of the urethra which, had been destroyed. 307 
in the urethra. In neither, however, of the cases which he 
has related, was the breach so extensive, nor did it occupy 
the whole canal. The second case, related in page 207, ap- 
proaches nearer to Whitaker's than the first. In this in- 
stance the opening was anterior, but close to the scrotum ; 
and Mr. Cooper availed himself of this circumstance in ef- 
fecting a cure ; a portion of the skin of the scrotum was 
partially detached, and turned over so as to cover the opening, 
the callous edges of which were previously pared away. The 
operation in this case differed materially from the one which 
I performed ; for in Mr. Cooper’s case, the raw surface was 
turned towards the urethra, whilst in mine the canal was 
wholly formed of a previously cicatrized smooth surface, 
which had undergone its utmost degree of contraction before 
it was employed to form the canal. 
The fact I conceive is new, that, from a cicatrix of common 
integuments, a canal may be formed capable of conveying so 
acrid a fluid as urine, and of fulfilling all the functions of a 
healthy urethra, without being liable to any subsequent varia- 
tion in its calibre. It is important, also, in throwing some 
light on the still disputed question of the muscularity of 
the urethra ; for since the patient quitted my care, he has 
more than once indulged in sexual intercourse ; and he 
assures me, that the jet of semen is as forcible as before 
the accident. When we consider that nearly, if not entirely, 
the whole of the ejaculator seminis must have sloughed away 
with the portion of the urethra which perished, and that an 
interval of above an inch of common integument at present 
exists between the two portions of the meatus urinarius, it is 
difficult to account for this phenomenon. It is probable, that 
mdcccxxi. R r 
