CHAPTER III.

SYMPTOMS AND DISEASES CAUSED BY VENEREAL EXCESSES.

The genital organs when they are abused are precisely in the same state

as if they were diseased. In this case in fact, they are not in their

normal state for they are in action when the health demands that they

should rest. Hence when we consider them either specially or as to

their action on the rest of the body, we see that they resemble organs

in a morbid state; they are, as it were affected with an intermittent

malady, having distinct periods of access, which are repeated more

or less frequently, according to the acts of the onanist. The local

condition of these organs is at first that which they present during

the act of venery, but at a later period they may present different

alterations, which continue after the periods of access, in the same

manner as the tissues are modified, if the cause which renders them

diseased continues to act on them. The general state of onanists is

also perfectly analogous to that observed in diseases. In them, the

genital organs are the seat of different symptoms, and the focus of

numerous diseases. The symptoms appear first only during the periods of

access, or for a few hours afterward: then they continue longer and the

intermissions become shorter and afterward are only remissions: finally

the disease is perfectly continued. This is the usual course of the

symptoms of this affection which may be called the _genital_ disease.

Frequently however, one of the derangements of the reproductive system,

assumes, on account of its individual peculiarities a more determined

character than the others, and becomes as it were independent of them.

This disorder is then no longer a symptom but becomes a disease which

is in one phthisis, in another myelitis, epilepsy, amaurosis &c. So too

with a wound; this which at first caused only fever and other symptoms

intimately connected with it, becomes afterward gastroenteritis,

tetanus, or some other disease which has its regular place in systems

of nosology. _Voluntary pollution_, when it becomes injurious must

then be considered as an _affection_ having its symptoms, and also as

a _cause_ of disease. We shall proceed to consider it in these two

relations in two different sections. The first will be devoted to the

symptoms arising from this pollution, the second, to the diseases

caused by it.

§ 1. SPECIAL SYMPTOMS OF VENEREAL EXCESSES.

Before proceeding to describe these symptoms, we would remark, 1st

that the results of venereal excesses are so analogous to those

of involuntary pollution, that it is impossible to point out any

difference between them: 2d that the general effects of these

pollutions, whether voluntary or involuntary, are also extremely

analogous to those caused by the slow destruction of an organ; those

for instance observed in phthisis pulmonalis, cancer of the uterus,

profuse suppurations, chronic diarrhœa, &c. Thus then the results

of masturbation and of coition are the same as those of involuntary

seminal emissions, which is decidedly a disease of the genital organs,

and as those of other severe maladies affecting different parts.

Are not these analogies sufficient to prove that we were correct in

regarding the state in which the genital organs are momentarily when

abused, as a state of disease.

One of the most constant effects of excessive masturbation is the

loss of flesh. This symptom shows itself more or less rapidly, and

extends to a greater or less degree. We may regard it as one of the

circumstances in which onanists most resemble those affected with

phthisis, with diarrhœa, and generally, individuals confined with a

severe and long continued illness. The loss of flesh arising from

onanism has not unfrequently been attributed to a too precocious growth

and vice versa. This symptom is much more striking in some onanists,

as it is attended with excessive appetite and a healthy state of the

digestive organs. How great must be the influence of the genital organs

when abused, on the nutritive process, to cause this loss of flesh,

even under the conditions most favorable for its gain. It is not

uncommon to see onanists affected with a complete state of marasmus:

their frame is reduced to a skeleton and presents in anticipation a

picture of the state in which death will soon place them. Many parts,

as the loins, thighs and lower extremities are often remarkable for

their extreme emaciation. Sainte Marie who has observed this fact,

attributes it and also the debility of these parts, to a morbid state

of the spinal marrow, and not unjustly. The facility with which

onanists regain their flesh on leaving off these bad habits, is equally

remarkable with their rapid loss of substance. There are individuals

however who remain thin and dried up through life, in consequence of

abusing themselves while young.

The loss of strength generally follows the loss of flesh and returns

also with it. At first debility only follows the act temporarily, but

afterward it continues longer: new emissions of semen take place, and

even before the subject of them has regained the strength exhausted

by a previous indulgence. In the morning he rises from his bed with

difficulty: during the day he is idle, stupid, and indolent, and

pursues his avocations without any spirit. If he goes up stairs, or

ascends a hill, his heart beats forcibly, and he pants very much. This

debility, if the cause which produces it does not cease to act, may

increase to a frightful degree. We have seen onanists whose bodies were

bent down by the weight of the head and chest and curved as in old

men: these individuals could not stand erect, their lower extremities

could not support their weight, and at the least motion they felt giddy

and faint, and finally terminated the remnant of their existence on a

sofa or bed which they could not leave. Many authors, Sanctorius and

Tissot among others, have asserted that this debility is greater or

less according to the position of the body during the act of venery;

but we attach but slight importance to this circumstance, although

they may have some effect. We think more of Sainte Marie’s opinion,

that the lower part of the body is frequently weaker than the upper,

because the spinal marrow is affected by seminal emissions. As the

flesh returns when the onanist ceases from his bad habits, so too

does his strength, and generally rapidly. But there are many, who are

affected during their whole lives with great debility, which unfits

them for many occupations. It is very common to find individuals who

complain of being incapable of any physical effort, and who request

their physician to give them strength. On questioning them, almost all

admit that in their youth they have been addicted to onanism. Some do

not wait to be questioned but refer to their former excesses as the

source of their troubles and denounce them as the cause of their actual

debility. Most invalids however do not refer so far back to the origin

of their illness or even do not dream of it: they remain at peace

with themselves and their ignorance might deserve to be respected,

if they were not or would not probably be fathers, and if it did not

become us to excite their vigilance in regard to their children. Thus

then venereal abuses may cause not only a transient debility, but an

exhaustion which may be continued, as long as life lasts.

The loss of flesh and strength is not the only symptom of consumption

which _undermine gradually_ the onanist: many signs indicate that

all the functions are affected as it were with a loss of strength.

The countenance instead of the vermilion glow of health, is pale and

without freshness, or of a yellowish, earthy, leaden, and livid teint;

the lips lose their color, a bluish circle surrounds the eyes, the

eyelids are puffed out with œdema: the flesh is soft and flaccid: the

pulse is small and feeble: upon the slightest motion or during sleep,

the forehead, chest and palms of the hands are bathed with profuse

perspiration: in some patients the hands and feet are edematous: in

short, the symptoms are those of general atony, which are attended with

a slow hectic fever, denoting that the economy does not yield without

reaction to the destructive disease.

We ought perhaps to wait before speaking of the disturbance of

the digestive organs, which almost constantly attends venereal

abuses, until we had finished describing the symptoms of voluntary

spermatorrhœa and were stating the diseases resulting from it. In fact

the digestion is deranged then only because the digestive organs are

diseased, and are affected with dyspepsy, gastritis, erteritis, &c.;

but these derangements are so common after the loss of the seminal

fluid, that we think ourselves authorized to treat these derangements

as symptoms. Venereal excesses may affect the digestive organs in

several ways, first by disturbing digestion if they occur while this

process is going on: this fact has already been stated. We might

add that when food is taken too soon after masturbation or coition

digestion is seldom performed well. This fact did not escape the notice

of Sanctorius, who remarks, _Cibus copiosior solito post immoderatum

coition interimeret nisi succederet aliqua ciborum corruptela_.

Venereal excesses may also affect the digestive apparatus in another

manner besides that of directly disturbing its functions. This system

is so intimately connected with all parts of the human body that all

are influenced by it. If then the digestive functions are disturbed by

most morbid states, can they remain uninjured when so many symptoms

are presented by the genital apparatus which has become the focus of

so many symptoms! Certainly not: these functions also take a part

and a large part in the disorders which are the usual consequences

of venereal excesses. A moderate exercise of the genital organs may

excite the stomach, render the appetite more keen and the digestion

more rapid. Hence why young men who begin to masturbate or to indulge

with women have frequently an insatiable appetite, which leads them to

eat constantly, which is very striking inasmuch as debility and loss of

flesh ensue in just the same manner. But such a state of things cannot

long continue: thus numerous signs soon show that excesses in venery

may act on the digestive tube in another manner than by rendering the

appetite more keen and the digestion more easy. In fact the appetite

does not long resist excesses of onanism: it first diminishes, then

disappears, and is often replaced by a decided disgust for every kind

of food; in some patients it becomes irregular, capricious: in others

it remains: the latter have most cause of complaint, for it continues

longer than digestion is performed. “My appetite remains,” writes

an onanist to Tissot, “but it is a misfortune, as eating is followed

by pain in the stomach and my food is rejected.” Many onanists feel

pains of a similar character after eating. In others there is a sense

of oppression, of fulness, in the epigastric region. In some there

is a gnawing feeling resembling that produced by a want of food:

this symptom is very common in girls, who in consequence of secret

practices, have become affected with leucorrhœa. In some the face and

cheeks present a redness which contrasts remarkably with their habitual

paleness: onanists are frequently affected with headache, vertigo,

flushed face, &c. In some the slowness of the digestion is indicated by

eructations, which occur long after taking food: or the belly is tense

and filled with wind. Food, which was formerly digested with ease, is

now oppressive: and the list of articles of diet is shortened every

day. Some onanists have been known in these cases to indulge in ardent

spirits with the vain hope of exciting their appetite, and regaining

their strength. Repeated vomitings, constant pain in the belly and a

slow fever are also frequent symptoms of the deep-seated affections of

the digestive organs. In many patients the intestinal canal is more

liable to be affected by venereal excesses, than the stomach. Obstinate

constipation in some, diarrhœa and borborygmi in others are the usual

signs of the affection of this canal. Fournier and Begin mention the

case of a young man, who almost constantly experienced after excess

in coition, severe colics followed by excessive diarrhœa and an

insupportable tenesmus. Rest, gummy drinks, the use of farinaceous food

and a small quantity of red wine, soon dissipated these symptoms, which

sometimes threw him into an alarming state of languor and debility.

(_Dict. des. Sc. Med._, _art. Masturbation_.) Hoffman relates a

similar case. We have more than once met with similar effects. A young

man whom we attended in 1832 died, after excesses in onanism, with

diarrhœa. This unfortunate individual, although in the last stages

of consumption, still indulged as soon as he was left alone, in his

deplorable habit. Diarrhœa, or rather intestinal ulcerations, which are

then the cause of it, generally appear in onanists as in those affected

with consumption, at the last stages of life. Thus a young man,

nineteen years old, addicted to masturbation from childhood, died a few

years since at Hotel Dieu. The most active watching and the strictest

mechanical methods could not arrest his fatal manipulations. Diarrhœa

was added to his habitual loss of semen, and he died three months after

entering the hospital, in a perfect state of marasmus.

