186 
F. MAURI. 
“ The testicular epithelium of the cryptorchid horse re¬ 
tains its embryonic form, especially if the testicle has been 
arrested in the abdominal cavity. In two cases observed, the 
seminiferous canaliculi were lined on their internal face by an 
epithelial covering, formed of two different elements—the 
elongated cells, with vesicular nuclei, resting upon the walls 
by their periphery, having a central extremity more or less 
developed, and very much resembling the coming elements 
of sertoli; rounded cells, with large granular nuclei placed 
between the former, which they deform by their pressure, all 
resembling the seminiferous cells. In the normal testicle, these 
last constitute the important element of the epithelium, or 
that which by its multiplication and proliferation gives rise 
to the spermatoblasts, and consequently the spermatozoa. 
“ In the cryptorchid testicle, the seminiferous cells are, 
as it were, glued in their embryonic form, as a result of the 
arrest of the genital function. It is only on rare occasions 
that they exhibit signs of attempts at proliferation, but the 
formation of spermatoblasts or of spermatozoa never occurs. 
“ The growth of the testicular epithelium of abdominal 
cryptorchidy is scarcely started. Probably it is more ad¬ 
vanced in inguinal cryptorchids. A priori , the supposition is 
even admissible that some testicles, located immediately on a 
level with the inguinal ring, do possess a complete spermato¬ 
genesis. This is an interesting point to elucidate. The con¬ 
nective tissue, more abundant than under normal conditions, 
offer nothing of a particularly interesting character ; it seems 
to have a greater number of interstitial cells.” 
( b ) Inguinal Cryptorchidy .—In this abnormality, the testicle, 
surrounded by its vaginal sheath, has begun its migration 
toward the inguinal tract, but has been interrupted at a vary¬ 
ing height before reaching the inguinal opening. Yet one 
case has been found where it had passed through that open¬ 
ing but without having reached downward into the testicular 
bags, and when the horse was thrown to be castrated it could 
be felt through the scrotum by inguinal exploration. In the 
cases of inguinal cryptorchids upon which I have operated, 
I have always found the testicle larger and firmer than as de¬ 
scribed above. 
