But when an incision is required lower down, then with the man on his back, the left hand is to be passed under the scrotum; next this must be grasped firmly and the incision made. If the disease is small in extent, the incision is limited, so as to leave intact the lower third of the scrotum in order to support the testicle; if more extensive, the incision is prolonged so that just a little is left at the bottom to support the testicle. But the scalpel at first should be held in a very light hand, with its edge vertical to the skin, until the wall of the scrotum has been divided; then the edge is sloped sideways so as to cut across the membranes between the scrotal wall and the middle tunic. And if the disease is in the wall of the scrotum there is no need to touch the middle tunic; if it also lies under the middle tunic, this too has to be cut through, and the inner tunic as well if that covers the lesion. Now wherever the disease is found to be, the assistant should press the scrotum gently upwards; the surgeon either with his finger, or with the handle of the scalpel, separates the middle tunic from its connexion with the scrotal wall, and brings it forwards; then with a knife, called from its shape 'the raven,' he lays it open so that his index and middle finger can enter. With these fingers so introduced the remainder of the tunic should be brought forwards, and the knife inserted in between the two fingers, and any diseased matter taken away or let out. If one of the tunics has been injured it also should be cut away; the middle one, as stated above, as far up as the groin; the inner one to a little below the groin. But before they are cut away, the blood vessels above too should be ligatured with flax thread, the ends of which are to be left hanging out of the wound, as in the case of other blood vessels that have had to be tied. This done, the testicle is to be replaced inside, and the scrotal margins united by stitches, not too few lest the edges fail to unite and the treatment is prolonged, and not too many lest they augment the inflammation. Here also it must be seen to that no blood remains in the scrotum. Then agglutinants are put on. But if at any time blood trickles down into the scrotum, or any clot collects in it, an incision should be made below, and after clearing out the blood, a sponge soaked in strong vinegar is put on. Further, all such wounds made for the above reasons, after having been bandaged up, when there is no pain, should not be dressed until the fifth day, but the wool or sponge is to be saturated sufficiently with vinegar twice a day; if there is pain, and when pins have been inserted they are then to be taken out; when lint has been used it must be changed and the fresh lint wetted with rose oil and wine. Should inflammation increase, to the previously mentioned applications add a plaster of lentils and honey or of pomegranate rind boiled in dry wine, or of the two combined. If the inflammation does not subside under these applications, after the fifth day the wound is to be fomented freely with hot water, until the scrotum itself both shrinks and becomes wrinkled; then apply a wheat flour plaster with pine resin added; which, for a robust patient has been boiled in vinegar, and for a delicate one in honey. Whatever the application used, there is no doubt that if there is much inflammation, suppuratives must be applied. But if pus collects in the scrotum itself, it must be let out through a small incision; and enough lint must be put on to cover the opening. When the inflammation is at an end, for the sake of the cords first the plaster and then a cerate is to be used. Such is the proper treatment of wounds of this sort. For the rest as regards both treatment and diet, these should conform to what has been prescribed for other sorts of wounds.
Si paruolum est, quod nocet, modice, ut tertia pars integra ad sustinendum testiculum infra relinquatur; si maius est, etiam amplius, ut paulum tantummodo ad imum, cui testiculus insidere possit, integrum maneat. Sed primo rectus scalpellus quam leuissima manu teneri debet, donec scrotum ipsum diducat; tum inclinandus mucro est, ut trans⟨uersa membrana⟩ secet, quae infra summam mediamque tunicam sunt. Ac si uitium in proximo est, mediam tunicam attingi non oportet: si sub illa quoque conditur, etiam illa incidenda est, sicut tertia quoque, si illa uitium tegit. Vbicumque autem repertum est malum, ministrum ab inferiore parte exprimere moderate scrotum oportet; medicum digito manubriolou⟨e⟩ scalpelli deductam inferior⟨e⟩ ⟨parte⟩ tunicam extra conlocare; deinde eam ferramento, quod a similitudine coruom uocant, incidere sic, ut intrare duo digiti, index et medius, possint. His deinde * coniectis, excipienda reliqua pars tunicae, et inter digitos scalpellus inmittendus est, eximendumque aut effundendum ⟨quic⟩quid est noxium. Qua⟨m⟩cumque autem tunicam quis uiolauit, illam quoque debet excidere; ac mediam quidem, ut supra dixi, quam altissime ab inguine; imam autem paulum infra. Ceterum antequam excidantur, eae quoque uinciri lino summae debent et eius lini capita extra plagam relinquenda sunt, sicut in aliis quoque [uenis,] quae id requisierint. Eo facto, testiculus intus reponendus est, oraeque scroti suturi⟨s⟩ inter se committendae, neque paucis, ne parum glutinentur et longior fiat curatio; neque multis, ne inflammationem augeant. Atque ⟨hic⟩ quoque uidendum est, ne quid in scroto sanguinis maneat. Tum inponenda glutinantia sunt. Si quando autem in scrotum sanguis deflu⟨x⟩it aliquidue concretum ex eo de⟨s⟩ce⟨n⟩dit, incidi subter id debet, purgatoque eo spongia acri aceto madens circumdari. Deligatum autem uulnus omne, quod ex his causis factum est, si dolor nullus est, quinque primis diebus non est resoluendum, sed bis die tantum aceto inroranda lana uel spongia: si dolor est, tertia die resoluendum, et ubi fibulae sunt, eae incidendae; ubi linamentum, id inmutandum est rosaque et uino madefaciendum id, quod inponitur. Si inflammatio increscit, adiciendum prioribus cataplasma ex lenticula et melle uel malicorio, quod in austeri uino coctum sit, uel ex his mixtis. Si sub his inflammatio non conquieuerit, post diem quintum multa calida aqua uulnus fouendum, donec scrotum ipsum et extenuetur et rugosius fiat; tunc inponendum cataplasma ex triticea farina, cui resina pinea adiecta sit; quae ipsa, si robustus cubat, ex aceto; si tener, ex melle coquenda sunt. Neque dubium est, quodcumque in⟨d⟩itum est, si magna inflammatio est, quin ea, quae pus mouent, inponenda sint. Quod si pus in ipso scroto ortum est, paulum id incidi debet, ut exitus detur; lin⟨a⟩mentumque eatenus ponendum est, ut foramen tegat. Inflammatione finita, propter neruos priore cataplasmate, dein cerato utendum. Haec proprie ad eiusmodi uulnera pertinent. Cetera et in curatione et in uictu similia is esse debent, quae in alio quoque uulnerum genere praecepimus.