Many authors have repeated after the statements of Hippocrates, that

individuals affected with consumption, arising from venereal excesses,

have no fever. This is an error: they die as we have already stated,

with true hectic fever, which is caused by the state of the different

organs, and particularly by that of the genital system. Of this,

numerous instances might be cited: the following is related by Dr.

Federigo, the Italian translator of Portal’s work on consumption. “I

knew,” says he, “a female who was affected for many years with extreme

debility and entire loss of appetite. A slow fever every evening had

rendered her extremely thin: her eyes were pale and sunken; her skin

was very hot, and it was highly painful for her to stand erect: a

profuse discharge weakened her still more; and she was in an advanced

state of marasmus. All the active remedies, as preparations of iron,

decoctions of cinchona and mineral waters were tried without success.

She died in a most deplorable state of consumption. I attempted, by

questioning her as to her mode of living, to discover the cause of

this disease, but unsuccessfully. A month before her death however,

she told me with tears in her eyes, that she brought her debility upon

herself, by indulging constantly and for many years in a secret and

murderous habit.” We will add that Sainte Marie having found that daily

involuntary pollution occurred in diseases of languor, as soon as he

became acquainted with the dissertation of Wichmann, discovered that

many slow nervous fevers were kept up by this affection.

From our remarks on the influence exercised by the genital organs

on the nervous system, even when simply in a state of excitement

or repose, it will not surprise, if we should state, that in this

system are seen the affections resulting most frequently from the

abuse of these organs. In fact the diseases of motion, sensation

or of intelligence, that is of the faculties which are situated in

the nervous system, are in fact the most common consequences of

masturbation, and of venereal excesses generally. We have already

spoken of the gradual diminution in the locomotive powers of the

onanist. That of sensation presents very different phenomena, it is

exalted as much as the first is diminished. Farther it is admitted

that these two faculties are in an inverse ratio to one another. This

increase of the susceptibility may take place at any age in consequence

of venereal excesses; but it occurs much more readily in young

persons, that is at that period of life when the mode of sensation

assumes those characters which at a later period more than all the

others constitute the temperament. Thus the excessive susceptibility

generally presented by onanists, does not belong to those transient

symptoms which disappear when the habit ceases: but, on the contrary,

it continues, long after the habit has ceased, and its influence is

long felt. How many persons of every age complain of being extremely

nervous. Some know that this depends upon their own conduct, which they

deeply regret. Interrogate them, and many will admit the excesses of

their youth. We have rarely neglected to verify this remark and the

responses have generally confirmed my suspicions. These individuals are

seldom free from disagreeable feelings, from pain and inconvenience of

some kind: their symptoms may vary extremely, and change very suddenly,

but they are generally or always indisposed one way or another.

This can be readily imagined: every thing affects them: cold, heat,

dryness, moisture, rain, snow, food, drink, exercise, rest, in fact

all these modifying circumstances find in them an organization ready

to be acted on. The act of venery, the first source of their nervous

susceptibility, subjects them to constant privations. A young man,

twenty-two years old, whom we attended a few months since, told me in

a depressed manner the constant inconveniences which he experienced

from onanism. The following is his narrative, which we shall give

here because it presents a faithful picture of the state in which the

nervous system exists in most persons who have indulged in onanism.

“At sixteen years of age,” said he, “I learned to masturbate; this

habit, I continued, for several years, with a kind of fury. My health

soon became affected, my strength failed and also my digestion. I

soon perceived a heat and constant pain in my stomach: my throat

was inflamed and my feelings were extremely bad. The advice which I

received and the alteration in my health, caused me to renounce this

habit. My situation soon improved and I gained daily, but at the same

time my desires returned and I shortly relapsed into my former errors.

The same cause produced the same effects and I again abandoned onanism,

promising never to indulge again. For two years I kept my word:

unhappily this time however my health was not restored as at first, and

I continually experienced all the sufferings which I have described.

Besides I have become so sensitive that every thing incommodes me:

the least change in the weather and particularly a storm causes me a

great deal of suffering. Farther I cannot say what temperature is best

for me, for I do not experience much difference whether it be cold or

warm. I have but little desire for females, and although indulging at

times after long intervals, yet I have always suffered for several days

afterward, in the same manner as after masturbation. I feel constant

pains of a lacerating character in the limbs: sometimes also, but more

rarely pains in the back; often also, I have pains in the stomach and

colic. My digestion although better than before, is far from being

good: I can take but a few articles of food, and the smallest portion

of wine, spirit, or coffee produces great distress.” This was the

young man’s statement: he was deeply affected by the slightest cause:

his appearance was sad, he was tired of himself and was constantly

tormented by thoughts of his former excesses. I have seen him several

times since; and I have reason to believe that his obedience to my

advice improved his health.

It may be said that this patient is a hypochondriac. I admit it: but

what is hypochondria, save an excessive susceptibility, added to all

the inconveniences which result from it, and the derangement of the

digestive functions? And hence all authors who have spoken of this

disease, and of hysteria, which resembles it in so many respects, have

classed venereal excesses among their most common causes. I might

cite in proof of this, Tissot, Louyer-Villermey, Fodéré, Foville and

many others. Oppenheim, physician to the grand vizier, attributes

the frequency of hypochondria and of hysteria among the orientals,

to their abuse of the pleasures of love. Pinel gives the history

of a hypochondriac who at the age of puberty abandoned himself to

masturbation which was followed by frequent involuntary pollutions.

In another place he speaks of a similar case: and almost every

practitioner can mention several.

The affection of the nervous system in onanists consists not only in

an increased susceptibility, but is indicated also, by a number of

symptoms, as pains sensations and spasms of every kind. Angelot has

related the case of a young man affected with constant discharge of

semen, who, among other phenomena, presented so great a degree of

nervous irritation that he experienced a vibration over his whole

body at the slightest noise. Some patients experience pains in the

limbs as if they had been beaten; others are affected with intense

headache and pains in the loins which reappear at each pollution:

or wandering pains, which however are sometimes fixed, are felt in

the course of the nerves and are similar to neuralgia. We shall see

hereafter that painful affections of various kinds have been the

more or less direct consequence of venereal excesses. Sensations of

giddiness, of formication or crawling, &c., may also be perceived: some

patients experience cramps which at first are felt only during the

act of venery, but which afterwards reappear at other times. Spasms,

contractions and generally the convulsive motions so often observed

in onanists usually result from severe affections of the nervous

centres, affections which we shall speak of directly. A very frequent

symptom and one too which has never deceived me as to its nature, says

Georget, are palpitations of the heart attended with difficulty in the

respiration, slight suffocating feelings, &c. He remarks also that

fainting and partial or general trembling appears on the slightest

contradiction and often without any known cause in onanists. These

remarks are very true: palpitations and stifling sensations continue

sometimes for years after onanism has ceased, and fainting fits,

trembling sensations, &c. show themselves during or immediately after

the act of venery.

The heart and the mind suffer as much as the body from excesses of

masturbation. To be assured of this we have only to remember the

power exercised by the genital organs in the physiological state, on

the ideas and feelings. Generally the necessity which the onanist

experiences for dissembling his tastes and for concealing a habit which

is both ridiculous and vile, renders him taciturn: his eyes are turned

from the gaze of those around: he loves solitude, avoids the world and

is embarrassed, and almost as it were ashamed of himself. His manner

might sometimes pass for timidity, we might almost say for innocence,

but it is entirely changed, when being in company with professed

onanists he no longer feels restraint.

It is to this habit of dissimulation, this inquietude with which the

onanist is constantly haunted, that Montegre attributes particularly

the difference between self-pollution and coition: but this moral

torment is far as we shall see from being the only one with which the

onanist is affected.

In fact, he constantly experiences a sensation of sadness and ennui,

which is impressed on his countenance and which is the natural

consequence of restlessness and of the fatigue which he feels

constantly. He is sad as one is when suffering, and when debility are

felt. This inward feeling of shame which is banished with difficulty

when the actions reputed to be bad are often repeated, must also

contribute to increase his melancholy and sadness. But perhaps

the worst feelings which torment him, are regret and remorse. The

exhaustion of his system, his sufferings, the near approach of death

often render him desperate. He remembers the time when he did not

indulge in onanism: he remembers those who first taught him that vice:

his shame, his pains and fears all come up strongly before him. Being

the author of his own misfortunes he constantly reproaches himself,

and he remembers all that has been said to wean him from the habit.

Now picture with these regrets these fears, and the despair we have

described, the existence of this fatal habit which cannot be overcome.

The onanist knows this danger and yet he cannot break himself of his

bad habit.

It can readily be supposed that onanists tortured by the present and

by the thoughts of the future which appears to them overshadowed with

clouds, have often wished to terminate their sufferings criminally.

This has in fact sometimes happened. “I do not believe,” writes an

onanist to Tissot, “that any human being has suffered as much as I

have. Without the special care of Providence I should find it difficult

to support the burden of life.” Some have not the courage to sustain

life. Esquirol has often known masturbation to lead to melancholy and

suicide. Orfila also mentions among the occasional causes of suicide

“the physical and moral disgust, intellectual apathy without any hope

of cure which often follows premature indulgences of every kind.”

If the resources of nature had been known to those who thus abandon

themselves to despair; if they had witnessed, as we have, the rapidity

with which the health is restored, when onanism is arrested, if they

had believed in the healing power of time, they would have seen that

their pains might disappear, their strength might have been restored,

and they might have enjoyed a long and happy life. The following case

will teach onanists not to despair.

A gentleman, twenty-four years old, says M. Sainte Marie, in order to

avoid conscription shut himself up in an isolated chateau under the

charge of an old and confidential domestic. There in order to lighten

the ennui of his situation he gave himself up to onanism. After three

years of this forced seclusion and dangerous excess, he reappeared in

the world; he was excessively pale and thin, which was attributed to

the extreme loneliness in which he existed. Marriage was urged upon

him as a mode of relieving, by an agreeable establishment, this long

ennui; his strength however failed him the night of his marriage,

and he was unable, as Montaigne says, to consummate the nuptials. He

became disgusted with himself, and this feeling soon settled into

one of deep and fixed despair. One day he swallowed a large dose of

arsenic, but vomited it soon after with the food which he had eaten.

