Fig. 7, Plate 60.--The three lobes of the prostate, a, b, c, are equally enlarged. The prostatic canal is consequently much contracted and distorted, so that an instrument on being passed into the bladder has made a false passage through the third lobe. When a catheter is suspected to have entered the bladder by perforating the prostate, the instrument should be retained in the newly made passage till such time as this has assumed the cylindrical form of the instrument. If this be done, the new passage will be the more likely to become permanent. It is ascertained that all false passages and fistulae by which the urine escapes, become after a time lined with a membrane similar to that of the urethra. (Stafford.) [Illustration] Plate 60.--Figure 7 Fig. 8, Plate 60.--The three lobes, a, b, c, of the prostate are irregularly enlarged. The third lobe, a a, projecting from below, distorts the prostatic canal upwards and to the right side. [Illustration] Plate 60.--Figure 8. Fig. 9, Plate 60.--The right lobe, a c c, of the prostate appears hollowed out so as to form the sac of an abscess which, by its projection behind, pressed upon the forepart of the rectum, and by its projection in front, contracted the area of the prostatic canal, and thereby caused an obstruction in this part. Not unfrequently when a catheter is passed along the urethra, for the relief of a retention of urine caused by the swell of an abscess in this situation, the sac becomes penetrated by the instrument, and, instead of urine, pus flows. The sac of a prostatic abscess frequently opens of its own accord into the neighbouring part of the urethra, and when this occurs it becomes necessary to retain a catheter in the neck of the bladder, so as to prevent the urine entering the sac. [Illustration] Plate 60.--Figure 9. Fig. 10, Plate 60.--The prostate presents four lobes of equal size, and all projecting largely around the neck of the bladder. The prostatic canal is almost completely obstructed, and an instrument has made a false passage through the lobe a. [Illustration] Plate 60.--Figure 10. Fig. 11, Plate 60.--The third lobe of the prostate is viewed in section, and shows the track of the false passage made by the catheter, d, through it, from its apex to its base. The proper canal is bent upwards from its usual position, which is that at present marked by the instrument in the false passage. [Illustration] Plate 60.--Figure 11. Fig. 12, Plate 60.--The prostatic lobes are uniformly enlarged, and cause the corresponding part of the urethra to be uniformly contracted, so as closely to embrace the catheter, d d, occupying it, and to offer considerable resistance to the passage of the instrument. [Illustration] Plate 60.--Figure 12.