20. 20 After this introduction, we come to particular conditions. And if in a young child intestine prolapses, bandaging should be tried before the knife. For this a strip of linen is taken, to one end of which is stitched a ball of rags which is placed on the prolapse itself so as to push back the intestines: then the rest of the strip of bandage is firmly tied all round; under this the intestines are often forced inside and the tunics become agglutinated together. Again, if the patient is older, and the large size of the swelling shows that much of the intestines has come down, and if in addition there is pain and vomiting, which generally happens because faeces from undigested food have slipped down, then it is clearly impossible to employ the knife except harmfully; the trouble can only be mitigated, and must be drawn out by other measures. Blood should be let from the arm, then if the patient's strength permits, fasting for three days should be prescribed, or else at least for as long as the strength allows. Meanwhile a plaster of linseed first boiled in honey wine is to be kept on over the hernia. Later one of barley meal with resin is to be applied, and the patient immersed in a bath of hot water to which olive oil also has been added; after which some light warm food is to be given. Some also employ a clyster; but that can only bring down something into the scrotum, and cannot evacuate anything from it. When by the measures just described, the disease has been mitigated, if at any time pain recurs, the same measures will have to be repeated which we have just found to be beneficial. If without causing any pain, a large amount of intestine has prolapsed, it is useless to operate; not that it is impossible to push back the intestines out of the scrotum, unless inflammation prevents it, but because as they are forced back they may become impacted in the groins and give rise to a swelling, so that the trouble is not ended but only changed in position. But in a case which is suitable for treatment by the knife, as soon as the incision made in the groin reaches the middle tunic, this must be seized near the margins by a couple of hooks, when, after drawing down all the fine membranes the surgeon sets it free. Nor is there any danger in wounding what has to be cut out, since the intestine must lie underneath it. When the middle tunic has been thus drawn down, it is slit open from the groin to the testicle, but so as not to injure the latter; then it is cut away. Generally, however, this treatment is only admissible in boyhood and when the trouble is limited. For a robust man with a more extensive disorder the testicle should not be turned out, but kept in position. The procedure is as follows. The groin is laid open as before down to the middle tunic, and this tunic is seized as described above with two hooks, whilst the assistant keeps the testicle in its place, so that it does not come out of the wound; then the middle tunic is cut into with a scalpel towards its lower part, and through the opening the index finger of the left hand is passed beneath the testicle which is forced up into the wound; then the thumb and forefinger of the right hand separate the vein, the artery and the cord, and their tunic from the one above them. Any little membranes in the way are divided with a scalpel until now the entire tunic comes into view. After cutting away what has to be excised, and replacing the testicle, a rather broad strip is to be pared off from the edges of the wound in the groin, so that by making the wound broader it may form more flesh.
20. His propositis ad singulas species ueniendum est. Ac si cui paulo puero intestinum descendit, ante scalpellum experienda uinctura est. Fascia eius rei causa fit, cui ⟨im⟩o loco pila adsuta est ex panniculis facta, quae ad repellendum intestinum ipsi illi subicitur; deinde reliqua fasciae pars arte circumdatur; sub quo saepe et intus conpellitur intestinum et inter se tunicae glutinantur. Rursus si aetas processit, multumque intestini descendisse ex tumore magno patet, adiciunturque dolor et uomitus, quae ⟨s⟩tercore ex cruditate eo delapso fere accidunt, scalpellum adhiberi sine pernicie non posse manifestum est: leuandum tantummodo malum et per alias curationes extrahendum est. Sanguis mitti ex brachio debet; deinde, si uires patiuntur, inperanda tridui abstinentia est; si minus, certe pro ui corporis quam longissima. Eo uero tempore superhabendum cataplasma ex lini semine, quod ante aliquis ex mulso decoxerit. Post haec et farina hordiacia cum resina inicienda, et is demittendus in solium aquae calidae, cui oleum quoque adiectum sit; dandumque aliquid cibi lenis calidi. Quidam etiam aluum ducunt; id deducere aliquid in scrotum potest, educere ex eo non potest. Per ea uero, quae supra scripta sunt, leuato malo, si quando alias dolor reuerterit, eadem mod⟨o⟩ ualere q⟨uae⟩ n⟨oui⟩m⟨us⟩ erunt facienda. Si⟨n⟩e dolore quoque si multa intestina prolapsa sunt, secari superuacuum est, non quo non excludi a scroto possint, nisi tamen inflammatio prohibuit, sed quo repulsa inguinibus inmorentur ibique tumorem excitent, atque ita fiat mali non finis sed mutatio. ⟨At⟩ in eo, quem scalpello curari oportebit, simul atque ad mediam tunicam uulnus in inguine factum peruenerit, du⟨o⟩bus hamulis ea iuxta ipsas oras adprehendi debebit, cum deductis omnibus membranulis medicus eam liberet. Neque enim cum periculo laeditur, quae excidenda est, cum intestinum esse nisi sub ea non possit. Vbi deducta autem erit, ab inguine usque ad testiculum incidi debebit sic, ne is ipse laedatur; tum excidi. Fere tamen hanc curationem puerilis aetas et modicum malum recipit. Si uir robustus est maiusque id uitium est, extrahi testiculus non debet, sed in sua sede permanere. Id hoc modo fit. Inguen eadem ratione usque ad mediam tunicam scalpello aperitur, eaque tunica eodem modo duobus hamis excipitur sic, ut a ministro testiculus eatenus contineatur, ne per uulnus exeat; tum ea tunica deorsum uersus scalpello inciditur, sub ea index digitus sinistrae manus ad imum testiculum d⟨e⟩mittitur, eumque ad plagam conpellit; deinde dextrae manus duo digiti, pollex atque index, uenam et arteriam et neruum tunicamque eorum a superiore tunica deducunt. Quod si aliquae membranulae prohibent, scalpello resoluuntur, donec ante oculos tota iam tunica sit. Excisis, quae excidenda sunt, repositoque testiculo, ab ora quoque eius uulneris, quod ⟨in⟩ inguine est, demenda habenula paulo latior est, quo maior plaga sit et plus creare carni⟨s⟩ possit.