He then came to Lyons to seek a death which he considered more worthy

of his birth and station. He followed very closely for several days a

celebrated fencer, and finding an opportunity to insult him, did so,

with no other intent than that of losing, sword in hand, a life which

had become hateful to him. The fortune of arms decided otherwise:

although feeble and languid, he wounded his adversary, and this slight

advantage suddenly changed his resolution. He now saw that life was not

a series of defeats and humiliations: he desired to live, and in this

frame of mind he came to consult me. His impotence seemed but a slight

symptom. I readily saw that it was only the symptom of a well marked

dorsal consumption. I prescribed ice to be taken internally, iced water

douches to be used along the vertebral column and a milk diet. After

continuing this treatment three months, the patient’s health seemed

perfectly restored. He left Lyons, and rejoined his family, who were

much concerned at his long absence. I learn now that he is very happy,

and that his wife has presented him with three living pledges of

affection. (_Wichmann_, _p._ 91.)

Besides the intellectual and moral effects which we have mentioned,

onanism often produces a very marked debility of the mental faculties,

and particularly of the memory. Young men, who previously showed

considerable vivacity of mind and aptitude for study, become, after

being addicted to this habit, stupid, and incapable of applying

themselves: it is evident, that this transitory state which immediately

succeeds the act of venery, becomes continued when this act is

frequently repeated, because time is not allowed for the effects of

it to pass off. This debility of the intellectual faculties must not

always be considered as irremediable: in fact, these individuals

sometimes regain their original acuteness, when the habit which

had enfeebled them is discontinued, before the deterioration is of

long standing. We might adduce instances of this return. The most

remarkable, assuredly, is that of an idiot girl, who was restored to

reason by amputation of the clitoris--an operation performed by Dr.

Graefe, of Berlin. In a future page, we shall give this interesting

case in full. Unfortunately, the simple cessation of onanism is

not always sufficient to efface its effects completely; and many

individuals preserve, during their whole existence, a certain

feebleness of mind, which arises from the excesses of their youth.

The debility of the intellectual faculties does not always stop at

the point indicated: it may extend almost to idiocy--to the most

complete stupidity. Most generally, then, the brain, or its appendages,

are deeply injured, which is indicated by different symptoms, as

loss of sight, hearing, fits, paralysis, &c. This was the case with

an individual, whose case is stated by Serrurier, and who became,

through onanism, perfectly imbecile. This is true, too, of an idiot,

who was under the charge of Pinel, in the infirmary of Bicêtre. He

was a sculptor, who had previously been exhausted by intemperance

and venery. He remained almost motionless and quiet, or at intervals

indulged in a foolish laugh. His face was destitute of expression,

and he had no remembrance of his former state. His appetite was

always good; and, even at the sight of food, his jaws began to move.

He constantly remained in a recumbent posture; and, finally, became

affected with hectic fever, which terminated fatally.

It is worthy of remark, in those onanists who become idiots, that,

while the external senses and the intelligence diminish, the genital

activity is increased: all these faculties seem to be blended in

one, the proportions of which seem much greater, as the others

are diminished. This opposite state of things, found in all cases

produced by onanism, is particularly remarkable in a case observed at

the Hospital St. Louis, by Alibert. The patient was a peasant-girl

twenty-two years old, who was constantly employed in tending sheep.

The seclusion of this girl’s situation favored the development of

onanism. She concealed herself in retired and quiet situations, to

indulge this horrid inclination. Two years elapsed, during which her

intellectual faculties were progressively enfeebled: she became stupid,

while the venereal sense was excited to the highest degree. Things

came to such an extent, that she fell, as it were, into a species of

nymphomania, for which she was carried to the hospital. The unfortunate

girl presented a kind of automatic motion, which she could not repress.

Her head, chest, and upper half of her body were excessively thin,

while the other half was remarkably plump. The sight, and much more

the contact of a male, caused in her a state which was soon terminated

by a pollution. By merely touching this girl, her whole person could

be agitated and convulsed to a distressing degree, and it was thought

expedient to send her home. (_Dict. des Sc. Med., Vol. XXXVI., p. 582._)

Are the alternate states of excitement and collapse experienced by the

brain, during and after the act of venery, the only cause of weakness

in onanists? Does not the constant state of their mind contribute also,

as Tissot and many other authors think, to this unfortunate result? Of

this, we have no doubt.

The yoke which onanism imposes on those who are completely abandoned

to it, is such, that they have constantly before them a certain set of

ideas. All their study is confined to avoid the looks of others, and

to call to mind all the remembrances, and to create all the illusions,

upon which their senses revel: their strength of mind is consecrated

to these objects alone. To dissemble, and enjoy themselves, is all

they wish. The intellectual faculties, being thus neglected, must

remain imperfect; or even, if we may be allowed the expression, must

lose their vigour, and waste. We can understand well how the necessity

arising from this state of things may aid the development of the

most wicked thoughts. Was not this the case with a young girl, whose

history, as stated by Parent Duchatelet, is as follows:--

This girl, whose early childhood was spent with her grandmother, a

respectable and religious woman, was about seven years old, when she

returned home. For the first four months after her return, she was

very sad and was not as playful as children are generally, and never

caressed her father and mother. She lost flesh rapidly. The cause of

this was sought for in vain; when, one day, a few questions having been

put to her, she stated, that from the age of four years she had been

in the habit of seeing boys from ten to twelve years old; that since

she had returned home, she had had no opportunity, and had indulged in

self-pollution. In vain did her parents try to wean her from this vice:

they reasoned with and caressed her; they gave her presents, and all

the clothes she desired; physicians visited her; the powers of religion

were tried. But all in vain: the child abused herself, even in her

sleep.

But a horrid inclination soon appeared: she now desired to see her

parents dead, and even to murder them. This wish she expressed freely,

and also her regret at not being able to satisfy her wishes. She

promised herself to embrace any opportunity which presented. The only

motives which induced her to do this, were to possess her mother’s

jewels, and then to go with the men. Things soon came to such an

extent, that the parents, for their own safety, were obliged to lock

up their daughter every night, as she did not conceal her intention

of assassinating them during sleep. The child, being in this manner

less exposed to observation, abandoned herself to her habits without

constraint, it being the only wish she could gratify. She never

laughed, nor cried. She sat the whole day in a very small chair, with

her hands crossed, and she abused herself as soon as her mother’s back

was turned. Punishments succeeded no better than presents or caresses.

One day, her father tied her to the bedstead: she said, “You may

kill me; but I will not change.” These facts gave rise to a judicial

investigation, from the minutes of which this statement is taken.

(_Arch. d’hygiene et de med. legale_, _January_, 1832.)

This young girl certainly had inclinations which were the result of her

organization. She never became attached even to the grandmother who

brought her up; and whom also she would have destroyed for her jewels.

She was not animated by the wish to kill, as by that of acquiring a

desired object. One day, while a man was talking with her, she looked

attentively at his breast-pin: when questioned on the subject, she

admitted that she would kill this man for the sake of this jewel. Her

passion for venereal pleasures also came from an organic arrangement:

she had never been led into these enjoyments by men or women. When four

years old, she sought after little boys; and it was not till she was

deprived of them, that she resorted to onanism. She admitted that she

preferred the boys.

Now, I would ask, if this primitive exaltation of a sense, which

masturbation excited still more every day, could govern a disposition

which caused her to regard homicide as the best mode of satisfying

certain desires? Could that state of fatigue, which is constantly felt

in those individuals who are addicted to onanism, excite in this young

girl the sympathies which unite each individual to his fellows, and

give strength to those bonds which she was always ready to break? Was

it possible for her to love her parents, who constantly thwarted her

desires? Would not the irritation she constantly felt at not being

able to give herself completely up to venereal pleasures, react on

her other inclinations? Would not the obstacles she encountered tend

to make her think herself surrounded with enemies? Governed by one

sense, was she in a state to listen to and understand all that was said

to her, to modify her bad inclinations? Did not her state resemble

that of animals, who, although mild and amiable, become dangerous and

wicked, when the genital sense is excited? Finally, does not this case

prove that deviations of character may result from onanism--that good

feelings may be changed by this habit--or, at least, that bad ones may

be called into action?

Moral depravity of another kind may result from onanism. The mind,

accustomed to seek pleasure in a certain circle of ideas, or a

peculiar series of sensations, cannot find any in any other manner.

The enjoyments of onanism are then the only ones which the onanist

can realize. The union of the sexes has no attraction for him: he

indulges with repugnance, and thinks the sensations much less agreeable

than those arising from self-pollution. The genital sense, the power

of proceeding to the act of venery, and of procreating, remain: but

depraved tastes have taken the place of the legitimate desires. Tissot

regards this perversion as more frequent in females than in males: he

remarks upon the case of a female as stated by Bekkers, over whose

mind self-pollution had taken such possession, that she detested the

legitimate modes of gratification.

We believe, that if there are females who prefer onanism to coition,

it is because the sensual results of the latter are generally very

uncertain. Besides, Tissot does not exclude the male sex from this

kind of depravation: the same author states the history of a man, who,

in being taught onanism by his preceptor, experienced, when first

married, so great a disgust for the natural relations which result from

it, added to the exhaustion caused by his manipulations, that he became

melancholy; which state, however, yielded to appropriate remedies.

A fact published by Alibert is very analogous to the preceding. He

states, that a young man, brought up in a boarding-house, contracted

the habit of onanism in his childhood. Tissot’s book was put into

his hands, which frightened, but did not entirely cure him. After

reading it, however, he was more moderate, and indulged only at long

intervals, and when he was excited by very violent desires. Hence, his

temperament did not change; but he continued robust, and his moral

faculties preserved their energy: but the frightful habit which he had

contracted, prevented the development of any desire for the other sex.

Even when thirty years old, he had never been excited by the sight of a

female; and his feelings were called into action only by vain images,

or by the phantoms of his depraved imagination. He had early studied

drawing, which he had always pursued with ardor. The beautiful forms of

men, in this beau-ideal of painters, which nature has never realized,

affected him, and finally inspired him with an extraordinary emotion--a

vague passion, for which he could not account. It is necessary,

however, to remark, that this passion had no connexion with the tastes

of sodomy, and that it could not be excited by the sight of any man.

Such was his strange situation, when he came to ask my advice. He then

presented, as I said before, no physical symptom of impotence. He was

healthy and well-made, and nature had not been unkind to him; but he

had so abused the use of her gifts, that it was difficult to restore

to him their proper use. The patient was perfectly acquainted with his

situation. “There is no effort,” said he, “that I am not willing to

make, to free myself from my ignominious situation--to drive away from

my thoughts the infamous images which haunt me. They have deprived me

of the legitimate enjoyments procured by the union of the sexes--of the

power possessed by the lowest animals of reproducing their species. I

am dying of chagrin and shame.”

