The incidence of incomplete descent of the testicle at birth.

Descent of the testicle from the abdomen into the scrotum is known to occur at about the eighth month of foetal life. If the transition has not taken place at birth it may do so shortly after. It is said that movement can take place at any time up to puberty but very rarely afterwards. Mothers, midwives and doctors are all aware that the scrotum of the newborn baby is usually well formed and contains both testicles. The proportion of infants in whom descent has failed or is retarded has apparently only once before been seriously studied. This paper records the results ofexamining over 1,700 infants in order to discover how often the testicle was undescended at birth. If the deformity was found the baby was seen again at intervals of a few weeks until descent was complete. The follow-up continues in a few instances where the testicle has not yet descended.