Two cases of hydrocele presenting unusual features / by Frederic Griffith.

  • Griffith, Frederic.
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Two cases of hydrocele presenting unusual features / by Frederic Griffith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    'J of New York. Surgeon, Bellevue Dispensary; Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine. The treatment of hydrocele is established upon such a rational basis that failure to obtain an im- mediate cure by one or other of the recognized methods of procedure may well excite the surgeon’s wonder. The first of two cases in which the writer experienced great difficulty before securing final success was as fol- lows: E., a custom-house clerk, single, aged 23 years. From an unknown cause swelling in the right half of the scrotum took place three years ago. Without the aid of illumination his physician diagnosing hydrocele punctured, and drew off fluid. Sharp pain was felt at the time and the patient was compelled to lie on his back for a week. He has since contended that his testicle was punctured at that time. A year later fluid having reformed, the patient underwent op- eration at a hospital by the open method of incision and gauze packing in the cavity of the tunica. Two weeks later he was discharged with a rapidly granulating wound. A third refilling was taking place when he came under my observation. Examination showed a well healed scar three inches in length extending obliquely toward the apex, upon the right side of the scrotum. Candle illumination demon- strated the presence of clear fluid with the testicle in out- line. By the aid of a trocar and cannula 2 ounces of straw- colored fluid were withdrawn and 5 drops of carbolic acid were injected and diffused over the cavity walls. Closing the site of puncture with cotton and collodion, the scrotum was elevated with a suspensory bandage. The patient contin- ued at work with tenderness from the inflammatory reac- tion lasting 3 or 4 days. The next week, while all pain had passed away, there was apparently fluid still within the sac. Localizing by means of candle light fully an ounce of clear fluid was withdrawn, and carbolic acid injected as before. Reaction occurred as kindly as at first, but within the next