I considered his disease as a perversion of the venereal appetite. I

thought that the most urgent indication was to restore nature to its

true type. In fact, the individual was very robust, at the period

of consulting me; and farther, as I have said, the beauty of the

ideal forms of man excited in him voluptuous sensations, during the

continuance of which the genital organs became excited, and there was a

discharge of semen: this favored the supposition that he still retained

some stamina. Hence, there was neither destruction nor essential

alteration in his physical sensibility; but rather a false direction

of this faculty of the organism. The following course of treatment

was proposed. I have already said, that the patient was very fond of

drawing, and that he applied himself to it with that ardor which is

the sure guaranty of success. I required him to study carefully the

female form, and to make drawings of it--to break through his habits,

and to renounce the Belvidere Apollo for the Venus de Medicis. He did

so. Nature gradually resumed her rights: he soon preferred a round

and delicate arm to that which was strong and masculine; and when he

contemplated the elegance and softness of contour in the female form,

he began to be cured. After constructing an imaginary model, he sought

for it in the physical world. Time was required, and perseverance; but

he was perfectly restored.

§ 2. DISEASES ARISING FROM VENEREAL EXCESSES.

There are but few diseases which have not been observed as occurring

after venereal excesses. The influence of the genital organs is so

great, and extends so perfectly to all points of the organism, that the

slightest morbid disposition of the latter is favored by its action.

Capable of fecundating all the germes of the diseases which occur, the

abuse of the genital organs produces all those which may happen in

the body. Hence, we must not be astonished to see venereal excesses

mentioned in enumerating the direct or indirect causes of most of them.

We should certainly sometimes be embarrassed to justify this indication

by positive proofs; for we do not know all that exists, and written

science does not represent all that has been seen: but, as we know that

a powerful influence only requires to exist with a morbid arrangement,

to make of it a disease, the knowledge of this fact alone authorizes us

to place venereal excesses, which have so injurious an effect, among

the productive causes of most affections of the body.

Those diseases which are the consequence of this cause generally have

a special mark, which depends not only upon the fact, that in a great

many cases it continues to act when they are developed, and therefore

deranges their course; but which results also particularly from the

presence among their symptoms of those which belong particularly to

venereal excesses. Hence, if, in consequence of these excesses, an

individual should be affected with phthisis, epilepsy, a chronic

disease of the brain, spinal marrow, caries of the vertebræ, &c., the

patient will present, besides the special symptoms of these different

affections, the signs of consumption already mentioned by us, and which

are generally the consequences of the prolonged abuse of masturbation,

or of coition; he will become thin, his strength will be exhausted,

his eyes will be sunken, and present a dark ring beneath them; his

countenance will be melancholy and suffused; his digestion will be

deranged; he will suffer from wandering pains, from trembling, and

from spasms; his mind will become enfeebled; and, finally, he will

show many of the phenomena which we have described as general symptoms

of venereal excesses. In these cases, there is, properly speaking, a

complication of the special disease which they have produced, and of

this other disease resulting as we have seen before, from the abuse of

the genital organs. There are, at the same time, the general effects

of this abuse, which may be seen in all those who are the victims of

it, and the special characters of diseases which might have arisen from

some other cause. The practitioner who should be unacquainted with

these facts, in regard to which we find nothing precise in authors,

would be liable to mistakes which would render him liable to errors of

prognosis and of treatment.

The instances of individuals who have died of _apoplexy_, either of

the cerebrum or cerebellum, during coition, are by no means rare. We

can readily imagine, that if there be a marked disposition to this

disease, and that if it be disposed to come on, the derangement in the

respiration and circulation produced by the venereal action might hurry

it. This has happened more than once during the digestion of a full

meal. Most old men who have died during coition, have been affected

with apoplexy. Hence, authors have generally placed venereal excesses

among the causes of this affection.

We will mention Cœlius Aurelian, Areltœus, Lomnius, Tissot, Pinel,

Cruveilhier, Londe, &c. Henry Van Hers mentions a man, forty years

old, who was attacked with apoplexy while with his wife, the first

night of his marriage. The attack, however, could not have been very

severe, as it yielded readily to treatment: but the patient indulging

in the pleasures of love a few days after his recovery, was again

attacked, and died. (_Dict. des Sc. Med._, _art. Apoplexie_.) Hoffmann

mentions one. It was that of a soldier, who died in the act of coition.

It was found, on opening his body, that blood was effused in the

brain. Serres’ work on the comparative anatomy of the brain states

a similar instance. It is that of a man, thirty-two years old, who

became affected with apoplexy during coition, and after drinking more

freely than usual. Firm erection of the penis, which continued nearly

until death had closed the scene, was added to the violent symptoms

of apoplexy. The cerebrum was healthy; but the median lobe of the

cerebellum exhibited traces of severe irritation; and the substance

of the cerebellum was broken in several places; and small abscesses,

filled with blood, were grooved along the superior vermicular process.

In some individuals, apoplexy supervenes so soon after venereal

excesses, that we might reasonably anticipate that they contributed

to its invasion. Thus, a steward, forty-nine years old, whose case is

mentioned by Andral, fell down in the street, on coming from a house

of ill-fame. He was immediately carried to the Maison de Santé, near,

where he died shortly afterward. On opening his body, two apoplectic

lesions were found; one in the right hemisphere of the cerebellum, the

other in the left hemisphere of the cerebrum.

In coition, a marked congestion of blood takes place toward this

organ. It is fair to presume, that such an act frequently repeated

may predispose to an attack of apoplexy, which is decided sooner or

later under the action of different causes. It is a fact, however,

that this affection occurs frequently in those individuals who are

accustomed to indulge in venereal pleasures. Serres reports the case of

a man who indulged frequently, and who was attacked with apoplexy soon

after a day passed in a house of ill-fame. He died two days afterward,

presenting, among other symptoms, the erection of the penis, and an

abundant discharge of semen. Post mortem examination showed, as in the

preceding cases, apoplexy existing in the cerebellum. A similar case

was reported by Dr. Guiot. It was that of a man, fifty-two years old,

who was much addicted to women, and who, after several times suffering

from cerebral congestions, was affected with mania. His genital

organs were very much developed, and he was frequently affected with

pollutions. He died, finally, of congestion, with hemiplegia, in twelve

hours. Among the symptoms presented, were remarked erection of the

penis, and as it were automatic motions of masturbation.

Deep and chronic lesions have been observed in the encephalon of

onanists, much more frequently than acute diseases. We published,

in 1817, a case of chronic arachnitis, which seemed to depend on

this cause. The patient was a boy seven years old, who entered the

Hospital des Enfans, at the beginning of the preceding year. This

child, who was much addicted to masturbation, was usually affected

with convulsions during this act. He finally became idiotic. He was

extremely repugnant to take exercise, and he remained very quiet. His

strength failed, his limbs wasted away, and finally he became affected

with almost total blindness. The hearing, and generally the external

and internal senses were also much weakened. Galvanism and other

remedies were employed in vain. The patient died; and on opening the

cadaver, we found a very marked inflammation of the portion of the

meninges which follows the course of the superior longitudinal sinus.

The surface of the brain, also, appeared to some assistants to be

inflamed. In another patient, whose history is stated by Desruelles, in

his memoir on the effects of onanism, the substance of the brain was

affected. There was paralysis of the left arm, convulsions of the right

arm and of the muscles of the face. On opening the cadaver, an encysted

abscess was found in the hemisphere of the brain, on the side opposite

to the paralysis, and corresponding to the convulsed limbs.

Chronic alterations have frequently been found in the cerebellum of

onanists. They have been mentioned by some as the cause, by others as

the effect of onanism. But even admitting that in some cases these

alterations may have been the beginning of this habit, this fact shows

the bond which unites the genital organs and the cerebellum, and

renders more probable the influence which they may exercise upon it. In

fact, when the disease of one organ deranges the functions of another,

we may be satisfied that an opposite result is possible. Farther,

it would be impossible, in most of the cases of which we speak, to

distinguish whether the cerebral affection or the masturbation had

precedence. The only thing positively known is their coincidence; and

this latter has appeared too frequently not to attract attention. We

will mention several instances of it.

A female, addicted at an early age to the pleasures of venery, finally

indulged in prostitution; she was at the same time addicted to

onanism, and at last became affected with nymphomania. Ashamed of her

situation, she submitted to cauterization of the clitoris, but without

any good result. She finally died; and we found chronic irritation,

with induration of the middle lobe of the cerebellum. Small sinuses,

with callous edges, indicated that an inflammation had existed for a

long time in this organ.

Gall (in his treatise on the functions of the brain, Vol. III., p. 314)

has given us the history of a boy, three years old, who was strongly

addicted to onanism, and in whom two thirds of the cerebellum was found

to be suppurated.

A young man, nineteen years old, was so much addicted from his infancy

to masturbation, that all mechanical means were tried in vain to

conquer this fatal habit. It was even proposed to scarify the penis,

in order that his motions might be prevented by pain. All attempts

were in vain; and this unfortunate young man, exhausted by continual

losses of semen, died three months after entering Hotel Dieu, in the

most complete state of marasmus. He had often experienced attacks of

epilepsy. On opening the dead body, we found in his cerebellum an

encephaloid tumor the size of a nut, which had began to soften.

A girl ten years old, addicted to masturbation, and of a melancholy

temperament, complained for four months of severe pains in the head.

These pains increased to such a degree, that for the last three weeks

of her life she was constantly crying. She was finally carried to the

Hospital des Enfans. The only additional information obtained in regard

to her was, that the patient was bedridden for twelve days--that she

was affected with vomiting of bile, followed by somnolence--that for

three days she had ceased to speak, or answered with difficulty--that

she constantly kept her hand to her head, which was thrown back. During

the last four days, she was comatose: there was a slight degree of

strabismus, and dilatation of the pupil. A post-mortem examination

showed inflammation, with purulent infiltration of the arachnoid

membrane, at the upper part of the cerebellum. The substance of the

brain presented tubercles and a softening.

Combette has related a case, which to our knowledge is unparalleled;

viz., complete destruction of the cerebellum in a girl eleven years

old, who was addicted to onanism. In place of this organ was found a

gelatiniform membrane, attached to the medulla oblongata by a peduncle

of a similar character. The genital organs of this girl presented

evident marks of her habit: the finger could easily be introduced

into the vagina; the hymen was absent; the external labia were of a

bright red colour, and seemed to have been frequently irritated. All

that is known of this patient, who died at the Hospital des Enfans, in

1831, is reduced to a few facts. She was born healthy and well-made,

although she was slight; and her physical and intellectual development

was slow, and very imperfect. On entering the Foundling Hospital the

13th of January, 1830, she was feeble and ricketty, had but little

intelligence, and seemed indifferent to surrounding objects. She

answered questions with difficulty and hesitation. Her legs, although

feeble, still supported her; but she fell frequently. She was in the

full possession of all her senses: her appetite was good. Her health

suffered more the following months, and she was finally obliged to

remain constantly in bed. Her constitution then appeared impaired, and

she was as it were stupified. She was depressed, and complained neither

of pleasure nor pain; if questioned, she merely answered yes or no.

