424 
THE DISEASES OF THE PROSTATE GLANDS. 
[Mr. PERCIVALL, in the third volume of his Lectures, gives a very 
satisfactory account of the anatomy and functions of these organs, 
but we are not aware of any British author who speaks of the 
diseases to which they are occasionally liable. Is it that these 
diseases are of very rare occurrence 1 I never met with a case in 
the horse, or in cattle. In the dog I have seen inflammation 
and enlargement of these glands more than once, but it was at a 
period of my practice, when full employment during the day 
leaves to few of us either the time or the inclination to keep a 
faithful record of passing events. We repent this when it is too 
late. Neither Hurtrel D’Arboval in his Dictionary, nor Vatel 
in his “ Elements of Veterinary Pathology,” makes the slightest 
mention of it. The latter gentleman, however, has inserted a 
fugitive essay on the subject in the “ Journal of Veterinary 
Medicine;” and M. Leblanc, to whom both the French and the 
English veterinarian are much indebted for the record of many 
an unusual and interesting case, has enriched another journal 
with a history of a somewhat similar one. An abridged account 
of them may be useful. — Y.] 
On Inflammation of the Prostate Glands. 
By M . Vatel. 
Although inflammation of the prostate glands is a disease of 
rare occurrence in the human being, it is occasionally seen in our 
domesticated animals. It assumes sometimes an acute, and, at 
others, a chronic form. Its most frequent cause, in the human be- 
ing, is inflammation, acute or chronic, of the canal of the urethra. 
It sometimes is the result of a blow or a fall; at other times 
it owes its origin to calculi in the body of the gland. The 
disease is first announced by tenesmus, and the frequent desire to 
void urine. The attempts to discharge the faecal matter sadly in- 
crease the pain — the gland increases in size : on introducing the 
finger into the anus, the tumour which is formed can be readily 
felt, and pressure on it gives excessive pain. The evacuation of 
urine is rendered more and more difficult by the pressure on the 
urethra ; and, if the sound is applied, it is passed with difficulty, 
and occasions much torture wdien the instrument arrives at the 
situation of the prostate. These symptoms are accompanied by 
acceleration of the pulse — increased heat of the skin — constipa- 
tion — thirst — and impaired appetite. 
It may be concluded that suppuration will take place in the 
gland, when there is no diminution of the symptoms nor any di- 
minution of the obstacle to the passage of the urine. When the 
suppuration has commenced, there are usually occasional slight 
shiverings, and the pulse becomes more developed and softer. At 
