Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine [432]
the integument of the penis were torn off, yet the patient recovered with preservation of sexual powers. The patient was a negro of twenty-two who, while adjusting a belt, had his coat (closely buttoned) caught in the shafting, and his clothes and external genitals torn off. On examination it was found that the whole scrotum was wrenched off, and also the skin and cellular tissue, from 2 1/2 inches above the spine of the pubes down to the edge of the sphincter ani, including all the breadth of the perineum, together with the left testicle with five inches of its cord attached, and all the integument and cellular covering of the penis except a rim nearly half an inch wide at the extremity and continuous with the mucous membrane of the prepuce. The right testicle was hanging by its denuded cord, and was apparently covered only by the tunica vaginalis as high up as the abdominal ring, where the elastic feeling of the intestines was distinctly perceptible. There was not more than half an ounce of blood lost. The raw surface was dressed, the gap in the perineum brought together, and the patient made complete recovery, with preservation of his sexual powers. Other cases of injuries to the external genital organs (self-inflicted) will be found in the next chapter.
The preservation of the sexual power after injuries of this kind is not uncommon. There is a case reported of a man whose testicles were completely torn away, and the perineal urethra so much injured that micturition took place through the wound. After a tedious process the wound healed and the man was discharged, but he returned in ten days with gonorrhea, stating that he had neither lost sexual desire nor power of satisfaction. Robbins mentions a man of thirty-eight who, in 1874, had his left testicle removed. In the following year his right testicle became affected and was also removed. The patient stated that since the removal of the second gland he had regular sexual desire and coitus, apparently not differing from that in which he indulged before castration. For a few months previous to the time of report the cord on the left side, which had not been completely extirpated, became extremely painful and was also removed.
Atrophy of the testicle may follow venereal excess, and according to Larrey, deep wounds of the neck may produce the same result, with the loss of the features of virility. Guthrie mentions a case of spontaneous absorption of the testicle. According to Larrey, on the return of the French Army from the Egyptian expedition the soldiers complained of atrophy and disappearance of the testicle, without any venereal affection. The testicle would lose its sensibility, become soft, and gradually diminish in size. One testicle at a time was attacked, and when both were involved the patient was deprived of the power of procreation, of which he was apprised by the lack of desire and laxity of the penis. In this peculiar condition the general health seemed to fail, and the subjects occasionally became mentally deranged. Atrophy of the testicles has been known to follow an attack of mumps.
In his description of the diseases of Barbadoes Hendy mentions several peculiar cases under his observation in which the scrotum sloughed, leaving the testicles denuded. Alix and Richter mention a singular modification of rheumatic inflammation of the testicle, in which the affection flitted from one testicle to the other, and alternated with rheumatic pains elsewhere.
There is a case of retraction of the testicle reported in a young soldier of twenty-one who, when first seen, complained of a swelling in the right groin. He stated that while riding bareback his horse suddenly plunged and threw him on the withers. He at once felt a sickening pain in the groin and became so ill that he had to dismount. On inspection an oval tumor was seen in the groin, tender to the touch and showing no impulse on coughing. The left testicle was in its usual position, but the right was absent. The patient stated positively that both testicles were in situ before the accident. An attempt
The preservation of the sexual power after injuries of this kind is not uncommon. There is a case reported of a man whose testicles were completely torn away, and the perineal urethra so much injured that micturition took place through the wound. After a tedious process the wound healed and the man was discharged, but he returned in ten days with gonorrhea, stating that he had neither lost sexual desire nor power of satisfaction. Robbins mentions a man of thirty-eight who, in 1874, had his left testicle removed. In the following year his right testicle became affected and was also removed. The patient stated that since the removal of the second gland he had regular sexual desire and coitus, apparently not differing from that in which he indulged before castration. For a few months previous to the time of report the cord on the left side, which had not been completely extirpated, became extremely painful and was also removed.
Atrophy of the testicle may follow venereal excess, and according to Larrey, deep wounds of the neck may produce the same result, with the loss of the features of virility. Guthrie mentions a case of spontaneous absorption of the testicle. According to Larrey, on the return of the French Army from the Egyptian expedition the soldiers complained of atrophy and disappearance of the testicle, without any venereal affection. The testicle would lose its sensibility, become soft, and gradually diminish in size. One testicle at a time was attacked, and when both were involved the patient was deprived of the power of procreation, of which he was apprised by the lack of desire and laxity of the penis. In this peculiar condition the general health seemed to fail, and the subjects occasionally became mentally deranged. Atrophy of the testicles has been known to follow an attack of mumps.
In his description of the diseases of Barbadoes Hendy mentions several peculiar cases under his observation in which the scrotum sloughed, leaving the testicles denuded. Alix and Richter mention a singular modification of rheumatic inflammation of the testicle, in which the affection flitted from one testicle to the other, and alternated with rheumatic pains elsewhere.
There is a case of retraction of the testicle reported in a young soldier of twenty-one who, when first seen, complained of a swelling in the right groin. He stated that while riding bareback his horse suddenly plunged and threw him on the withers. He at once felt a sickening pain in the groin and became so ill that he had to dismount. On inspection an oval tumor was seen in the groin, tender to the touch and showing no impulse on coughing. The left testicle was in its usual position, but the right was absent. The patient stated positively that both testicles were in situ before the accident. An attempt