She laid constantly on her back, her head turned to the left, and she

moved her limbs with great difficulty. She soon became affected with

a continual diarrhœa; and she died fifteen months after entering the

hospital, in a state of complete exhaustion. What was the effect of

masturbation in this case? Was it the cause or effect of the malady,

which had disorganized the brain? This habit certainly had a great deal

to do with it. (_Revue Medicale, April, 1831._)

To these facts others might easily be added, where the affection

of the brain was manifest, although not verified by a post mortem

observation: thus, in the following case mentioned by Serrurier, the

epilepsy, loss of sight, and the destruction of the intellectual

faculties, certainly indicated a deep lesion of the brain. “I always

remember with horror,” says this author, “the frightful picture

presented by a young soldier, after frequent indulgence in onanism,

and of nocturnal pollutions, which were more violent and copious after

each epileptic fit. This young man was in a perfect state of marasmus:

his sight was lost entirely; he was perfectly imbecile, and even the

calls of nature were unanswered by him. His body exhaled a particularly

nauseous odour; his skin was livid; his tongue trembled; his eyes were

sunken, his teeth decayed; and his arms were covered with ulcers, which

indicated a scorbutic affection. This state continued for six months,

when the melancholy man died, having struggled for a long time against

death, which finally terminated his sufferings.”

In the preceding case we can remark, in addition to the symptoms of

the cerebral affection, the symptoms of the exhaustion of the cachexy,

presented by individuals who have been reduced very low by onanism. A

similar state is seen in the following case related by Tissot. Here the

encephalic affection, to judge of it by the throwing back of the neck,

and the violent pains experienced by the patient in this part, seemed

to be situated in the cerebellum, medulla oblongata, or in those parts

of the arachnoid membrane which are near them.

L. D---- was by profession a watchmaker. He had lived prudently, and

had enjoyed a good state of health, till he was about seventeen years

of age. At this period, he gave himself up to masturbation, which

he repeated every day, sometimes even to the third time; and the

ejaculation was always preceded and followed by a slight insensibility,

and a convulsive motion in the extending muscles of the head, which

drew it very much back, whilst the neck was extremely swelled. A year

had not elapsed, before he began to feel a great weakness after every

act. This notification was not sufficient to rescue him from his

filthy practices: his soul, already devoted to this base habit, was

incapable of forming any other idea, and the repetition of his crime

became every day more frequent, till such time as he was in a state

which gave reason to apprehend his death. Too late grown wise, the

evil had already made so great a progress, that he was incurable; and

the genital parts were become so easily irritated, and were so weak,

that it was no longer necessary that this unhappy youth should be an

agent, in order to shed his seed. The slightest irritation immediately

procured an imperfect erection, which was constantly followed by an

evacuation of this liquor, which daily increased his weakness. This

spasm, of which he was not before sensible but in consummating the act,

and which ceased therewith, was now become habitual, and frequently

attacked him without any apparent cause, and in so violent a manner,

that during the whole period of the fit, which sometimes lasted fifteen

hours, and never less than eight, he felt such violent pains in the

back part of the neck, that he did not scream out, but absolutely

howled; and all this while it was impossible for him to swallow either

solids or fluids. His voice was become hoarse; but I did not observe

that it was more so while the fit continued. He entirely lost his

strength, and was obliged to give up his profession, being altogether

incapacitated: thus overwhelmed with misery, he languished, almost

without any assistance, for some months; and was the more to be pitied,

as what memory he had remaining, and which he was at length entirely

bereft of, only served him to take an incessant retrospect of the

cause of his misfortunes, which were increased by all the aggravating

horrors of remorse. I heard of his situation, and went to him; I found

a being that less resembled a living creature than a corpse, lying upon

straw, meager, pale, and filthy, casting forth an infectious stench;

almost incapable of motion, a watery palish blood issued from his nose;

saliva constantly flowed from his mouth: having a diarrhœa, he voided

his excrement in the bed without knowing it: he had a continual flux

of semen; his sore, watery eyes were deadened to that degree, that he

could not move them: his pulse was very small, quick, and frequent: it

was with great difficulty he breathed, reduced almost to a skeleton in

every part, except his feet, which became œdematous. The disorder of

his mind was equal to that of his body; devoid of ideas and memory,

incapable of connecting two sentences, without reflection, without

being afflicted at his fate, without any other sensation than pain,

which returned with every fit, at least every third day. Far below the

brute creation, he was a spectacle, the horrible sight of which cannot

be conceived, and it was difficult to discover that he had formerly

made part of the human species. I had immediate recourse to the

assistance of strengthening remedies, in order to remove these violent

spasmodic fits, which so dreadfully brought him back to sensibility

only by pain: I contented myself with having given him some ease in

this respect, and I discontinued administering remedies, which could

not ameliorate his condition; he died at the end of a few weeks, in

June, 1757, his whole body having become dropsical.

In a case related by Bouteille, surgeon-general of the hospital at

Lyons, most of the symptoms resulting from the cerebral affection

existed in the right side of the body, and consequently indicated an

affection of the opposite side of the cerebrum. The patient was a young

girl twelve years old, whose constitution was weak and irritable, and

very slightly developed--doubtless, on account of the enervating habit

of onanism, in which she had indulged for several years, and which

her mother’s vigilance could not prevent. Just after recovering from

a severe illness, which yielded readily to remedies, this young girl

was very much terrified, which had a great deal of influence upon her,

as she was extremely sensitive; her sensibility being increased by the

weak state of her nervous system, produced by onanism. Soon after, she

was affected by slight convulsive motions in the right foot and arm,

accompanied by a disagreeable pain in the right knee and in the sole

of the foot of the same side. Notwithstanding the use of remedies, the

disease increased, and she was soon unable to carry her food to her

mouth, her arm was so much agitated. The appetite was variable, and

the pulse was regular. Sometimes, and contrary to her usual custom,

the patient was silent; sometimes she was extremely lively, and even

foolish; sometimes her ideas were incoherent, and she often indulged in

tears.

Headache and dizziness were perceived, but they soon yielded. At a

later period, the sight and hearing of the right side were considerably

weakened: at the same time, the pain in the sole of the foot, knee,

and part of the right hand became more intense, and the difficulty

of walking increased. After a time, the disease seemed to improve a

little: the convulsive motions abated; the intelligence and memory

returned, as before the disease; but the sight and hearing remained as

they were. An active mode of treatment was now used: electricity formed

the principal remedy. The patient was finally cured. Need we remark,

that in all probability the fright was only the occasion which excited

the development of a disease already prepared for by the onanism.

(_Traité de la chosée_, p. 352.)

The convulsive form, the _epileptic_, is one of those assumed most

frequently by the cerebral diseases produced by masturbation; we can

easily conceive of this by remembering, that what takes place in the

act of venery has, as we have already seen, a striking analogy with an

attack of epilepsy: hence the ancients termed the act of coition, _a

short fit of epilepsy_. It is unnecessary to state here the numerous

testimonials found in authors, in regard to the influence of onanism as

a cause of epilepsy. This influence is a fact mentioned and assented to

by all. We shall relate a few examples.

There are some individuals who are so susceptible, and present so

great a disposition to epilepsy, that they have a regular attack of

it whenever they indulge in the act of venery. Didier knew a merchant

of Montpelier, of whom this was true. Similar cases are related by

Galen, Van-Hers, Tissot, Hoffmann, Haller, and many other authors. A

similar thing is observed even in animals. Alfred Menard had a strong

watch-dog, who was affected with epilepsy whenever he coupled with a

slut. These attacks were characterized by convulsions, and a loss of

consciousness: their duration varied, and was always connected with

the ardour of the animal, who never was affected except under the

circumstances mentioned. (_Revue medicale_, March, 1825.)

Epilepsy sometimes supervenes directly after the excesses which cause

it. Cole, cited by Esquirol, relates the case of a female, who became

epileptic three days after marriage: but venereal abuses generally act

slowly, and prepare the body for an attack of epilepsy, which this

or some other cause excites. Esquirol relates the case of a young

man, twelve or thirteen years old, who early in life was addicted to

masturbation, and became extremely nervous, although strong and robust:

at fifteen years of age he was affected with epilepsy. These attacks

came on at the moon’s first quarter, and were very sudden: the patient

fell down, uttered loud cries, and was generally convulsed: his eyes

were open, fixed, and injected: the pupils were very much dilated:

and when the fit passed off, he remained exhausted the rest of the

day. This young man, like most onanists, was extremely susceptible,

fretting upon the slightest pretext. After six months of treatment,

the attacks became less frequent: at the end of a year they ceased.

This young man might have been considered cured, but the pleasure of

seeing his mother, from whom he had been separated for two years,

caused a relapse: the same remedial means were again employed, and with

success. He has, since that, entered into business, and has travelled

extensively: his nervous system is strengthened: he married when

twenty-seven years old, and has continued in good health.

Another curious fact has been communicated to us by the celebrated

Dr. Goupil. A little boy, only eighteen months old, who had been put

out to nurse, returned home with the habit of masturbation. At first,

his parents thought but little of this; but when two years old, he

was affected with an epileptic form of disease, characterized by loss

of consciousness, convulsions of the muscles of the face and eyes,

stiffness of the limbs, and sometimes he fell down. These fits becoming

more and more frequent, Dr. Goupil was consulted. The patient was now

three years and a half old, and still continued his bad habit. He was

constantly sad, morose, and stupid. The doctor, not being at first

aware of the cause, employed different medicines, but unsuccessfully:

he then discovered the cause, and tried mechanical modes. He put on the

boy, at night, a kind of strait jacket, by which his arms were kept

crossed in front of the chest; and during the daytime, he was watched

carefully. These means succeeding but imperfectly. Dr. Goupil employed

another strait waistcoat, which was laced behind, and was furnished

in front with a silver apparatus, to contain the genital organs, and

having only an opening for the urine. This new obstacle did not answer

as well as was expected, and the child sometimes escaped all vigilance:

but as this was rare, he soon gained flesh, and also his strength and

vivacity. The fits of epilepsy gradually became less frequent. This boy

is now from nine to ten years old; enjoys good health; and, with the

exception of a remarkable loss of memory, retains no trace of former

indiscretions.

These two cases show how far the system can be restored, when the cause

which disturbs it ceases to act. The following, which was communicated

by Zimmerman to Tissot, proves the same thing; but it also shows how

soon a return to the bad habit destroys the good effects resulting from

its abandonment.

