INFLAMMATION OF THE TESTICLE AND EPIDIDYMIS. 
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(2.) INFLAMMATION OF THE TESTICLE AND EPIDI¬ 
DYMIS. ORCHITIS, PERIORCHITIS, EPIDIDYMITIS. 
Inflammation of the testicle is certainly not frequent, though it has 
been seen in different animals. Inflammation of the epididymis, common 
in man during gonorrhoea, is seldom seen in animals. 
Orchitis sometimes results from external violence, from bruises and 
injuries, sometimes from inflammation extending from the urinary 
passages to the spermatic ducts, and thence to the testicles; metastatic 
inflammation of the testicle is met with in pyaemia, glanders, &c. Walraff 
insists on having seen enzootic orchitis with abscess formation in horses 
and oxen, but nothing specific is known of its cause. Ludwig found in a 
horse suffering from brain mischief abscess of both testicles; Knese saw 
a similar affection in pigs. Inflammatory processes and caseous nodules 
have been found in the testicles of tuberculous horses. Hess describes a 
case of tuberculosis of the epididymis in a breeding bull. The end of the 
epididymis formed a swelling as large as a goose’s egg, which was 
distinctly divided from the testicle by a circular depression. 
Symptoms and progress. The first symptom consists in swelling, 
sometimes slow, sometimes rapid, but always very painful, especially in 
acute inflammation ; the gait is, therefore, often straddling, and sometimes 
the pain produces symptoms of colic. The scrotum escapes as long as 
the processus vaginalis remains intact, but, if periorchitis also occur, 
oedema of the scrotum sets in. Infectious orchitis is always accompanied 
by fever. 
Aseptic inflammation of the testicle resulting from bruises generally 
takes a favourable course. Bleeding may certainly occur, and produce 
■ 
haematocele, but the blood seldom fails to be readily absorbed, and normal 
function to be restored. But that form of orchitis conveyed through the 
medium of the urinary organs or produced metastatically often produces 
pus formation or necrosis. The testicle is especially prone to necrosis, as 
is seen after subcutaneous ligation of the spermatic cord for castration. 
In ruminants and horses, calcification and ossification of the testicle have 
also been seen. These processes, however, are not dangerous to life in 
the same degree as pus formation, which readily extends to the spermatic 
cord and produces fatal purulent peritonitis. The commonest result is 
periorchitis, adhesion of the testicle to the tunica vaginalis, or perforation 
outwardly through the skin of the scrotum. Hess saw periorchitis 
plastica haemorrhagica in a sucking-pig and in a stud bull. Periorchitis 
often results in hydrocele or haematocele. 
Treatment. Ptest is very necessary, especially if serious swelling 
interferes with the animal’s movements. In such cases a suspensory 
bandage may be applied. In fresh traumatic orchitis, applications of 
