es are advertised and sold
for the same purpose. These are not only perfectly worthless, but
positively dangerous in their application. The pressure they make upon
the spermatic cord, nerves, and artery, is very apt to result in
impotency and a rapid wasting away of the testicles. Patients should
avoid all the catch-penny devices recommended for varicocele, as none of
them are worth a moment's consideration.

Even a moderate degree of morbid enlargement of the spermatic veins will
sometimes cause such engorgement and obstruction to the free circulation
of the blood in the testicle, as to cause gradual wasting or shriveling
of that organ. In some cases the morbid condition will give rise to
seminal weakness, or spermatorrhea. Many of these cases that can only be
cured by surgery, are trifled with by quacks, who attribute the
spermatorrhea, or loss of semen, to everything else than its true
cause--varicocele.

To illustrate, Mr. B., of Colorado, applied at the Invalids' Hotel and
Surgical Institute, a few years ago, and said he had for five years been
troubled with nightly emissions of semen and his testicles were
gradually wasting away. He had been under the treatment of men making
great pretensions as specialists, to whom he had paid several hundred
dollars in the vain hope of getting cured of spermatorrhea. They treated
him with medicines only, and did him no good whatever. On examination,
we found a very varicose or enlarged condition of the left spermatic
veins, and gave it as our opinion that the seminal loss was wholly due
to this abnormal condition and could only be cured by an operation that
would remove the varicocele. The operation was promptly performed. In
two days he was able to leave his bed, and in a week started home to
Colorado. Some months thereafter we received a letter from him wherein
he said: "The enlarged veins continued to absorb and grow less and less,
until, in a few weeks' time, all unnatural enlargement had disappeared.
With a steady improvement in the condition of the veins, I experienced
corresponding improvement in my general health, and the seminal losses
grew less and less, and finally, long ago, disappeared entirely. I feel
that my manhood, with all the powers that should belong thereto, are
mine to enjoy. In other words, my restoration to health is complete. Had
I saved the large amount of money that I fooled away on those quacks,
and given it all to you, I feel that you would then hav