“I have seen,” says Zimmerman, “a man, twenty-three years old, who

became epileptic, after debilitating his body by frequent masturbation.

Whenever he had nocturnal pollutions, a fit of epilepsy ensued; and

the same thing occurred after masturbation--from which, however, he

did not abstain, notwithstanding the bad symptoms with which it was

followed. After the fit had subsided, he felt very severe pains in the

kidneys, and around the coccyx. Having, however, abstained from his

manipulations for some time, the pollutions disappeared; and we had

hopes of curing the epilepsy, the attacks of which were less frequent.

He had regained his strength, appetite, sleep, and color, after

resembling a cadaver; but having returned to his bad habits, which were

always followed by fits, he was found dead in his chamber one morning,

bathed in blood.”

Another convulsive affection, _St. Vitus’ dance_, has sometimes been

caused by onanism. Marc Ant. Petit has published a case of it, which

was communicated by Dr. Morelot. It is as follows:--A young girl, eight

years old, became remarkably thin: her lower limbs were agitated by

extraordinary motions, which were extended to the upper limbs. She soon

lost all control over them. The twitching in the muscles of the face

and eyes was excessive; the patient could not continue in her bed, and

she was confined to a large chair. Her attending physician thought that

this might be attributed to the presence of worms, and gave several

anthelminthics, but without success. Dr. Morelot was consulted at

this period, and thought that he could perceive the effects of a bad

habit: he soon became convinced of its existence. By means of great

watchfulness on the part of her parents, the use of cold baths, musk,

and camphor, she was radically cured.

Mental derangement is often the prevalent symptom in diseases of the

brain, produced by excess of masturbation or coition. We have already

spoken of idiocy; but this is by no means the only change observed

in consequence of these excesses. Every variety of affection of the

mind may be caused by them, as is proved by statistics collected by

several authors, in insane asylums. Yet these abstracts are far from

presenting the truth. “So many circumstances combine,” says Esquirol,

“to embarrass the discovery of causes of mental alienation, that the

one mentioned, like other causes, must often be unascertained by

physicians.” According to this sagacious observer of all the forms

of mental alienation, mania is produced least frequently by venereal

excesses. He adds, that maniacs, during the duration of the periods of

access, are less addicted, generally, than other deranged persons to

masturbation; but when they do indulge, this act must be considered as

a bad symptom, since it constitutes an insurmountable obstacle to the

cure: it destroys the strength, and finally produces in the patients

stupidity, phthisis, marasmus, and death.

Dementia is, perhaps, the kind of derangement most frequently observed

after masturbation. I saw a remarkable instance of this disease in

a young man, twenty years old, who, indulging in these excesses for

several years, gradually lost his mental faculties, became averse

to even his relatives and dearest friends, and finally fell into a

most perfect state of dementia. The relative frequency of this form

of mental alienation in onanists has been pointed out in France by

Esquirol, and in Norway by Holst. (_Annales d’hygiene publ._ December,

1830.)

Holst has remarked, that paralysis, that fatal symptom which so

frequently attends all varieties of derangement, particularly monomania

and dementia, is observed particularly in those insane who are addicted

to onanism, and to other venereal excesses. This remark is confirmed by

the two facts, that paralysis is much less common in females than in

males, and that onanism produces mental alienation much less frequently

in the former than in the latter. Thus, of 256 persons, admitted at

the asylum at Charenton, during 1826-7-8, there were 44 men, in whom

derangement could be attributed to libertinism or to onanism, while

the same was true of only 3 women. Dr. Holst has shown that a similar

proportion exists between the deranged of the two sexes in Norway. This

relation, however, must not be considered as strictly correct; for

females, being generally very reserved in their disclosures, onanism

probably passes undiscovered in them more frequently than it does in

men. It is well ascertained, that one twentieth of the deranged at

Salpetrière, is composed of public women, who are for the most part

affected with dementia and paralysis. Now, consider that masturbation

is much more frequently a cause of derangement among the rich than

among the poor. (_Dict. des Sc. Med._, vol. xvi., p. 179.) And

remark, too, that at the Charenton asylum, where only persons in easy

circumstances are received, there are proportionally more patients with

paralysis than at Bicetre, the population of which is composed of men,

belonging to the poorest classes of society.

We have only to consider the phenomena which attend and usually follow

the venereal act, to infer that the spinal marrow may frequently

be affected in consequence of the abuse of that act. Agitation,

the involuntary contractions of the muscles, particularly of those

surrounding the pelvis, and the tetanic spasm with which they are

affected at the time of the ejaculation of the semen; the cramps

which frequently attend it; the general feeling of pain, fatigue, and

debility, which follows it--a feeling which is always more perceptible

in the loins and lower part of the body, than elsewhere, indicate the

powerful impression made on the spinal marrow, and the part which

it takes in all going on. This participation is also demonstrated

by different pathological facts, and by the results of experiments

which we shall mention, when treating of the influence exercised by

affections of the spinal marrow, as the cause of venereal excesses.

The local symptoms of the medulla, in onanists, consist in different

and more or less acute sensations felt along the vertebral column. At

first, these sensations do not appear until after the act of venery,

and pass off; they then continue a longer time; and finally become

constant. The pain is generally of a dull character--inconvenient,

rather than severe--which obliges the patient, when sitting or

standing, to change his position frequently; and it is generally less

perceptible, or even disappears, when the patient assumes a horizontal

position. Sometimes there is a feeling as if of ants crawling over the

body, descending from the head along the spine: this symptom was first

noticed by Hippocrates. Sometimes, these sensations have a special

character, which each patient expresses in his own manner: thus, a man

who indulged night and morning, for two years, in coition, complained

to me that he felt beatings constantly between his shoulders. Others

say that they have a knot in the back. The pains in the spine are

sometimes very severe; sometimes they are extremely sharp. Onanists,

and individuals affected with pollutions, most generally complain of

their loins.

The frequent occurrence of the symptoms mentioned in persons exhausted

by venereal excesses, has caused the terms _consumption_, phthisis

dorsalis, and tabes dorsalis, to be applied to the state which they

then present.

The other symptoms of the affection of the spinal marrow are more

or less severe pains--more or less distinct sensations of cold, of

numbness, and formication in the limbs, particularly in the lower

extremities; cramps; constant trembling, or convulsive motions in these

parts; a kind of tetanic stiffness; gradual debility of the lower half

of the body; and, finally, paraplegia. We shall find these symptoms, in

addition to the other effects of masturbation, in cases to be mentioned.

Pains in the loins and extremities were very marked in an individual

of whom Serrurier remarks as follows:--“A patient whom I attended

was reduced to a most dreadful state of marasmus, in consequence of

nocturnal pollutions, determined by venereal excesses. I prescribed

a tonic mode of treatment, and varied it in every form; but the

patient died, after four months of frightful pains in the loins and

articulations.” There was apparently, in this case, an affection of

the lumbar part of the medulla, or of its membranes. A similar malady

existed, probably, in a man whose case was published by Hattè, and who

was affected, in consequence of excesses in coition, with a lumbago,

which alternated with satyriasis. There is no doubt, in regard to

the affection of the spinal marrow, in the following case related

by Van Swieten:--“For three years” says he, “I used all the aids of

medicine for a young man, who, in consequence of onanism, was affected

with general wandering pains--with a sensation, sometimes of heat,

sometimes of cold, which was extremely unpleasant, over the whole body,

but particularly in the loins. After a time, these pains diminished

slightly; and then the thighs and legs were so cold, that although

these parts, on being touched, seemed to preserve their natural heat,

yet he was constantly warming himself at the fire, even during the

warmer days of summer. I observed, particularly, a constant rotation of

the testicles in the scrotum; and the patient felt a similar motion in

the loins, which was very troublesome to him.”

Was the spinal marrow perfectly healthy in the onanist who wrote to

Tissot the following:--“My nerves are extremely weak. My hands have no

strength: they tremble constantly, and perspire freely. I have violent

pains in my stomach, arms, and legs; and sometimes in the kidneys,

chest,” &c. Persuaded, also, from a great many cases, that most of

the pains termed rheumatic are neuralgic, and that many neuralgias

depend on an affection of the spinal marrow; I think there is reason to

suspect this affection, whenever it is found in onanists.

The following case, related by Dr. Bertini of Turin, presents, as a

principal symptom, convulsive trembling of the lower extremities. The

disease commenced, as is frequently the case, under the influence of an

accidental cause; but when this had occurred, the patient presented for

a long time symptoms of an affection of the medulla; and it is evident

that their origin must be ascribed to onanism.

The patient was twenty-eight years old, and of a lymphatic-bilious

temperament. When twelve years of age, he became addicted to

masturbation, and then began to perceive tremblings in the arms and

legs, vertigo, and pains in the head. He continued his fatal habit till

twenty-two years old. At the beginning of August, 1824, he was attacked

with a tertian intermittent, but for this he took no medicine. On the

20th of the same month, while cutting wood in Sesia, and while in a

profuse perspiration, he went in swimming. He soon felt a sensation

of shivering, followed by cold, spasms, vertigo, pain in the head,

and thirst; aversion to food, difficulty of respiration, sensation

of oppression in the sacrolumbar region, constipation, pains, and

trembling in the lower extremities. These latter symptoms became so

urgent, that the patient was obliged to have advice. In this state,

he was carried to the hospital of Vercelli; and in a few days he was

bled eleven times, and drastic purgatives were administered without

success. A month afterward, he left the hospital; and since that time,

the man has become a beggar and an object of public commiseration. The

18th of October, at which time he came under the charge of Dr. Bertini,

he presented the following symptoms: he had no fever, nor pains in

the head, nor derangement in the intellectual faculties; but he had a

pain in the two sides of the sacrolumbar region, which was increased

by pressure. The patient complained, also, of a kind of formication in

the legs and feet, which parts, as also the rest of the body, trembled

constantly: the agitation was so great, that the patient could not rest

in bed, nor sit without support. Twenty-five leeches were applied to

the lumbar region, and these drew about twelve ounces of blood. The

trembling diminished, and the patient could soon rise and walk without

a stick, and in fact without assistance. From this time, he felt no

pains nor trembling, and he left the hospital eight days afterward. Dr.

Bertini has since seen him, and he was well. (_Revue Med._, Dec. 1825.)

The tetanic form of the disease of the spinal marrow has rarely been

observed as arising from onanism. Tissot saw a case of it in a young

man:--“The disease commenced with rigidity of the neck and spine; this

extended successively to all the limbs; and the patient, for some

time before death, was obliged to lie in bed on his face, unable to

move either his feet or hands. All motion was impossible; and he was

obliged even to be fed. He lived several weeks in this sad state; and

died, or rather sunk away, almost without suffering.”

