The _sphincter ani_, or the muscles of the anus, are relaxed, from the excessive action of the abdominal muscles; and the fæces pass in small quantities involuntarily. There is a protrusion of the bowel, which adds to the distress, and, by its irritation, brings on a looseness or diarrhœa. The prostate gland, which is seated near the neck of the bladder, suffers inflammation and enlarges, beginning at the orifice of the ducts, which open into the urethra. The emission of semen, which often happens involuntarily, is attended with agonizing pain, producing cold shiverings, followed by heat; and fever soon becomes fairly established. The liver and its secretions become diseased, discharging in the intestines large quantities of vitiated bile. The fever assumes the intermittent character. The discharge from the urethra is greatly increased in quantity, showing the formation and bursting of an abscess of the prostrate gland into it. The bladder is much thickened and diminished in size, and acutely or chronically inflamed. The desire to make water is continual, allowing hardly a moment of rest; and the patient, in the agony of despair, prays to be relieved from his sufferings. Soon succeeding the irritation of the prostate, the testicles become involved, the disease being propagated by means of their ducts, which open into the urethra. The testicles swell a little, become uneasy and painful, and a dropsical or hardened enlargement ensues. When the stricture forms a nearly complete obstruction to the passage of urine, the violent efforts of the bladder to expel it bring on ulceration or rupture of the urethra, through which the urine is forced into the cellular membrane, with all the power of a spasmodically excited bladder. The scrotum and neighboring parts become distended, erysipelas supervenes, black patches of mortification break out in different places, the febrile symptoms are augmented, and the patient at last irrecoverably sinks into a state of coma or muttering delirium, and death closes the scene. Such is the progress and termination of stricture when neglected. The reader, if he be an afflicted one, will eagerly turn to the page wherein the treatment of this formidable and distressing malady is considered; and great will be his satisfaction and delight, on finding it remediable by such simple means, and entirely within his own control; more especially if he direct his attention to the disease in its earlier stages. He must by no means, however, be too sanguine, from these remarks, or indulge in the idea that as stricture is remediable, it is unimportant when the cure be attempted; the longer the delay, the greater will be the cost to the patient; and, furthermore, the slightest deviation from the instructions laid down, will surely aggravate the disease, and increase the embarrassment of the sufferer. The following diagrams are further explanatory of the stricture in its amplified forms. [Illustration]