21. 21 But if omentum comes down, the groin is to be cut into as described above, and the tunics drawn down. Then it must be considered whether the mass is rather large or only small. For when quite small the omentum may be pushed back beyond the groin into the abdominal cavity, either with the finger, or with the opposite end of a probe; if the mass is larger what has prolapsed from the belly should be left hanging out of the wound, and smeared with caustic medicaments until it mortifies and falls off. In this condition too some transfix the tumour with a doubly threaded needle, and tie the two ends of each thread on opposite sides, under which treatment it mortifies, but more slowly. This may, however, be hastened by smearing the omentum beyond the ligature with medicaments which eat it away but do not erode; the Greeks call them septa. Some have cut away the omentum with shears. If it is quite small, this is unnecessary; if larger, bleeding may follow, because the omentum itself is connected with blood vessels, some rather large. And although in the case of an abdominal wound, prolapsed omentum is cut away with shears after it has mortified and there is no other safe way of removing it, no precedent can be drawn from that for this case. As to the treatment of the wound when the omentum has been replaced, it should be stitched; if the quantity was large, and has been left outside to mortify, the margins should be pared as described above. But if a hydrocele occurs, in boys an incision is to be made in the groin, unless in their case too the large quantity of liquid prevents it; in men, and when there is a large amount of fluid, a scrotal incision is made. So then if the incision is in the groin, when the tunics have been drawn forwards the humour must then be evacuated there; if in the scrotum, and if the trouble is immediately beneath, there is nothing to do but to let out the fluid and cut away any membranes which are keeping it in; then the incision is washed with water to which salt or nitre has been added. If the fluid is under the middle tunic, or under the inner one, these tunics have to be brought out of the scrotal wound, and cut away.
21. At si omentum descendit, eodem quidem modo quo supra scriptum est, aperiendum inguen, deducendaeque tunicae sunt. Considerandum autem, maiorne is modus an exiguus sit. Nam quod paruulum est, super inguen in aluum uel digito uel auerso specillo repellendum est; si plus est, sinere oportet dependere, quantum ex utero prolapsum est, idque adurentibus medicamentis inlin⟨e⟩re, donec emoriatur et excidat. Quidam hic quoque duo lina acu tra⟨i⟩ciunt, binisque singulorum capitibus diuersas partes adstringunt, sub quo aeque sed tardius emoriatur. Adicitur tamen hic quoque celeritati, s⟨i⟩ omentum super uinculum linitur medicamentis, quae sic exedunt, ne erodant: septa Graeci uocant. Fuerunt etiam qui omentum forfice praeciderent, quod in paruolo non est necessarium; si maius est, potest profusione⟨m⟩ sanguinis facere, siquidem omentum quoque uenis quibusdam etiam maioribus inligatum est. Neque uero si discusso uentre id prolapsum forfice praeciditur, cum et emortuum sit et aliter tutius auelli non possit, inde huc exemplum ⟨transferendum⟩ est. Vulnus autem curari, si reiectum omentum est, sutura debet; si amplius fuit et extra emortum est, excisis oris, sicut supra positum est. Si uero umor intus est, incidendum est in pueris quidem inguen, nisi in his quoque id liquoris eius maior modus prohibet; in uiris uero et ubicumque multus umor subest, scrotum. Deinde si inguen incisum est, ea protractis tunicis umor effundi debet; si scrotum ⟨et⟩ sub hoc protinus uitium est, nihil aliud quam umor effundendus abscidendaeque membranae sunt, si quae eum continuerunt; deinde eluendum id ex aqua, quae uel salem adiectum uel nitrum habeat; si sub media imaue tunica, totae eae extra scrotum conlocandae excidendaeque sunt.
22. 22 Now a varix, when in the scrotal skin, must be burnt with finely pointed cauteries, which penetrate into the veins themselves, but so that nothing deeper than the veins is burnt; the cautery is to be applied especially where the veins form a twisted mass. Then flour which has been steeped in cold water is put on and over this the bandage I have described as suitable after anal operations. On the third day lentil meal with honey is applied: after the crusts have separated the ulcers are to be cleaned with honey, filled with rose oil, and cicatrized with dry lint. But when the veins overlying the middle tunic swell, the groin is to be incised and the tunic pressed out into the wound; from it the veins are separated by a finger or the handle of the scalpel. But at the part where they are still attached, the veins are to be tied with linen thread both above and below that part; then cut away just beyond the ligatures and the testicle replaced. But when the varix is situated upon the inner tunic, it is necessary to cut through the middle tunic; then, if but two or three veins are swollen and some part only is involved, so that most of it is still free of the disease, the same is to be done as described above, so that the veins after being ligatured on the side of the groin and testicle respectively are cut away, after which the testicle is replaced. But if the varix involves the whole of one testis, the index finger is to be passed into the wound and under the veins, so as to draw them gradually forward, and they must be brought up until the testicle of that side is level with the opposite one. Then pins are passed through the edges so that at the same time they take up the veins as well. It is done in this way: the pin perforates from without through one edge of the wound, then it is passed not through an actual vein but through its membrane, and is pushed out through this to the opposite margin of the incision. There is always a membrane between these veins, and no danger is involved, and when the pin has been fixed by a thread it holds the veins fast enough. Then whatever veins have been drawn forwards should be pushed back within the inguinal wound by the reverse end of the probe. The time to take out the pins is when the inflammation has ceased and the wound has cleaned, so that one and the same scar may bind together simultaneously both the margins of the incision and the veins. But if a varix has developed between the inner tunic and the testicle itself and its cord, there is but one method of treatment, to excise the testicle entirely. For it is now useless for generation, and always hangs down in an ugly way, while it is sometimes painful as well. But in this case also the groin is to be cut into, the middle tunic pressed out and cut away, and the inner tunic likewise. Then the cord by which the testicle is suspended is to be cut through. After this the veins and arteries towards the groin are to be ligatured with linen thread, and cut away below the ligature.
