Observations on Cystic Disease of the Testicle

Abstract

THERE iS no disease affecting the testicle which appears to be less understood than the Cystic, various opinions being entertained both of its nature and mode of origin.This obscurity has arisen chiefly from the late period of the disease at which the morbid specimens are examined; for, as they are obtained only after an operation which the surgeon delays until considerable disorganisation has takerL place, the pathologist rarely possesses the opportunity of making an investigation in the early stage of the cystic development.Having recently removed a testicle, in which the disease was less advanced than usual, and having with the valuable aid of Mr. John Quekett succeeded in determining the mode in which the cysts are formed, I beg to com- municate the results of these observations to the Society.It is well known, that the cystic disease of the testicle was described by Sir A. Cooper, under the name of the "hydatid disease;" and yet this distinguished surgeon evi- dently supposed that the cysts might be formed of enlarged and obstructed tubuli, for he remarks, "although at first sight they appear to be cysts, yet when traced they are not distinct bags, but send out solid processes by wtich they are connected with other bags."'In this opinion I was dis- posed to concur, the disease appearing to me to be analogous 1 Observations on the Diseases of the Testis, p. 83. XXxvI. 29'X ,: ".'sci+ 'a+di _th-'i-it fr.. a &:f.r ----t dFtvak st 1.54 So.Ga.