of these cases chlamydozoa-hke bodies 

 have been described. Rare cases of urethritis, with black discharge 

 due to the presence of Aspergillus fumigatus, and cases of balanopos- 

 thitis due to monilias, are observed. Neglected strictures are by no 

 means uncommon, and, as we have already stated, one of these ap- 

 parently caused intestinal obstruction and death. Extravasation of 

 urine is not rare — at all events, in Africa — as the result of neglected 

 stricture. Elephantiasis of the generative organs is common in Africa, 

 and in many parts of tropical Asia and America. Hydroceles, 

 chyloceles, hcamatoceles , orchitis, and epididymitis are all common, 

 and bilharziosis has been already noted by us. Epithelioma of 

 the penis is associated with phimosis and the accumulation of 

 irritating secretions, which may cause balanitis. In these circum- 

 stances, if no treatment is carried out, epithelioma may result. 

 Certainly epithelioma of the penis is rare in races in which circum- 

 cision is performed. 



Castration and circumcision are still performed in many tropical 

 countries. As regards the former, it may be restricted to the simple 

 removal of the testes, but more generally the penis also is cut away. 

 This operation is usually performed upon small boys. Circumcision 

 usually takes place about puberty, but in some races it is performed 

 at an early age. It is usually associated with some semi-religious 

 rites intended, in the case of the older boys, to be an initiation to 

 sexual life, as may be found detailed in works upon anthropology. 

 Christopherson has drawn attention to the mutilations performed 

 by the Abyssinians upon their conquered foes in times of war. 

 This consists of a complete castration^ — i.e., the removal of the penis 

 and testes— and, as may be imagined, but few survive such a muti- 

 lation performed on the field of battle. The result of these opera- 

 tions and mutilations is the formation of much scar tissue surround- 

 ing the orifice of the urethrae and the pubes. 



With regard to the breast, we have seen extraordinary, hypertrophy 

 of the male breast. 



ENDEMIC FUNICULITIS. 



Synonyms. — Suppurative phlebitis of the spermatic cord. Sup- 

 purative corditis, Cellulitis of the spermatic cord, Cirsoitis (Pfister). 



Definition. — Endemic funiculitis is an acute specific suppurative 

 inflammation of the spermatic cord, of which the aetiology is not 

 firmly established. 



History. — For many years medical men practising in Ceylon have 

 noticed the occurrence of a peculiar form of acute suppurative 

 inflammation of the spermatic cord, which occasionally takes a 

 true epidemic character, numerous cases occurring within a short 

 period. References to this affection may be found in almost all 

 the medical reports for the colony during the last twenty years, 

 the disease being variously indicated by the name of phlebitis of the 

 cord or corditis. It was considered by some to be of traumatic 

 origin, by others of venereal origin. Some practitioners considered 