22. Ramex autem, si super ipsum scrotum est, adurendus est tenuibus et acutis ferramentis, quae ipsis uenis infigantur, cum eo ne amplius quam has urant; maximeque, ubi inter se implicatae glomerantur, eo ferrum id admouendum est. Tum super farina ex aqua frigida subacta inicienda est, utendumque eo uinculo, quod idoneum esse ani curationibus posui. Tertio die lenticula cum melle inponenda est; post eiectis crustis ulcera melle purganda, rosa inplenda, ad cicatricem aridis lin⟨a⟩mentis perducenda sunt. Quibus uero super mediam tunicam uenae tument, incidendum inguen est, atque tunica promenda; ab ea uenae digito uel manubriolo scalpelli separandae. Qua parte uero inhaerebunt, et a⟨b⟩ superiore ⟨et⟩ ab inferiore parte lino uinciendae; tunc sub ipsis uinculis praecidendae, reponendusque testiculus est. At ubi supra tertiam tunicam ramex insedit, mediam excidi necesse est; deinde, si duae tresue uenae tument, et ita pars aliqua obsidetur, ut maior eo uitio uacet, idem faciendum, quod supra scriptum est, ut et ab inguine et ab testiculo deligatae uenae praecidantur, isque condatur. Sin totum id ramex obsederit, per plagam demittendus digitus index erit, subiciendusque uenis sic, ut paulatim eas protrahat, eaeque adducendae, donec is testiculus par alteri fiat. Tum fibulae oris sic iniciendae, ut simul eas quoque uenas conprehenda⟨n⟩t. Id hoc modo fit: acus ab exteriore parte ora⟨m⟩ uulneris perforat; tum non per ipsam uenam sed per membranam eius emittitur per eamque in alteram oram conpellitur. Vena uulnerari non debet, ne sanguinem fundat. Membrana semper inter has uenas est, ac neque periculum adfert, et filo conprehensa illas abunde tenet. Itaque etiam satis est duas fibulas esse. Tum uenae, quaecumque protractae sunt, in ipsum inguen auerso specillo conpelli debent. Soluendi fibulas tempus inflammatione finita et purgato uulnere est, ut una simul et oras et uenas cicatrix deuinciat. Vbi uero inter imam tunicam et ipsum testiculum neruumque eius ramex est ortus, una curatio est, quae ⟨to⟩tum testiculum abscidit. Nam neque ad generationem quicquam is confert, et omnibus indecore, quibusdam etiam cum dolore dependet. Sed tum quoque inguen incidendum, media tunica promenda atque excidenda est; idem imae faciundum; neruus, ex quo testiculus dependet, praecidendus. Post id uenae et arteriae ad inguen lino deligandae et infra uinculum abscidendae sunt.
23. 23 Flesh also, if it ever grows between the tunics, must certainly be cut out; but it is better to make an incision through the scrotum itself. But if the cord has become indurated, the condition cannot be cured either by surgery, or by medicaments. For burning fevers and green or black vomit oppress the patients, and besides these great thirst and roughness of the tongue; and generally from the third day frothy bile is passed in a smarting motion. But the patient cannot readily either take food, or retain it; not long after the extremities grow cold, tremor arises, the hands are outstretched involuntarily; then a cold sweating on the forehead is followed by death.
23. Caro quoque, si quando inter tunicas concreuit, nihil dubi est, quin eximenda sit; sed id ipso scroto inciso fieri commodius est. At si neruus in⟨du⟩ruit, curari res neque ⟨manu neque⟩ medicamento potest. Vrguent enim febres ardentes et aut uirides aut nigri uomitus; praeter haec ingens sitis et linguae aspritudo; fereque a die tertio spuma⟨ns⟩ bilis aluo cum rosione redditur. At neque adsumi facile cibus neque contineri potest, neque multo post extremae partes frigescunt, tremor oritur, manus sine ratione extenduntur; deinde in fronte frigidus sudor, eumque mors sequitur.
24. 24 But when there is a varix actually situated in the inguinal region, if it forms a moderate swelling, a linear incision is made, if larger two incisions, and the included skin excised. Then without drawing out the testicle, as I directed to be done for cases of prolapse of the intestines, the veins are to be taken up, and ligatured where they are attached to the tunics, then cut away below the ligature knots. The treatment of the wound presents nothing novel.
24. Vbi uero in ipso inguine ramex est, si tumor modicus est, semel incidi, si maior, duabus lineis debet, ut medium excidatur; deinde non extracto testiculo, sicut intestinis quoque prolapsis interdum fieri docui, colligendae uenae uinciendaeque, ubi tunicis inhaerebunt, et sub his praecidendae sunt. Neque quicquam noui curatio uulneris eius requirit.
