The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 2 (of 3) : $b translated from the Greek: with a commentary embracing a complete view of the knowledge possessed by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabians on all subjects connected with medicine and surgeryPaulus, Aegineta
History
The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 2 (of 3) : $b translated from the Greek: with a commentary embracing a complete view of the knowledge possessed by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabians on all subjects connected with medicine and surgery
Paulus, Aegineta
Medicine; Medicine, Arab; Medicine, Greek and Roman
The membrane called tunica adnata in our translation is the “ima tunica”
of Celsus, and the “panniculus proprius” of the Arabian translation of
Albucasis, and seems to be the same as the tunica albuginea of modern
anatomists.
Sprengel gives an excellent history of the operation of hydrocele. (Hist.
de la Méd. 18, 8.)
SECT. LXIII.—ON SARCOCELE AND TOPHI OF THE TESTICLES.
When flesh is formed in any part of the bodies which are connected by
the scrotum, it gives rise to the disease called sarcocele. This arises
either from some obscure cause, the testicle being attacked with a
defluxion and becoming indurated, or from a blow, or from unskilful
treatment after the operation for hernia. Its consequences are, a
swelling of the same colour, with hardness; when the swelling is of a
scirrhous nature, it is devoid of colour and sensibility; and when it
is malignant there are sharp pains. When going to operate we place the
patient as in the former case, and make the incisions in like manner; and
if the complaint is occasioned by the growth of a fleshy tumour to the
testicle, we divide the dartos and tunica vaginalis in like manner; then
stretching the testicle and bringing it to the outside of the vaginalis,
we separate the cremaster from the vessels, tie a ligature round the
vessels, and cut the cremaster; then we remove the testicle affected with
the fleshy tumour as a foreign body. But if the fleshy tumour be formed
about any of the coats of the testicle or its vessels, having divided
the scrotum and the membranes lying under the flesh, we must dissect out
the whole fleshy tumour. But if the posterior process (“epididymis”?) be
affected with sarcocele, having dissected all the surrounding parts, we
remove the testicle along with it; for it is impossible for the testicle
to continue without it. If tophi be formed about the testicle and the
tunica vaginalis, they may be distinguished from sarcocele and hydrocele
by their resistance, hardness, and inequality, and are to be operated
upon as sarcocele.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Celsus describes and recommends the same operations. He
directs us to divide the nerve by which the testicle is suspended (the
cremaster?), then to tie the veins and arteries at the groin with a
thread, and cut them below the ligature. When a fleshy tumour is formed
between the coats he recommends us to cut it out. (vii, 22, 23.) When the
parts are indurated he forbids us to meddle with them.
Albucasis directs us to separate the cremaster from the vessels, to
tie the vessels, and then remove the testicle from the surrounding
parts. When the disease consists of a fleshy tumour which adheres to the
testicle he directs us to cut it out. After the operation the wound is to
be filled with rose-oil and wine. (Chirurg. ii, 63.) The other Arabians
treat of the operation less minutely, with the exception of Haly Abbas,
who describes it exactly as Albucasis. (Pract. ix, 48.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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