_Genital organs and appendages in the male._—This term embraces the _penis_, _testicles_, _bladder_, and _kidneys_. The form of the penis is familiar to every one. It commences at the bladder, is of a _spongy_ nature, and is composed of three different parts; the two upper and larger are called the _cavernous_ bodies, and the lower the _spongy_ body; these bodies are covered by the skin which comes over the head of the penis, and forms the _prepuce_. When this skin is drawn back, the head of the penis, or the _glans_ penis is seen, which is a development of the spongy body, and is extremely sensitive. A whitish secretion, with a peculiar odor, forms at the end of the glans, where the prepuce seems to join it. The object of this secretion is to preserve the sensitiveness of the glans, and to facilitate the withdrawal of the prepuce in coition and in urinating. This material sometimes collects, irritates, hardens, and causes much inconvenience. This can be done away with by circumcision, which is performed as follows:—draw an inked line on the skin of the prepuce, corresponding to the base of the glans penis; draw the prepuce forward, and have the inked part held firmly by an assistant with a pair of forceps. Then the surgeon takes that part of the prepuce projecting beyond the forceps with his left hand, and with a bistoury cuts the prepuce at the inked line with his right. When this is done, the lining skin of the prepuce, which cannot be drawn forward, remains entire, and covers the glans; this lining is divided by a single cut with the scissors: then the flaps are removed round to the frenum, and then the two flaps are held together and removed, with the frenum, at one cut. The mode of holding the prepuce, &c. is seen in the cut. [Illustration] On the under side of the glans, near the mouth of the water passage, or urethra, the prepuce is attached by a fold called the _frenum_, or bridle, or martingale of the penis. The use of this frenum is to confine the movements of the prepuce, and to draw down the mouth of the water passage to direct the flow of the urine. Sometimes the frenum is too short, and confines the prepuce too much; it may be slit down with a pair of scissors as far as is considered expedient. The frenum is frequently ruptured in a first coition. The frenum is very elastic, and protects the sensitive surface beneath it as the eyelid does the eye. Sometimes, however, it becomes permanently contracted;—the glans is then denuded, but soon loses its sensibility. The person is sometimes born with this formation.