SWELLING OF THE SCROTAL REGION.
This, as we have seen, is an almost necessary consequence of the operation, the swelling making its appearance a short time after the alteration is accomplished. It usually first affects the parts immediately around the edges of the wound, and spreads forwards and upwards in such a manner that the entire scrotum and sheath become the seat of it. It is somewhat warm, tense, and slightly painful. If there is no increase beyond these limits, there is no occasion for alarm, as by exercise, fomentations, and scarifications, with the administration of diuretics, it ordinarily subsides. But if it continues to increase, and extends upwards and backwards, involving the inside of the thighs and the perineum, loses its character of heat and soreness, to become cold and painless, crepitating under pressure, we must prepare to encounter the most severe of all complications, that of gangrene, requiring the most prompt and vigorous treatment, as we shall presently see. It may also happen that even while retaining the characteristics of healthy œdema, it may assume such dimensions that the penis becomes so involved that phymosis and paraphymosis may supervene, to add to the other complications. These, however, are not serious sequelæ, as by proper care, with fomentations or scarifications, and the use of a suspensory bandage, they may be readily overcome.