Part 9 (1/2)
_Healing and strengthening of the ruptured and relaxed valves of the veins._
_Relief of the pressure and weight of the column of blood from above._
Suspensory Bandages are good, because they act as supports.
Astringent and Tonic Washes are good, because they strengthen the weakened veins and muscles and heal the relaxed valves.
Proper Trusses are good, because they break the great pressure of the blood from above, and act as do the valves in the veins in the groin in health. Also, because they act directly on the disease in cases of Varicocele of the Cord.
But neither one alone will cure a really serious case of Varicocele.
Combine them, however, properly and scientifically, so that you have the practical outcome of these three sound principles of cure in the one appliance, and
ANY CASE, NO MATTER HOW SEVERE OR HOW OLD, CAN BE PERMANENTLY AND PAINLESSLY CURED.
Such a perfect and practical combination is to be found in the Elastic self-adjusting and adjustable Cradle and Compressor, which has succeeded in curing many very serious and (apparently) hopeless cases. Patented and thoroughly protected from all infringements and imitations (and many would-be ones, seeing our success and recognizing the merits of the Cradle-Compressor, have lately sprung up), both in this country and Europe, there is nothing like it. It combines all the good points of all previous instruments, and being easy to wear, rapid and pleasing in its results, and certain in its effects, is the only rational means for radically curing this disease.
Briefly: It consists of a very light and elastic triangle of tempered steel bands, that rests on the front of the abdomen, and is held in place by a soft silk-elastic waist-band. In each of the slanting arms of the triangle are small holes that admit the central pivot of a bell-pad, having a central spring, and so adjusted that it adapts itself to every movement of the body without being misplaced. By means of a thumb-screw and the perforations, it (the spring bell-pad) can be set at any point in the groin, and can be changed from day to day and hour to hour.
{Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 13.
INSTRUMENT ON BODY.
_a. a._ Transverse Steel Band; _b. b._ Elastic Waist Belt; _c. d._ Metallic Arms, perforated to permit change of pad pressure; _e._ Pubic s.h.i.+eld to which Elastic Cradle is attached; _f._ Bell Spring Pad.}
By means of pivotal joints at the angles, the appliance can be made to fit any one perfectly; moreover, by means of the metallic shoulder below, the arms can be thrown into any lateral variation of the groin line.
We thus are able to obtain all the marked benefits of a truss without any of its drawbacks; and that special disadvantage, steady and wearisome pressure at one point, is wholly obviated. The whole appliance is held in place below by means of perineal tubular rubber bands that connect with the waist-belt behind.
Attached to the metallic shoulder below is the Elastic, Glove-Fitting, Self-Adjusting t.e.s.t.i.c.l.e-Cradle, by means of which not only are the t.e.s.t.i.c.l.es perfectly supported and rested, but by the sheet-rubber lining and the elastic tie bands, a constant, easy and perfectly painless elastic pressure is kept up on the dilated and sagging veins, which are thereby emptied of their unhealthy and stagnated blood and allowed to regain their tone, strength and contractility.
By means of the elastic bands it is easy to regulate the amount of pressure, thereby constantly adapting it to the improvement that is steadily taking place.
The compression is so uniform, yet so elastic, that it is absolutely painless, and no motion of the body, however violent, can disarrange it.
This, and the fact that the blood can enter and leave the t.e.s.t.i.c.l.e with perfect freedom, const.i.tute some of its most marked advantages over the Truss.
Moreover, the wearer always feels a sense of rest and relief while wearing the Elastic Cradle-Compressor, and from the first day the symptoms of weakness and impotence improve. Being made in different sizes and shapes, and of the most durable yet softest silk, and powerful yet yielding elastic, they will wear perfectly until long after the Varicocele has entirely disappeared.
{Transcriber's Note: The left edge of this page was partially illegible. Words and letters in braces { } are conjectural; all came at the beginning of a line.}
{Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 14.
ELASTIC t.e.s.t.i.c.l.e CRADLE, {Deta}ched from Compressor, and showing its appearance {when} worn singly. It is lined inside with sheet rubber, and {the t}ie cords are of the very best French elastic. The bag {cover} is of the finest knit silk.}
While it compresses the Varicocele, forces out the blood, and allows the veins a chance to regain their strength and proper size again, it simply supports and keeps from injury the t.e.s.t.i.c.l.e, which at once begins to grow larger. In addition to their curative value in Varicocele, they are now being extensively used by the medical profession for the relief of the pain and subduing of the inflammation of ”swelled t.e.s.t.i.c.l.e;” also in hydrocele and haematocele.
Being applied over the whole s.c.r.o.t.u.m, they will cure a Double as readily as a Single Varicocele.
In certain recent or simple cases the Elastic t.e.s.t.i.c.l.e-Cradle alone will effect a perfect cure. If the case is severe or of long standing, if it involves the Cord, or if the s.e.xual organs are affected, the complete instrument should be worn.