462 
A. J. MURRAY. 
PHYMOSIS. 
A CONDENSATION AND TRANSLATION FROM THE “ HANDBUCK 
DER CHIRURGIE,” BY C. H. HERTWIG. 
By A. J. Murray, M.R.C.V.S. 
No description of this condition is given in the only existing 
English work on veterinary surgery, and even in the recent ex¬ 
cellent French work of Peuch and Toussaint it is omitted. As 
fHertwig, however, has not only described phymosis, but the dis¬ 
eased states which sometimes precede and lead up to it, I will 
place his remarks on the subject before the readers of The 
Review. 
When the sheath (prepuce) is contracted in front of the penis, 
so that it cannot be drawn out of the sheath, the condition is 
termed phymosis. Phymosis generally arises from an inflamma¬ 
tory exudation and thickening of the skin at the anterior portion 
of the sheath ; it may be caused by blows, kicks, wounds, etc. It 
may be recognized by the fact that the animal does not draw his 
yard out of his sheath, but urinates in his sheath ; in consequence 
of this there is sometimes a fluctuating swelling of the sheath, 
which by-and-by disappears, through the continual dripping of 
urine from that part. If an examination is made, it will be found 
that the entrance to the sheath is very much narrower than usual, 
and that the skin is thickened, drawn together, and indurated. 
When phymosis is of recent date it may be treated by means 
of poultices and demulcent and anodyne solutions, by solutions of 
potash, or by the use of mercurial or iodine ointment. Some¬ 
times by pushing a sponge into the entrance of the sheath the 
diameter of that part may be gradually widened. Should the 
treatment recommended, however, prove unsuccessful, or should 
the diseased state of the sheath be of old standing, and be found 
to arise from a swollen and indurated state of the skin and cellu¬ 
lar tissue, or from the presence of warts or other diseased growths 
of old standing, the under surface of the sheath must be divided 
longitudinally up to the seat of contraction, so as to enable the 
penis to be drawn out of the sheath and the urine to be discharged 
in the natural manner. The operation should be performed with 
