While urethral stricture is a common result of gonorrhea it constitutes by itself a special lesion. (See chapter on the Genito-urinary Tract.) These peri-urethral infiltrations may occur in irregular patches, so variously placed as to encroach upon the urethra at different points without completely surrounding it, or they may form tubular lesions by which very serious annular constriction is produced. The degree of infiltration is, to some extent, a measure of the violence of the inflammation and of the virulence of the infection. This is true, however, only up to a certain point. One object of properly directed treatment should be to guard against the deep extension of a gonorrheal infection, in order to limit the tendency to the formation of stricture. Between the folds of the triangular ligament are situated two racemose follicles known as Cowper’s glands. These occasionally become infected in the same way as the anterior follicles of the urethra and give rise to a painful swelling in the perineum, which gives most discomfort to the patient in the sitting posture. This condition is known as _Cowperitis_. It may proceed to abscess formation, in which case incision in the perineum should be made for its relief. =Prostatitis.=--The prostate consists of a collection of follicles embedded in a mass of involuntary muscle fiber. The largest of these follicles is known as the _utricle_, or, under the old anatomical name, _uterus masculinus_. These are liable to invasion when the infection has reached the deep urethra. The reaction which follows in this tissue after such invasion gives rise to _prostatitis_ and causes much pain and general reaction. The prostate, being embedded within a fibrous capsule, cannot expand easily when it becomes inflamed, and the pressure thus made not only causes intense pain, but will also obstruct the urethra and occasion great difficulty in urination, sometimes retention of urine. In proportion to the other disturbance will be the general reaction, and fever may run high, with early expressions of septic intoxication or of septicemia. The prostate becomes tender, and pain is felt not only in the pelvic region, but in the back and in the thighs, as well as along the urethra. Prostatic abscess is a frequent sequel to this condition; it sometimes evacuates spontaneously into the urethra, or bursts through the capsule and burrows along the structures in the perineum and lower pelvis; occasionally it empties into the rectum. Intensity of symptoms should give rise to a suspicion of prostatic abscess, and a perineal incision should be made early and the abscess evacuated. Occasionally these abscesses present toward the rectum, when they should be tapped or incised through the bowel.