VETERINARY SCHOOL OF ALFORT. 
399 
dymis, the testicle, or other parts annexed to this organ ? Is the 
animal’s labour — drawing with violent efforts — a sufficient rea- 
son for the appearance of the disease in the inguinal region rather 
than elsewere ? This is one of the numerous secrets in medical 
science which we are not able to unravel. 
Treatment . — The treatment of the testicular engorgements 
should be antiphlogistic at its first appearance, as emollient ap- 
plications and local anodynes; scarifications to the depth of the 
symptomatic oedema; suspensory bandages; warm cloths round 
the region of the kidneys ; warm bathings ; general bleeding, 
particularly if, as it sometimes happens, the fever of reaction is 
very intense. 
With the help of these means we succeed, in some rare cases 
it is true, and obtain a complete resolution of the engorgement. 
Usually, however, little is gained by this treatment but the disap- 
pearance of the exterior symptoms ; or, the symptoms of the acute 
inflammation being affected, the tumour remains with the cha- 
racters that we have assigned to it. 
In this case, the only means of treatment to which we can 
have recourse is the complete extirpation of the tumour — the seat 
of the purulent collections, and the organic transformation. 
Here, however, a question presents itself. The sarcomatous 
engorgement of the testicles being only, as clinical experiments 
have perfectly demonstrated, a precursor sign — the first symptom 
of a general disease — is it proper to have recourse to a very serious 
and non-compromising operation in order to make only one symp- 
tom disappear? 
The question thus put, let us first take into consideration the 
results of the experiment itself, in order better to resolve it. If 
it were well demonstrated that the operation of the extirpation of 
the sarcocele, in the majority of cases, leads to a radical cure of 
the evil, or only to an amelioration in the general state of the pa- 
tient, the question being judged by these facts, there will not be 
any more matter for discussion. But, unfortunately, the assist- 
ance furnished by clinical experience leaves this question in the 
most vague and absolute indecision. Sometimes, in fact, we see 
the operation of the sarcocele attended by the most perfect success, 
and the animals return to their natural state of health delivered 
from a painful tumour which kept them in a continued state of 
fever. At other times, although the operation has been well per- 
formed, and the wound which was necessarily made approaches 
towards cicatrization, there may, nevertheless, remain several 
unpleasant circumstances ; — the head is carried low — the back is 
bowed — the animal has no appetite — and, little by little, glan- 
ders makes its approach, and the patient is lost. 