25. 25 From the above we pass to operations on the penis itself. And, if the glans is bare and the man wishes for the look of the thing to have it covered, that can be done; but more easily in a boy than in a man; in one in whom the defect is natural, than in one who after the custom of certain races has been circumcised; and in one who has the glans small and the adjacent skin rather ample, while the penis itself is shorter, rather than in one in whom the conditions are contrary. Now the treatment for those in whom the defect is natural is as follows. The prepuce around the glans is seized, stretched out until it actually covers the glans, and there tied. Next the skin covering the penis just in front of the pubes is cut through in a circle until the penis is bared, but great care is taken not to cut into the urethra, nor into the blood vessels there. This done the prepuce slides forwards towards the tie, and a sort of small ring is laid bare in front of the pubes, to which lint is applied in order that flesh may grow and fill it up. It is seen that a large enough part of the penis has been bared, if the skin is distended little or not at all, and if the breadth of the wound above supplies sufficient covering. But until the scar has formed it must remain tied, only a small passage being left in the middle for the urine. But in one who has been circumcised the prepuce is to be raised from the underlying penis around the circumference of the glans by means of a scalpel. This is not so very painful, for once the margin has been freed, it can be stripped up by hand as far back as the pubes, nor in so doing is there any bleeding. The prepuce thus freed is again stretched forwards beyond the glans; next cold water affusions are freely used, and a plaster is applied round to repress severe inflammation. And for the following days the patient is to fast until nearly overcome by hunger lest satiety excite that part. When the inflammation has ceased, the penis should be bandaged from the pubes to the corona; over the glans the plaster is applied with the other end of the probe. This is done in order that the lower part may agglutinate, whilst the upper part heals without adhering. On the other hand, if the glans has become so covered that it cannot be bared, a lesion which the Greeks call phimosis, it must be opened out, which is done as follows: underneath the foreskin is to be divided from its free margin in a straight line back as far as the frenum, and thus the skin above is relaxed and can be retracted. But if this is not successful, either on account of constriction or of hardness of the skin, a triangular piece of the foreskin is cut out from underneath, having its apex at the frenum, and its base at the edge of the prepuce. Then lint dressing and other medicaments to induce healing are put on. But it is necessary that the patient should lie up until the wound heals, for walking rubs the wound and makes it foul. Some have been accustomed to pin up the prepuce in adolescents either for the sake of the voice, or for health's sake. This is the method: the foreskin covering the glans is stretched forwards and the point for perforation marked on each side with ink. Then the foreskin is let go. If the marks are drawn back over the glans too much has been included, and the marks should be placed further forward. If the glans is clear of them, their position is suitable for the pinning. Then the foreskin is transfixed at the marks by a threaded needle, and the ends so this thread are knotted together. Each day the thread is moved until the edges of the perforations have cicatrized. When this is assured the thread is withdrawn and a fibula inserted, and the lighter this is the better. But this operation is more often superfluous than necessary.
25. Ab his ad ea transeundum est, quae in cole ipso fiunt. In quo si glans nuda est, uultque aliquis eam decoris causa tegere, fieri potest; sed expeditius in puero quam in uiro; in eo, cui id naturale est, quam in eo, qui quarundam gentium more circumcisus est; in eo, cui glans parua, iuxtaque eam cutis spatiosior, ⟨breuior⟩ uero ipse coles est, quam in quo contraria his sunt. Curatio autem eorum, quibus id naturale est, eiusmodi est. Cutis circa glandem prehenditur et extenditur, donec illam ipsam condat, ibique deligatur. Deinde iuxta pubem in orbe⟨m⟩ tergus inciditur, donec coles nudetur, magnaque cura cauetur, ne uel urinae iter uel uenae, quae ibi sunt, incidantur. Eo facto, cutis ad uinculum inclinatur, nudaturque circa pubem uelut circulus; eoque linamenta dantur, ut caro increscat et id impleat. * * * satisque uelamenti supra latitudo plagae praestat. Sed donec cicatrix sit, uinctum esse debet, in medio tantum relicto exiguo urinae itinere. At in eo, qui circumcisus est, sub circulo glandis scalpello deducenda cutis ab interiore colest. Non ita ⟨dolet,⟩ quia summo soluto deduci deorsum usque ad pubem manu potest; neque ideo sanguis profluet. Resoluta autem cutis rursus extenditur ultra glandem; tum multa frigida aqua fouetur, emplastrumque circa datur, quod ualentem inflammationem reprimat. Proximisque diebus e⟨i⟩ prope a fame uictus ⟨sit⟩, ne forte eam partem satietas excitet. Vbi iam si⟨ne⟩ inflammatione est, deligari debet a pube usque circulum; super glandem autem auerso * emplastro inposito induci. Sic enim fit, ut inferior pars glutinetur, superior ita sanescat, ne inhaereat. Contra si glans ita contecta est, ut nudari non possit, quod uitium Graeci phimosin ap⟨p⟩ellant, aperienda est; quod hoc modo fit: subter a summa ora cutis inciditur recta linea usque ad frenum, atque ita superius tergus relaxatum cedere retro potest. Quod si parum sic profectum est, aut propter angustias aut propter duritiem tergoris, protinus triangula forma cutis ab inferiore parte excidenda est sic, ut uertex eius ad frenum, basis in tergo⟨re⟩ extremo sit. Tum superdanda lin⟨a⟩menta sunt aliaque medicamenta, quae ad sanitatem perducant. Necessarium autem est, donec cicatrix sit, conquiescere: nam ambulatio adterendo ulcus sordidum reddit. Infibulare quoque adulescentulos, interdum uocis, interdum ualetudinis causa, quidam consueuerunt; eius haec ratio est: cutis, quae super glandem est, extenditur, notaturque utrimque a l⟨a⟩teribus atramento qua perforetur; deinde remittitur. Si super glandem notae reuertuntur, nimis adprehensum est et ultra notari debet; si glans ab is libera est, is locus idoneus fibulae est. Tum qua notae sunt, cutis acu filum ducente transuitur, eiusque fili capita inter se deligantur, cotidieque id mouetur, donec circa foramina cicatriculae fiant. Vbi eae confirmatae sunt, exempto filo fibula additur; quae quo leuior, eo melior est. Sed hoc quidem saepius inter superuacua quam inter necessaria est.
