On the Development and Anatomy of the Prostate Gland; Together with an Account of Its Injuries and Diseases and Their Surgical Treatment

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1904 Excerpt: ... impairment of health. All treatment aims at one of two things: either to prevent distension of the bladder by artificially withdrawing the urine, or to remove the cause altogether. The other details of treatment arise from the necessity to relieve symptoms which are due to cystitis, and this is always caused by the passage of instruments. The means employed to prevent distension of the bladder and collection of residual urine with all their evil consequences, are two: the use of catheters, or the formation of an artificial opening through which the urine drains. To remove the cause of the distension there are several methods: the prostatic urethra and outlet of the bladder may be kept patent by the occasional passage of a large-sized instrument; or an obstructing collar-like ring at the outlet of the bladder may be divided by the knife or the cautery; or the growths within the prostate may be removed through a suprapubic or a perineal incision; or the prostate itself may be made to atrophy by removal of the testes. The Employment of Catheters.--This is the commonest form of treatment, and there cannot be any doubt that it is entirely successful in many cases; at the same time it must be owned that it is the cause of much pain and suffering, and even of the death of many patients. Cystitis is always due to the introduction of sepsis into the bladder on an instrument, and few men make use of a catheter for long without having an attack of cystitis. It is perfectly true that a patient can obtain, in a convenient form, the instruments necessary for the perfect sterilisation of his catheter; and he can be taught and can practise the art of carrying out the operation aseptically with success; but very few men have the leisure or opportunity to give the process su...