In cases of Varicocele of the Cord (one of the most dangerous of all
forms), the veins in the bag are not affected, the trouble being mostly
in the groin (in the canal through which the veins run), where the
swollen and knotted veins press upon and seriously injure the cord,
preventing the free flow of Vital Fluid, and thereby causing Impotence,
Wasting of the Testicles, etc. A dull, heavy, aching or dragging pain in
the groin, back or legs, is about the only symptom.
The great danger of this form of Varicocele lies in the fact that
thousands of young men are going about to-day not knowing that they have
the disease; not knowing that a persistent evil is nestling in this
little canal, gnawing at their vitals, and slowly but surely undermining
and destroying their sexual vigor and manhood.
We know this to be so because we are daily being consulted by men of
different ages, who, until our physician, in the course of the
examination, showed it to them, _never suspected its existence_. Many
of these men had been "doctoring" for years for seminal weakness and the
like, with varying success, never being quite cured, or, if cured, soon
relapsing--all because a Varicocele of the Cord existed unsuspected and
therefore untreated.
{Illustration: Fig. 11.
COMPLETE INSTRUMENT.
Showing mobility at points so that it will fit any individual.}
{Illustration: Fig. 12.
SIDE VIEW.
Showing Bell Spring, Pad and Pubic Shield.}
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.
But neither one alone will cure a really serious case of Varicocele.
Combine them, however, properly and scientifically, so that you have the
practical outcome of these three sound principles of cure in the one
appliance, and
ANY CASE, NO MATTER HOW SEVERE OR HOW OLD, CAN BE PERMANENTLY AND
PAINLESSLY CURED.
Such a perfect and practical combination is to be found in the Elastic
self-adjusting and adjustable Cradle and Compressor, which has succeeded
in curing many very serious and (apparently) hopeless cases. Patented
and thoroughly protected from all infringements and imitations (and many
would-be ones, seeing our success and recognizing the merits of the
Cradle-Compressor, have lately sprung up), both in this country and
Europe, there is nothing like it. It combines all the good points of all
previous instruments, and being easy to wear, rapid and pleasing in its
results, and certain in its effects, is the only rational means for
radically curing this disease.
Briefly: It consists of a very light and elastic triangle of tempered
steel bands, that rests on the front of the abdomen, and is held in
place by a soft silk-elastic waist-band. In each of the slanting arms of
the triangle are small holes that admit the central pivot of a bell-pad,
having a central spring, and so adjusted that it adapts itself to every
movement of the body without being misplaced. By means of a thumb-screw
and the perforations, it (the spring bell-pad) can be set at any point
in the groin, and can be changed from day to day and hour to hour.
{Illustration: Fig. 13.
INSTRUMENT ON BODY.
_a. a._ Transverse Steel Band; _b. b._ Elastic Waist Belt;
_c. d._ Metallic Arms, perforated to permit change of pad pressure;
_e._ Pubic Shield to which Elastic Cradle is attached; _f._ Bell
Spring Pad.}
By means of pivotal joints at the angles, the appliance can be made
to fit any one perfectly; moreover, by means of the metallic shoulder
below, the arms can be thrown into any lateral variation of the groin
line.
We thus are able to obtain all the marked benefits of a truss without
any of its drawbacks; and that special disadvantage, steady and
wearisome pressure at one point, is wholly obviated. The whole appliance
is held in place below by means of perineal tubular rubber bands that
connect with the waist-belt behind.
Attached to the metallic shoulder below is the Elastic, Glove-Fitting,
Self-Adjusting Testicle-Cradle, by means of which not only are the
testicles perfectly supported and rested, but by the sheet-rubber lining
and the elastic tie bands, a constant, easy and perfectly painless
elastic pressure is kept up on the dilated and sagging veins, which are
thereby emptied of their unhealthy and stagnated blood and allowed to
regain their tone, strength and contractility.
By means of the elastic bands it is easy to regulate the amount of
pressure, thereby constantly adapting it to the improvement that is
steadily taking place.
The compression is so uniform, yet so elastic, that it is absolutely
painless, and no motion of the body, however violent, can disarrange it.
This, and the fact that the blood can enter and leave the testicle with
perfect freedom, constitute some of its most marked advantages over the
Truss.
Moreover, the wearer always feels a sense of rest and relief while
wearing the Elastic Cradle-Compressor, and from the first day the
symptoms of weakness and impotence improve. Being made in different
sizes and shapes, and of the most durable yet softest silk, and powerful
yet yielding elastic, they will wear perfectly until long after the
Varicocele has entirely disappeared.
{Transcriber's Note:
The left edge of this page was partially illegible. Words and letters
in braces { } are conjectural; all came at the beginning of a line.}
{Illustration: Fig. 14.
ELASTIC TESTICLE CRADLE,
{Deta}ched from Compressor, and showing its appearance
{when} worn singly. It is lined inside with sheet rubber, and
{the t}ie cords are of the very best French elastic. The bag
{cover} is of the finest knit silk.}
While it compresses the Varicocele, forces out the blood, and allows the
veins a chance to regain their strength and proper size again, it simply
supports and keeps from injury the testicle, which at once begins to
grow larger. In addition to their curative value in Varicocele, they are
now being extensively used by the medical profession for the relief of
the pain and subduing of the inflammation of "swelled testicle;" also in
hydrocele and hæmatocele.
Being applied over the whole scrotum, they will cure a Double as readily
as a Single Varicocele.
In certain recent or simple cases the Elastic Testicle-Cradle alone will
effect a perfect cure. If the case is severe or of long standing, if it
involves the Cord, or if the sexual organs are affected, the complete
instrument should be worn.
It is beautifully made and finished, and is strong and durable, yet
light and easily worn.