26. 26 Sometimes we are compelled to draw off the urine by hand when it is not passed naturally; either because in an old man the passage has collapsed, or because a stone, or a blood-clot of some sort has formed an obstruction within it; but even a slight inflammation often prevents natural evacuation; and this treatment is needed not only for men but sometimes also for women. For this purpose bronze tubes are made, and the surgeon must have three ready for males and two for females, in order that they may be suitable for every body, large and small: those for males should be the longest, fifteen finger-breadths in length, the medium twelve, the shortest nine; females, the longer nine, the shorter six. They ought to be a little curved, but more so for men, and they should be very smooth and neither too large nor too small. Then the man must be placed on his back, in the way described for anal treatment, on a low seat or couch; while the practitioner stands on his right side, and taking the penis of the male patient in his left hand, with his right hand passes the pipe into the urethra; and when it has reached the neck of the bladder, the pipe together with the penis is inclined and pushed on right into the bladder; and when the urine has been evacuated, it is taken out again. The woman's urethra is both shorter and straighter, like a nipple placed between the inner labia over the vagina, and this requires assistance no less often though it is attended by somewhat less difficulty. Sometimes too a stone slips into the urethra itself, and lodges not far from its orifice, because this becomes narrower further down. The stone should if possible be extracted either by an earscoop or by the instrument with which a stone is drawn out in the course of lithotomy. If this cannot be done, the foreskin is drawn as far forwards as possible over the glans and tied there by a thread. Then to one side of the penis a longitudinal incision is to be made and the stone taken out, after which the prepuce is released. This is done in this way so that an intact portion of skin covers the incision into the penis, and urine flows out naturally.
26. Res uero interdum cogit emoliri manu urinam, cum illa non redditur, aut quia senectute iter eius conlapsum est, aut quia calculus uel concretum aliquid ex sanguine intus se opposuit; a⟨t⟩ mediocris quoque inflammatio saepe eam reddi naturaliter prohibet: idque non in uiris tantummodo sed in feminis quoque interdum necessarium est. Ergo aeneae fistulae fiunt, quae ut omni corpori, amplior⟨i⟩ minorique, sufficiant, ad mares tres, ad feminas duae medico habendae sunt: ex uirilibus maxima decem et quinque est digitorum, media duodecim, minima nouem: ex mulie⟨b⟩ribus maior nouem, minor sex. Incuruas uero esse eas paulum, sed magis uiriles oportet, leuisque admodum ac neque nimis plenas ⟨ne⟩que nimis tenues. Homo tum resupinus eo modo, quo in curatione ani figuratur, super subsellium aut lectum conlocandus est. Medicus autem a dextro latere ⟨s⟩inistra quidem manu colem masculi continere, dextra uero fistulam demittere in ⟨i⟩ter urinae debet; atque ubi ad ceruicem uesicae uentum est, simul cum cole fistulam inclinatam in ipsam uesicam conpellere, eamque urina reddita recipere. Femina breuius urinae ⟨i⟩ter et rectius habet, quod mammulae simile inter imas oras super naturale positum non minus saepe auxilio eget, aliquanto minus difficultatis exhi⟨bet⟩. Nonnumquam etiam prolapsus in ipsam fistulam calculus, quia subinde ea extenuatur, non longe ab exitu inhaerescit. Eum, si fieri potest, oportet euellere uel oriculario specillo uel eo ferramento, quo in sectione calculus protrahitur. Si id fieri non potuit, cutis extrema quam plurimum adtrahenda et condita glande lino uinc⟨i⟩enda est; deinde a latere recta plaga col⟨e⟩s incidendus, et calculus eximendus est, tum cutis remittenda.
Now that mention has been made of the bladder and of stone, this seems the proper place to describe what treatment is to be adopted in cases of calculus, when it is impossible otherwise to afford relief; but it is most inadvisable to undertake it hastily, since it is very dangerous. This operation is not suitable for every season or at any age or for every lesion, but it must be used in the spring alone, in a boy who is not less than nine years of age and not more than fourteen, and if the disease is so bad that it cannot be relieved by medicaments, or endured by the patient without shortly bringing his life to a close. Sometimes even a rash line of treatment is successful, but it generally disappoints, especially in this sort of case, where the types and seasons of danger are very numerous, and these I will describe along with the treatment itself. Therefore when it has been decided to make trial of this last resource, for some days beforehand the patient's body is to be prepared by dieting, so that he takes a moderate amount of food which is wholesome, and not glutinous, and drinks water. Meanwhile he should also take walking-exercise to encourage the stone to descend to the neck of the bladder. Whether this has happened is recognized by the insertion of the finger, as I shall point out in the course of the treatment. When that is assured and the boy has been kept fasting from the previous day, then the operation is carried out in a warm room, and in the following manner. A strong and well-trained man, seated on a high stool, seizes the boy from behind and draws him backwards until his buttocks rest on the man's knees. When the boys' legs have been drawn up, the man orders him to put his hands behind his knees, and to pull upon them as much as he can, and at the same time the man keeps them in this position. But if a stronger person is to be treated, two strong men are seated on stools, side by side, and both the stools and the adjacent legs of the men are lashed together, so that they cannot be separated. Then the patient is seated in the same way as above upon the knees of the two men; and according to their position, one man takes hold of the patient's left leg, the other of the right, whilst at the same time the patient pulls upon his own hams. Whether one or two men hold the patient, they press downwards with their chests upon the patient's shoulders. Hence it results that the hollow between the iliac regions above the pubes is outstretched without any folds, and as the bladder is crammed into a narrow space the calculus can easily be seized hold of. In addition, moreover, two strong men should be put to stand at the sides, and