Paralysis, which is the consequence of myelitis, or of any other

affection of the spinal marrow, has been seen much more frequently

than tetanus, in onanists. It is most generally confined to the lower

parts of the body; but if the disease be seated in the cervical portion

of the spinal marrow, the four extremities may be paralyzed. This was

seen in the case of a young man who was under the care of Dupuytren, in

September, 1833:--

This young man was twenty years old: he was very much addicted to

masturbation, and his disease could be attributed to no other cause.

This affection had existed for two years, when the patient entered

Hotel Dieu. The attack of paralysis had been sudden, like a clap

of thunder: the patient had lost the use of his limbs suddenly.

The muscles of the neck were paralyzed, and the head fell in any

direction: a short time before, however, the patient had recovered

the power of sustaining it. The paralysis of the four limbs, also,

varied in degree, alternately increasing and diminishing. After the

patient entered the hospital, it was not equal on both sides: thus,

he had some power over his left arm, but not over his right arm. Both

the upper limbs, also, were atrophied, or wasted: those of the right

side more so, however, than those of the left. Many remedies had been

tried for this patient, but without success. At the time the case was

published, purgatives and moxas were proposed. Dupuytren remarked to

his pupils, that the situation of the myelitis corresponded in this

young man to the cervical vertebræ; and that, if it ascended a little,

and extended to the origin of the diaphragmatic nerve, it would cause

death. He regarded the passion for masturbation, which existed in this

young man, as the probable cause of this myelitis; and, consequently,

of an atrophy of the anterior roots of the spinal nerves. (_Lancette

Française_, 1833, p. 339.)

The disorganization, also, occupied an elevated portion of the

spinal marrow, in the following case stated by Tissot:--“I was called

upon,” says he, “to visit in the country a man, forty years old, who

had been very strong and robust, but who had indulged excessively

in sexual commerce and in wine, and who had been often engaged in

athletic exercises. He began to be affected, a few months since, by a

weakness in his legs, which made him totter in his walk, as if drunk.

He sometimes fell, when walking on a plane; he could not descend

the stairs without much difficulty; and hardly dared to leave his

apartment. His hands trembled very much; he wrote with very great

difficulty, and very badly; but he dictated with ease, although his

speech, which had never been very fluent, began to be less so. His

memory was still good; and the only ground for suspecting a lesion

in his mind was the want of attention at the _jeu de dames_, and the

change of countenance. His appetite was good, and he slept well; but it

was difficult for him to turn in bed.

It occurred to me that his gallantries, and a too free use of wine,

were the first causes of the disease; and that his athletic exercises,

in which he had been frequently engaged, were the origin of the

particular affection of the muscles. The season was not favorable for

the use of remedies; but it was necessary to attempt to arrest the

progress of the disease. I advised frictions of the whole body with

flannels, and some tonics. I directed the doses to be increased, and

to add also the use of the cold bath, at the commencement of summer.

In a few weeks, the trembling of the hands seemed to be a little

diminished. A consultation was had in the month of April: the disease

was attributed to his having written some months, two years since,

in a chamber recently plastered. Warm baths--oily frictions, with

diaphoretic and anti-spasmodic powders, were employed without benefit.

In the month of June, in a second consultation, he was advised to visit

the medicinal spring of Leuk, in Valais. On his return, the trembling

and stiffness had increased. From this time, (Sept. 1760, to Jan.

1764,) I saw him but three or four times. In 1762, he procured from

Frankfort the remedies mentioned in the English treatise, _Onania_,

which were of no use. He consulted a foreign physician the last year

with as little success. The disease has slowly, but daily progressed;

and for several months before death, his legs were too weak to support

the weight of his body. He could not move his hands nor arms without

help; his speech was so embarrassed, and his voice so feeble, that

it was difficult to understand him; the extensor muscles of the head

allowed it to fall continually on the chest; he had constant pains in

the loins; his sleep and appetite were sensibly diminished. During the

last few months of his life, there was much difficulty in swallowing;

after Christmas, there came on an irregular fever, and his eyes were

singularly dim; when I saw him in the month of January, he passed

the whole day and most of the night reclining on a sofa, with his

feet in a chair, with a domestic constantly in attendance near him,

in order to change his position, raise his head to feed him, and to

listen attentively to all he said. As he approached the period of his

dissolution, he was obliged to articulate letter by letter, which

was written down as it was pronounced. Seeing that I gave him no

encouragement, as I only employed some palliatives for his fever and

oppression, and actuated by a desire of living, he sent one of his

friends to tell me the cause to which he attributed all these symptoms,

viz., _masturbation_; that he commenced this infamous practice several

years since; had continued it as long as possible; and that he had

perceived his difficulties increase, in proportion to his indulgence in

it. He confirmed this statement a few days afterward; and it was this

which induced him to use the remedies recommended in _Onania_.”

This case shows us paralysis confined at first to the abdominal limbs,

but extending afterward to the upper part of the body. We find a

similar case of this progression, in a case related by Olivier, of

Angers:--

“M--, of a sanguine temperament, of a strong constitution, and of

a lively and gay character, had always enjoyed good health until

seventeen years old, when he unfortunately became addicted to

masturbation. He soon languished, and grew debilitated. Having,

however, conquered this fatal habit, his strength gradually returned,

and a proper regimen soon restored him to his former vigor. When

twenty years old, he perceived a marked debility in the motions of

the articulation of the right foot; but this disappeared: he was then

affected twice with blenorrhagia, the last attack of which continued

for several months.

“When twenty-five years old, he again indulged in masturbation, and

similar symptoms to those first presented soon appeared: the lower

extremities, also, became weakened; at times, also, the sensibility of

the skin was obtuse, and even lost; but it soon reappeared. Under the

influence of remedies, the weakness in the limbs diminished slightly.

M-- could walk three quarters of an hour without resting, but he could

not stand longer; his legs, which were evidently wasted, refusing to

sustain him. He was extremely costive; and since the last attack of

blenorrhagia, the excretion of urine was painful.

“This affection remained stationary for several years, and then

became more serious: the patient was now twenty-nine years old. At

this period, the paraplegia became complete. He could not walk, nor

even support himself on crutches; his lower limbs were often stiff;

both arms, also, were at times insensible; and sometimes the sense of

touch was blunted. The wasting away had increased; the excretion of

urine was often involuntary, and the constipation was habitual. He was

somewhat benefited by Hallé’s prescriptions, consisting in frictions

with cantharides, and douches to the spine; but the next year the evil

increased, the sensibility in the hands diminished, and there was

difficulty in moving the right hand.

“Eighteen months afterward, the lower extremities became perfectly

paralyzed: they were less warm than the rest of the body; yet, when

cold water was applied to them, it produced a burning sensation. The

right arm, forearm, and hand, often felt fatigue: its motions were

less free, and the patient sometimes found it difficult to write. The

limb of the opposite side was not affected. The disease of the bladder,

which had existed for several years, was also increased.

“Paralysis, during the following years, progressed slowly, but

constantly. The arm of the right side lost its motion entirely; the

forearm was flexed upon it, and retained this position. At a later

period, the fingers became stiff, crooked, and they continued to be

so flexed, that a tampon of linen was placed on the palm of the hand,

to prevent the nails from lacerating the skin. A singular symptom,

also, appeared: if the internal part of the thigh was gently rubbed,

the limbs extended quickly, as if by a galvanic shock, and then

resumed their first position, which was that of a permanent state of

semiflexion.

The paralysis finally affected the left upper extremity, which had

hitherto been free from it; at the same time, the respiration became

more difficult, the voice more feeble, and speech more painful, so

that the patient choked, after talking a few moments. These different

symptoms, and those described above, gradually became intense; and

at the time this case was recorded, the patient was still alive--but

in a most lamentable situation. Very severe pains supervened in the

right side; the limbs were frequently convulsed; the constipation was

obstinate; the urine passed involuntarily; the intellectual faculties,

however, remained unaffected; and the patient, who was then fifty

years old, proved, by his easy and agreeable conversation, that,

notwithstanding his unfortunate situation, he had lost none of his

natural gayety of character.” (_Traité de la moelle epinière_, &c.,

vol. ii., p. 594.)

The lower part of the medulla alone was affected in an individual whose

case is mentioned by Tissot.

In another case related by Weszpremi, the spinal marrow and brain

were affected. The patient, who was thirty years old, complained of

pains along the spine, especially when he stooped. His legs were so

weak, that he could scarcely stand erect for a moment; his memory

was considerably weakened, and he seemed stupid; his sight was also

affected, and he was extremely thin. This man, having long denied the

cause of his disease, finally confessed it. After some months, his

health was restored. (_Observ. Med._, p. 175.)

The disease is not always confined to the spinal marrow, and

its membranes: it frequently extends to the parts adjacent, and

particularly to the vertebræ. The latter are then destroyed; and the

disease described by Pott, and which takes his name, appears. Sabatier

was aware of the influence of masturbation on the bony part of the

vertebral column. “The most terrible and most frequent results of

onanism,” says he, in a letter to M. A. Petit, “are nodosities of the

spine. My opinion has always been regarded as unfounded, on account of

the youth of the patients; but I was enlightened by the admission of

some of my patients, that many were guilty of this thing before their

sixteenth year.” This fact, which was afterward stated by Boyer, in his

lectures, is now no longer doubted. The relation, however, between the

caries of the bodies of the vertebræ in onanists, and the affection of

the medulla, or of its membranes, had not been observed; it had not

been remarked that this latter always precedes caries, which in this

case is only the result of the extension of the primitive disease. The

facts which are to be stated will prove this to be true.

L. E. G., twenty-one years old, a turner, of a lymphatic temperament,

of a slender and delicate constitution, addicted to masturbation

from childhood, experienced, at the beginning of February, 1825, a

slight pain in the epigastric region, difficulty of digestion, and

constipation: he also had laborious breathing, caused by palpitations,

which were much increased by walking, and particularly by going up

stairs.

On entering the hospital la Pitié, April 28th, 1825, this young man

presented all the symptoms of a hypertrophy of the left cavities

of the heart: these phenomena, which diminished after a few days,

were followed by symptoms of enteritis and peritonitis, which were

attributed to excesses in eating. During the continuance of this

latter affection, the patient complained of uncommon debility in the

abdominal limbs. These symptoms disappeared; and when it was expected

to see the patient convalescent, he was affected with complete

paraplegia. He lost the use of his legs: they, however, retained their

sensibility. As motion in them was lost, this sensibility was even

increased; for the patient cried whenever he was touched, or when

the position of the lower limbs was changed. The bladder was soon

paralyzed, and the sound was used, which caused inflammation of this

organ. A broad and deep eschar, followed by ulceration, laid bare

the whole posterior part of the pelvis. From this time, the symptoms

increased more and more, and the patient died the 11th of August, about

six weeks after the first symptoms appeared.

