INFLAMMATION OF THE SPERMATIC CORD. 417 
Prognosis is favourable in as much as life is not threatened, but 
recovery with conservation of the testicle is generally doubtful. Early 
treatment of tuematocele and hydrocele is often successful; complication 
with inguinal hernia renders the condition grave. 
Treatment. Velpeau was the first to employ injections of iodine for 
hydrocele, and they are still used in man. Simple puncture seldom suc¬ 
ceeds. Stephen emptied the tunica vaginalis of a ram fourteen times, but 
it always filled anew; nor was puncture and injection of iodine solution 
more successful. Antiseptic precautions must, of course, be observed. 
When employing this method, the tincture of iodine should be freshly 
prepared, the processus vaginalis emptied of its contents, and the solution 
injected and allowed to remain. Great swelling follows, but subsides 
after six to eight days. 
Castration is more certain if the diseased portions of the spermatic 
cord be removed together with the testicles ; if properly performed, healing 
generally results. Operation must, however, be delayed until acute inflam¬ 
matory symptoms have disappeared. In castrating four sucking-pigs 
affected with periorchitis and hydrocele, Hess lost two; it was remark¬ 
able that of five of a litter, four suffered from hydrocele. 
Varicocele, or cirsocele, consists in abnormal dilatation and lengthen¬ 
ing of the veins of the spermatic cord. It is commonest in old animals, 
but only exceptionally calls for treatment; it is usually only discovered 
on castration, and even then requires no particular precautions. Aneu¬ 
rysmal varix has been observed in oxen, the spermatic arteries emptying 
into the spermatic veins. The dilatation of the plexus pampiniformis, 
associated with varicocele, is sometimes so severe that the scrotum appears 
as much enlarged as in inguinal hernia, or in the above described con¬ 
ditions. Aneurysmal varix is sometimes denoted by pulsation in the 
scrotum, or the passage of blood under the skin may be felt; both 
symptoms disappear, however, immediately the scrotum is compressed 
above ; Meyer was able to feel the artery. Castration is the only treat¬ 
ment, and care is required to prevent rupture of the greatly distended 
vessels : the vessels can either be ligatured with stout cord, or clams 
employed. 
YIIL—INFLAMMATION OF THE SPERMATIC CORD. 
SCIRRHOUS CORD. FUNICULITIS CHRONICA. 
On account of its sheltered position the spermatic cord rarely becomes 
inflamed, unless the scrotum be opened, though bruising or hyper- 
extension may produce acute inflammation and hsematocele. It has 
already been stated that chronic inflammation may occasion hydrocele. 
But none of these diseases compare in frequency with scirrhous cord, 
E E 
v.s. 
