186 Sir Everard Homers observations 
contraction of some of these circular fi >res ; and that per- 
manent stricture was a term applie ! to these parts, when, 
in consequence of inflammation, they became confined to that 
particular state. 
We now find from the annexed Plates, that the lining 
of the urethra is never met with in a contracted state, but is 
thrown into folds by the action of the elastic ligamentous 
covering of the corpus spongiosum, and the swell of the longi- 
tudinal muscular fibres within it ; and when these fibres have, 
by acting through their whole length, reduced the urethra to 
its shortest state, the pressure upon the internal membrane 
is so great, that there is not room for the urine to pass till 
these fibres are relaxed by elongating the whole canal. 
A spasmodic stricture is in reality a contraction of a small 
portion of the longitudinal muscular fibres, while the rest are 
relaxed ; and as this may take place either all round, or upon 
any one side, it explains what is met with in practice, and 
which could not be satisfactorily accounted for ; the mark or 
impression of a stricture sometimes forming a circular de- 
pression upon the bougie, at others only on one side. 
A permanent stricture is where, in consequence of inflam- 
mation, coagulable lymph is exuded, between the fasciculi of 
muscular fibres, and upon the internal membrane, in different 
quantities according to circumstances ; and in the same pro- 
portion diminishing the passage for the urine at that part, or 
completely closing it up. The changes the parts undergo 
in the formation of a permanent stricture, are most satis- 
factorily shown in PL XXII. XXIII. 
In this investigation, Mr. Bauer’s examinations have not 
been confined to the canal of the urethra ; he has, at my 