they by standing there prevent the man or men who holding the boy from slipping. Then the surgeon having carefully pared his nails and anointed his left hand, gently introduces two fingers, the index and the middle, first one and then the other, into the anus; next he places the fingers of his right hand upon the hypogastrium, but lightly, lest if the two sets of fingers should press around the calculus with any force, the bladder may be injured. And in this procedure we must not act with haste, as in most cases, but so that safety is the first consideration; for an injury to the bladder causes spasm with danger of death. And the stone is first sought for about the neck of the bladder; when found there it is expelled with less trouble. And this is why I said there should be no operation except when the stone has been recognized by its special signs. But if the stone is not found at the neck of the bladder, or if it has slipped backwards, the fingers are placed against the base of the bladder, while the surgeon's right hand too is placed above the stone and gradually follows it downwards. When the stone has been found, and it must fall between his hands, it is guided downwards with special care the smaller and the smoother it is, lest it escape. This is that the bladder may not be too often disturbed. Therefore the right hand of the surgeon is always kept above the stone whilst the fingers of the left press it downwards until it arrives at the neck of the bladder: and it must be pressed towards this so that if oblong, it comes out end on; if flat it lies crossways; if cubical, it rests on two of its angles; if any part is larger, the smaller part comes out first. In the case of a spherical stone, it is clear that the shape makes no difference, except that if any part is the smoother this should be in front. When the stone has now got there, then the skin over the neck of the bladder next the anus should be incised by a semilunar cut, the horns of which point towards the hips; then a little lower down in that part of the incision which is concave, a second cut is to be made under the skin, at a right angle to the first, to open up the neck of the bladder until the urinary passage is opened so that the wound is a little larger than the stone. For those who make a small opening for fear of a fistula, which in this situation the Greeks call rhyas, incur this same danger to a greater degree, because the stone, when it is pressed down with force, makes a way out for itself unless it is given one. And this is even more harmful if the shape of the stone or its roughness has caused any additional trouble. As a consequence bleeding and spasm may be set up. And even if the patient survives he will have, nevertheless, a much wider fistula if the neck of the bladder has been torn, than he would have had if it had been cut. Now when the urethra has been laid open, the stone comes into view; its colour is of no importance. If it is small, it can be pushed outwards with the fingers on one side, and extracted by those on the other. If large, we must put over the upper part of it the scoop made for the purpose. This is thin at the end, beaten out into a semicircular shape, smooth on the outer side, where it comes into contact with the body, rough on the inner where it touches the stone. The scoop must be rather long, for a short one has not the strength to extract. When the scoop has been put in, it should be moved to each side to see whether the stone is held, because if it has been well grasped, it is moved with the scoop. This is required lest when the scoop begins to be drawn forward, the stone should slip inwards and the scoop cut into and lacerate the wound opening, and I have noted above how dangerous this is. When it is certain that the stone is sufficiently held, almost simultaneously a triple movement is to be made; first towards each side, then outwards, this in such a way that the movement is gentle and the stone is at first drawn outwards but little; this done the one end is to be raised so that the scoop may stay further in, and more easily draw out the stone. But if at any time the stone cannot be properly caught from above, it will have to be taken hold of from one side. This is the simplest method of operation. But various contingencies call for some further observations. There are some stones which are not merely rough but also spinous, which if they have come down to the neck of the bladder of their own accord may be extracted without any danger. But it is not safe to search for these within the bladder and draw them out, for when they have wounded the bladder they cause a speedy death from spasm, and much more so if a spinous stone sticks to the bladder, and when being drawn down has folded it over. Now it may be inferred that the stone is at the neck of the bladder, when the patient has difficulty in passing water: or that the stone is spinous, when he passes bloody urine in drops. And it is most important that the calculus should be felt under the fingers, and that the operation should not be proceeded with unless this is assured. And then too the fingers must be applied gently, lest they wound by pressing forcibly: the incision is then made. Many use a scalpel here also. Since this is rather weak, and may meet some projecting part of the stone, and while cutting the flesh over the projection fail to divide what is in the hollow beneath, but leave something which necessitates a second operation. Meges made a straight blade, with a wide border on its upper part, semicircular and sharp below. This knife, with its handle grasped between the two fingers, index and middle, and the thumb put into the back of the blade, was so pressed down that any projection upon the stone might be cut through along with the flesh. By this means it followed that he made one opening of a sufficient size. But in whatever way the neck of the bladder is laid open, any rough stone should be extracted gently, and no force used to hasten matters.
