CAUSES.—­The causes of this condition of the veins of the bag are very numerous.  Some of the most important are Masturbation or excess, causing weakening of all the parts, the veins included; Falls, Blows, Strains, Excessive Horseback and Bicycle Riding, Running, Jumping, Mumps going to the Testicles, Gonorrhoeal Inflammation settling there, Kick in the Groin, Wearing of Improper Trusses, etc., etc.  Masturbation is one of the most common of all the causes.  In many instances, even if it does not directly cause the complaint, it weakens the parts, so that blows, strains, etc., that in others would not produce any particular trouble, readily cause it in these persons.

SYMPTOMS.—­The symptoms are not many unless it has caused seminal weakness and lost vitality, in which case all the symptoms of these complaints may really be attributed to the Varicocele.  Pains in the Groin, Limbs and Back; a sense of weight or dragging; Neuralgia of the Testicles, Fetid Perspiration; Itching and peculiar sensations in the Skin of the Bag; Chafing in warm weather; easy tiring under rapid walking or running, are not uncommon.  In some very bad cases, however, none of these symptoms, or only a few, are present.  Why, we cannot say.

PROGNOSIS.—­In itself this disease is not dangerous.  It is from the fact that the veins may go on bulging until an enormous swelling is produced (we have seen cases where the bag hung as low as the knee and was nearly as large around as a man’s arm); that the testicles may be entirely wasted away, and that it may cause Spermatorrhoea, Lost Manhood, Total Impotence, &c., &c., constitute its greatest gravity.

TREATMENT.—­Cutting and tying operations are exceedingly dangerous, having frequently caused death; and even if successful, the testicles, having their blood supply thus entirely cut off, waste away, and Impotence certainly results.  Prof.  Chevillot, the great French surgeon, was assassinated by a patient, in whose case he tied the veins on both sides for a double Varicocele.  Becoming totally impotent, on the very eve of his marriage with a beautiful and accomplished young lady, this man became desperate and attempted the surgeon’s life.

To effect a cure, the following obstacles must be overcome: 

Weakness and bulging of the walls of the veins.

Weakness and relaxation of the dartos muscle of the scrotum.

Over-clogging and stagnation of blood in the veins.

Healing and strengthening of the ruptured and relaxed valves of the veins.

Relief of the pressure and weight of the column of blood from above.

Suspensory Bandages are good, because they act as supports.

Astringent and Tonic Washes are good, because they strengthen the weakened veins and muscles and heal the relaxed valves.

Proper Trusses are good, because they break the great pressure of the blood from above, and act as do the valves in the veins in the groin in health.  Also, because they act directly on the disease in cases of Varicocele of the Cord.