Varicosity Of The Vesical Veins (known also as hemorrhoids of the bladder) in the male sex affects the veins of the prostatic and vesical plexuses; the branches of the latter on the neck of the bladder and around the vesiculae seminales, external to the muscular coat, being, in general, especially dilated. In the female sex, the veins of the vagina are thus affected in addition to the vesical plexus; and the varicosity extends over the veins of the bladder to the veins lying between the broad ligaments of the uterus. This form of disease attains a very high degree of development, and is common in advanced life and old age. Phlebolites are nowhere so frequent, so numerous, or so large, as in the veins we have just mentioned.

The veins situated immediately beneath the mucous membrane of the bladder are less frequently varicose, although we have repeatedly observed this condition, as well as the occurrence of laceration of a submucous varix on the posterior wall of the bladder, with hemorrhage into its cavity. The veins of the neck of the bladder present the only exception; they are frequently dilated and swollen.

Varicosity of the veins of the bladder is often combined with hemorrhoids; in many cases, however, we find nothing but their residue, or they are even wholly absent. We are as yet unable to determine from anatomical investigations whether, in such cases, the varicosity of the veins of the bladder has actually taken the place of the hemorrhoids, and, having thus assumed the same significance, may be regarded as of a hemorrhoidal nature.