Sic enim fit, ut incisum colem integra pars cutis contegat, et urina naturaliter profluat. Cum uesicae uero calculique facta mentio sit, locus ipse exigere uidetur, ut subiciam, quae curatio calculosis, cum aliter succurri non potest, adhibeatur: ad quam festinare cum praeceps sit, nullo modo conuenit. Ac neque omni tempore neque in omni aetate neque in omni uitio id experiundum est, sed solo uere, in eo corpore, quod iam nouem annos, nondum quattuordecim excessit, et si tantum mali est, ut neque medicamentis uinci possit, neque ⟨i⟩am trahi posse uideatur, quo minus interposito aliquo spatio interemat. Non quo non interdum etiam temeraria medicina proficiat, sed quo saepius utique in hoc fallat, in quo plura et genera et tempora periculi sunt; quae simul cum ipsa curatione proponam. Igitur, ubi ultima experiri statutum est, ante aliquot diebus uictu corpus praeparandum est, ut modicos, ut salubres cibos, ut minime glutinosos adsumat; ut aquam bibat. Ambula⟨ndi uero inter haec exercita⟩tione utatur, quo magis calculus ad uesicae ceruicem descendat. Quod an inciderit, digitis quoque, sicut in curatione docebo, demissis cognoscitur. Vbi eius rei fides est, pridie is puer ⟨in ieiunio continendus, et⟩ tum loco calido curatio adhibenda; quae hoc modo ordinatur: homo praeualens et peritus in sedili alto considit; supinumque eum et auersum, super genua sua coxis eius conlocatis, conprehendit; reductisque eius cruribus ipsum quoque iubet, manibus ad suos poplites datis, eos quam maxime possit adtrahere, simulque ipse sic eos continet. Quod si robustius corpus eius est, qui curatur, duobus sedilibus iunctis duo ualentes insidunt, quorum et sedilia et interiora crura inter se deligantur, ne diduci possint. Tum is super duorum genua eodem modo collocatur; atque alter, prout consedit, sinistrum crus eius, alter dextrum, simulque ipse poplites suos adtrahit. Siue autem unus, siue duo continent, super umeros eius suis pectoribus incumbunt. Ex quibus euenit, ut inter ilia sinus super pubem sine ullis rugis sit extentus et in angustum conpulsa uesica e⟨x⟩ fac⟨ili⟩ calculus capi possit. Praeter haec etiamnum a l⟨a⟩teribus duo ualentes obiciantur, qui circumstantes lab⟨a⟩re uel unum uel duos, qui puerum contine⟨n⟩t, non sinunt. Medi⟨c⟩us deinde, diligenter unguibus circumcisis, un⟨c⟩ta⟨q⟩ue sinistra manu duos eius digitos, indicem et medium, leniter prius unum, deinde alterum in anum eius demittit; dextraeque digitos super imum abdomen leuiter inponit, ne, si utrimque digiti circa calculum uehementer concurrerint, uesicam laedant. Neque uero festinanter in hac re, ut in plerisque, agendum est, sed ita, ut quam maxime id tuto fiat: nam laesa uesica neruorum distentiones cum periculo mortis excitat. A⟨c⟩ primum circa ceruicem quaeritur calculus, ubi repertus minore negotio expellitur. Et ideo dixi ne curandum quidem, nisi cum hoc indiciis suis cognitum est. Si uero aut ibi non fuit aut recessit retro, digiti ad ultimam uesicam dantur, paulatimque dextra quoque manus eius ultra translata subsequitur. Atque ubi repertus calculus, qui necesse est in manus incidat, eo curiosius deducitur, quo minor leuiorque est, ne effugiat. [id est ne saepius agitanda uesica sit.] Ergo ultra calculum dextra semper manus eius ⟨se⟩ opponit, sinistrae digiti deorsum eum conpellunt, donec ad ceruicem peruenitur: in quam, si oblongus est, si⟨c⟩ compellendus est, ut pronus exeat; si planus, sic ut transuersus sit; si quadratus, ut duobus angulis sedeat; si altera parte plenior, sic ut prius ea, qua tenuior sit, euadat. In rotundo nihil interesse ex ipsa figura patet, nisi si le⟨u⟩ior altera parte est, ut ea antecedat. Cum iam eo uenit, t⟨um⟩ incidi super uesicae ceruicem iuxta anum cutis plaga lunata usque ad ceruicem uesicae debet, cornibus ad coxas spectantibus: paulum deinde ⟨infra⟩ ea parte, qua resima plaga est, etiamnum sub cute altera transuersa plaga facienda est, qua ceruix aperi⟨a⟩tur, donec urinae iter pateat sic, ut plaga paulo maior quam calculus sit. Nam qui metu fistulae, quam illo loco ⟨r⟩hyada Graeci uocant, parum patefaciunt, maiore eodem periculo reuoluuntur, quia calculus iter, cum ui promitur, facit, nisi accipit; idque etiam perniciosius est, si figura quoque calculi uel aspritudo aliquid eo contulit. Ex quo et sanguinis profusio et distentio neruorum fieri potest. Quae si quis euasit, multo tamen patentiorem fistulam habiturus est rupta ceruice, quam habuisset incisa. Cum uero ea patefacta est, in conspectu⟨m⟩ calculus uenit; in cuius colore nullum discrimen est. Ipse si exiguus est, digitis ab altera parte propelli, ab altera protrahi potest. Si maior, iniciendus a superiore ⟨ei⟩ parte uncus est eius rei causa factus. Is est ad extremum tenuis, in semicirculi specie⟨m⟩ retusae latitudinis, ab exteriore parte leuis, qua corpori iungitur, ab interiore asper, qua calculum adtingit isque longior potius esse debet: nam breuis extrahendi uim non habet. Vbi iniectus est, in utrumque latus inclinandus est, ut appareat calculus ⟨si⟩ teneatur; quia, si adprehensus est, ille simul inclinatur. Idque eo nomine opus est, ne, cum adduci uncus coeperit, calculus intus effugiat, hic in oram uulneris incidat eamque conuulneret: in qua re quo⟨d⟩ periculum esse⟨t⟩, iam supra posui. Vbi satis teneri calculum patet, eodem paene momento triplex motus adhibendus est: in utrumque latus, deinde extra, sic tamen id leniter ut fiat paulumque primo calculus adtrahatur. Quo facto, attollendus un⟨c⟩us extremus est, uti intus magis maneat faciliusque illum producat. Quod si quando a superiore parte calculus parum commode conprehendetur, a latere erit adprehendendus. Haec est simpli⟨ci⟩ssima curatio. Sed uarietas rerum quasdam etiamnum animaduersiones desiderat. Sunt enim quidam non asperi tantummodo sed spi⟨no⟩ssi quoque calculi, qui per se quidem delapsi in ceruicem sine ullo periculo eximuntur. In uesica uero non tuto uel hi conquiruntur uel adtrahuntur, quoniam ubi illam conuulnerarunt, ex distentione neruorum mortem maturant; multoque magis, si spina aliqua uesicae inhaeret eamque, cum duceretur, duplicauit. Colligitur autem eo, quod difficilius urina red⟨d⟩itur, in ceruice calculum esse; eo, quod cruenta destillat, eum esse spinosum; maximeque sub his digitis quoque experiundum est, neque adhibenda manus, nisi id constitit. Ac tum quoque leniter ⟨intus digiti obiciendi, ne ualenter⟩ promouend⟨o⟩ conuolnerent; tum incidendum. Multi hic quoque scalpello usi sunt. Meges quoniam is infirmior est potestque in aliqua prominentia incidere, inciso[q]ue super illa corpore qua cauum subest, non secare, sed relinquere quod iterum incidi necesse sit, ferramentum fecit rectum, in summa parte labrosum, in ima semicirculatum acutumque. Id receptum inter duos digitos, indicem ac medium, super pollice inposito, sic deprimebat, ⟨ut⟩ simul cum carne, si quid ex calculo prominebat, incidere⟨t⟩. Quo consequebatur, ut semel quantum ⟨satis⟩ esset, aperiret. Quocumque autem modo ceruix pa⟨t⟩efacta est, leniter extrahi quod asperum est debet, nulla propter festinationem ui admota.