INFLAMMATION OF THE SPERMATIC CORD. 
423 
termed “ Champignon,” can sometimes be removed by ligature and 
caustics. It is often possible to cut through the growth with a ligature 
or to scrape it away with the finger, though this is not satisfactory 
unless the cause, i.e., the strangulation of the cord by the scrotum 
or processus vaginalis, be at the same time removed. Fig. 175 shows a 
“ Champignon ” formation caused by the protruding spermatic cord being 
strangulated by the scrotal wound. It was removed by ligature three 
months after castration. As a rule, however, it is best to remove the 
lower end of the spermatic cord in the manner above described, otherwise 
scirrhous cord almost always develops. Degive passes a metal rod 
through the swelling after the ecraseur has almost cut through the 
spermatic cord, turns that portion of the cord lying within the ecraseur 
chain once or twice around its long axis, and then completes the opera¬ 
tion. This he terms “ torsion-bornee.” 
When the morbid growth extends as far as the inguinal ring or into 
the abdomen, the inguinal canal may be dilated and the chain of the 
ecraseur passed even into the abdominal cavity. Dollar has successfully 
operated on several cases of scirrhous cord extending as far as the 
inguinal ring, using the ecraseur. He has never had bad results or 
troublesome bleeding, the secret of success being to observe all possible 
antiseptic precautions and to divide the cord very slowly. Cases are on 
record of growths weighing as much as 120 lbs. Necessarily they could 
not be removed. 
Soon after potassium iodide had been proved efficacious in actinomy¬ 
cosis it was tested in the treatment of scirrhous cord. The recorded 
results have been conflicting, probably because scirrhous cord is not a 
specific disease and the organisms producing the changes may not be 
the same in every case, and also because swellings of the cord occurring 
soon after castration may have been mistaken for the essentially chronic 
disease in question. In support of the first contention it may be noted 
that some observers have found scirrhous cord due to malignant growths 
like sarcoma. Frohner records two cases, one of which received 10 
ounces of potassium iodide per os and 6J ounces of sodium iodide intra- 
tracheally, the other nearly 25 ounces of iodide of potassium per os 
within a few weeks. Neither showed any improvement. The first horse 
had to be killed. The second was operated on, and recovered sufficiently 
in three weeks to return home. In seven weeks from operation recovery 
was complete. 