On opening the body, a softened tubercle was found on the surface

of the right hemisphere of the brain; _the body of the third dorsal

vertebra was slightly changed_; the corresponding portion of the dura

mater presented a cancerous degenerescence, which extended from the

body of the third dorsal to that of the fifth cervical vertebra. The

bodies of all the vertebræ connected with this alteration were whitish,

and slightly softened. The tissue of the spinal marrow was softened,

especially on the level with the seventh cervical and first three

dorsal vertebræ: the softening occupied the anterior cords, which were

of a grayish white color; the posterior cords were slightly softened

but only on a level with the first three dorsal vertebræ The lungs

were healthy and crepitating; the right contained superiorly a small

softened tubercle. _The heart was healthy_: its size was normal; the

left cavities possessed their usual size and thickness. Traces of

inflammation were found in the peritoneum, intestines, and bladder.

(_Journal de Physiol. Experim._ July, 1825.)

In this case, we see in a measure the mode in which caries of the

vertebræ is produced. This caries is only at its commencement; the

vertebræ are affected superficially, and in those parts only which

correspond to the diseased portions of the dura mater and medulla.

There are none of the local symptoms of Pott’s disease--no collapse of

the vertebral column--no gibbosity; yet the paraplegia appeared, as

in the cases where these alterations exist: it resulted, then, from

the softening of the medulla, or the alteration of its membranes. If

a little time had elapsed, and several spinous processes had deviated

from their true direction, this paralysis would have been attributed

to the commencement and progress of this deviation. These relations

between the state of the medulla and that of the vertebræ have been

already remarked by several authors. M. Latour, in a memoir inserted

among those of the Society of Emulation, has sought to establish that

paraplegia, in Pott’s disease, resulted from a primitive alteration of

the medulla. Janson has since expressed a similar opinion. Cases have

also been published by Louis, which leave little doubt on this subject.

(_Mem. and Recherches_, 1826, p. 410.)

One symptom in the preceding case, which deserves to be noted, is the

difficulty of respiration, the palpitations, and other symptoms which

led to the belief that the heart was diseased. On opening the body,

however, this organ was found perfectly healthy. Similar phenomena are

often seen in onanists: it would therefore be wrong to consider them

always as signs of an organic alteration of the heart and large vessels.

In the following case, the vertebræ were more changed. The spinal

column was gibbous: but this was preceded by paraplegia, and other

symptoms of myelitis. This case was published by M. Dalandeterie:--

A shoemaker, twenty-four years old, of good constitution, who has

always enjoyed good health, contracted the habit of masturbation at the

age of sixteen years, and became so addicted to it, that he indulged

seven or eight times a-day: his strength soon diminished, and he lost

flesh and his color.

After an interruption, caused by an acute disease, the patient resumed

his fatal habit with the same earnestness. He finally became so weak;

languid, and pale, that he was discharged from military service, in

which he was inscribed.

A little while afterward, this young man, who had never shown any

symptoms of scrofula, presented scrofulous engorgements in the groins

and axillæ, and swellings, with caries, in several phalanges of the

fingers. At the same time, a singular phenomenon appeared: the hair,

which was chestnut colored, came off; on growing again, it appeared

of several colors: but after coming off once or twice, it resumed its

natural shade.

The patient continuing to indulge in onanism, finally became extremely

weak, and was obliged to keep his bed. Marked symptoms of myelitis

now appeared. The patient gradually lost the use of his lower limbs:

first they became weak, and showed a disposition to be crossed; but

finally wasted away, and lost the power of motion. He was now obliged

even to be turned in bed, as he could not move. The articulation of

the feet and knees became stiff and inflexible, and his legs were so

much retracted, that the end of the foot only touched the ground, when

the patient was placed in an erect position. The sensibility of the

limbs, also, was as much affected as their motions; they were cold,

numb, and even when pinched they were not painful. The general languor

was increased every day. He suffered from thirst, dyspepsia, pains in

the stomach, rumblings, night sweats, &c. At this period, the patient

quitted a woman with whom he had lived for a year, and who, having but

little inclination for coition, caused him to indulge in masturbation.

The erections were frequent, powerful, short, and always terminated

with a more or less abundant discharge of mucus from the

urethra--perhaps, also from the prostate gland; or even the discharge

might be of thin semen. After a while, the ejaculations were composed,

instead of semen, of a half-clotted, blackish or yellowish blood:

sometimes, as much as a tablespoonful was lost. These emissions were

always painful, and were followed by extreme prostration.

For some time, the patient was in this sad state, when he experienced

a crawling sensation, like that caused by ants, descending along the

back: he experienced, in the same region, a severe and fatiguing pain,

which extended into the ribs and loins. These symptoms subsided; but

at the lower part of the dorsal region appeared a hard tumor, which

at first was small; but it gradually enlarged, as long as the patient

continued to masturbate. This tumor was evidently formed by the curve

of the spine, and the projection of three spinous processes.

In three months, the patient was improved by the use of moxas and of

antiscrofulous remedies, by a suitable regimen, and particularly by

abstaining from onanism, for which he had conceived not only disgust,

but even a horror. The abdominal limbs regained their strength, heat,

and sensibility; the patient could walk on crutches, and could even

stand erect for a few moments, and could take a few steps unaided.

In this case, which is remarkable in more than one respect, the

symptoms of myelitis preceded the curve of the spine, and then

disappeared, although the spine did not regain its primitive

rectitude. The debility, numbness, retraction, and paralysis of the

limbs, appeared long before the pain in the back, after which the

curve in the back began to appear; and then these limbs regained

their sensibility, force, and motion, while the gibbosity remained

always the same. This curve, then, could not be the cause of the

paraplegia, because the latter appeared first, and the spine remained

curved after the paralysis was removed. The development of symptoms

apparently scrofulous, in a man more than twenty years old, who had

hitherto presented nothing analogous, and whose parents were healthy;

the loss of his hair; the affection of the seminal passages, and the

state of the genital organs, &c., &c.--facts to which we shall recur

hereafter--all contribute to render this case interesting.

We shall see, in the following case, also related by M. Dalandeterie,

an instance of vertebral caries in an onanist:--

A cook, forty-five years old, of bad constitution, but having always

enjoyed robust health, indulged in masturbation, although not to

very great excess. Eighteen months before his case was published,

he perceived pains and weakness in the loins, frequent colics,

often followed by brownish dejections, and sometimes by obstinate

constipation. He suffered, too, from flatulency; and in the left haunch

there was a pain, which increased or diminished with this flatulence.

The patient, notwithstanding the progress of these symptoms, continued

to masturbate. Debility and pains in his loins extended into the

abdominal limbs, and increased so much, that he was obliged to keep

his bed: he could only lie on his left side; but in this position his

motions were easy. The diminution in the natural heat, the livid color

of the skin, the softness and flaccidity of the flesh, debility, loss

of sleep and of flesh, thirst, constipation, &c., were added to the

symptoms already mentioned.

At the same time, a hard, indolent tumor, the size of a pullet’s egg,

was formed at the lower part of the dorsal region. This tumor, which

did not enlarge, evidently resulted from the prominence of the spinous

processes, and consequently from a curve in the spine, which was

doubtless caused by a softening of the bodies of the vertebræ.

Nearly at the same period, there was developed, at the lower part

of the sternum, a hard, indolent tumor; the color of the skin was

unchanged: it gradually became the size of a nut, suppurated, and

assumed the appearance of a scrofulous ulcer. The lymphatic ganglions

of the neck, which were somewhat swelled, now returned to their natural

size. The treatment was similar to that used in the former case, and

was attended with the same result: the strength, bodily heat, and

appetite returned. Finally, the patient was able to walk with crutches;

and could stand, unsupported, for a few moments.

The circumstances in this case are not detailed with sufficient

accuracy, to enable us to follow exactly the cause of the symptoms. We

would remark, however, that one of these seen first was the neuralgic

pains, which extended from the loins into the lower extremities. Now,

as this symptom belongs to irritation of the medulla or its membranes,

more than to their compression, there is reason to think that this

irritation preceded the curve of the spine. In this patient, also, as

in the preceding case, the affection of the marrow had not so much

influence in causing the destruction of the bodies of the vertebræ, as

a disposition to caries--a disposition which was evidently increased by

onanism, and which appeared at the same time in several bones.

The following case, from Meyrieu, is not sufficiently detailed, to

affect in any manner the question, how caries of the vertebræ is

produced in onanists; but it is interesting, as it shows that the

disease may extend to the soft parts which cover or are adjacent to the

affected vertebræ.

L--, twenty-two years old, was moderately tall, with a narrow chest,

and had never enjoyed good health, particularly for the six years

preceding the time when he entered the prison at Bicetre, when he

indulged in the disgusting practice of onanism. In the course of

January, 1819, he was affected with general numbness, with frequent

cough and expectoration of mucus: these symptoms were occasionally

attended with slight fever. When admitted to the infirmary, the 1st of

February, he complained, in addition to the symptoms already mentioned,

of a violent pain in the posterior part of the neck. A slight swelling

was seen at the level of the first and second cervical vertebræ, and

pressure on that part was painful; the head was bent to the left side,

and remained motionless; the thoracic abdominal limbs were numb; and

deglutition was painful. Local resolvent frictions, blisters, and moxas

were used. The 15th of February, he was affected with hemoptysis,

which yielded in two days to the use of bleeding and astringents.

The vertebral disease, however, generally made progress, like that

of the chest, which seemed to relax. In July, the thoracic limbs

were perfectly paralyzed; and in August, this was true also of the

abdominal limbs. At this period, the head was absolutely immoveable;

the phthisis seemed as yet in the second degree. Finally, the patient

died suddenly, from moving his head, while the attendants were changing

him.

_Post-mortem Examination._ The soft parts of the posterior region of

the neck were changed to a whitish, lardaceous substance; the right

condyle of the occipital bone was carious: there was also a deep caries

of the upper part of the right lateral mass of the first vertebræ, and

of the odontoid process. The transverse and odontoid ligaments were

degenerated and softened; and the medulla oblongata presented a kind

of strangulation, resulting from the compression caused by the left

posterior part of the edge of the occipital foramen: in fact, there

was a dislocation of this bone, on the first vertebræ. The cerebrum

was unaffected; the right lung was tuberculous, and very small; that

of the left side was also tuberculous, but was larger. The peritoneum

presented some marks of inflammation.