A memoir on stricture of the urethra / by John P. Mettauer.

  • Mettauer, John Peter, 1787-1875.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A memoir on stricture of the urethra / by John P. Mettauer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    which have passed under my treatment, were distinguished by an abiding catarrh, that only abated with the cure of the stricture. Pain of the back, or weakness, not unfrequently termed weariness by patients; pain of the hips, groins, along the insides of the thighs and knees, is also often an attendant. In some cases, too, the testes become painful, swollen and tender. Smarting or burning sensations are often felt in the glans penis, or along the penis itself, which, occasionally extend to the fundament. Troublesome erections of the penis, especially during sleep,.with or without seminal emissions; or the erections are entirely defi- cient—are also often present as symptoms. The urethra itself is often affected with pain, itching, sensations of heat and throbbing. An increased secretion of mine, or the frequent desire to void if, without an increase in the quantity secreted, also often attend. The qualities of the urine are likewise materially changed. Even a disposition to calculous formations is often an attendant of stric- ture. And these symptoms progressively increase in intensity as the disease advances. Local Symptoms. The earliest appreciable symptom under this head is a forking, or unusual twisting of the stream of urine. Very soon, however, after the stricture commences, the force as well as the size of it is perceptibly diminished ; and with such changes of (he stream, post mining dribbling is generally associa- ted—one of the most anoying symptoms of the disease. Indivi- duals, too, can generally discover in the early stage,a slight puru- loid discharge from the uiethra, especially when pressure is made along its course towards the meatus. This discharge, however, is not always to be met with ; and in some instances it is only mu- cus slightly changed. As the stricture increases in closeness, the stream lessens in size, as well as weakens in force, but retains the forked or twisied appearance, or becomes scattering. When the stricture is below the bulb, the stream is more bold than if situated at or near the orifices of the fassa navicularis. The nearer it is to the meatus, the more feeble will be the force of the stream. Even in very close strictures, the stream will be bold in proportion to their depth in the urethra. Generally, how- ever, the stream is small and feeble in these examples. It is when the stricture becomes very close, that patients experi- ence occasional temporary interruptions to the How of urine, a- mounting in some instances to retention. In most of these case.-, the obstruction is di[e chiefly to spasm, or temporary engorgement of the strictured parts, and not to actual closure of the stricture it- self induced by constipation, diarrhoea, imprudence in eating or drinking of ardent spirits, the use of stimulating diuretics, riding