In the preceding cases, the caries of the vertebræ was not attended

with a congested abscess. The following case, published by Levêque

Lasource, will present to us this symptom, which is so common in this

disease:--

N-- O-- was addicted to onanism, from twelve to eighteen years of age;

but could not renounce this fatal habit, although reminded of its

danger by a curve in the spine, and by other symptoms. When received

at la Charité Hospital, in 1806, beside a well marked gibbosity, he

presented a congested abscess at the upper and inner part of the thigh.

Two cauteries were applied to the sides of the vertebral prominences:

these suppurated freely, but did no good. The abscess was punctured

in several places. This young man, who could not survive, left the

hospital; so that the organic changes produced by his disease could not

be verified. (_Jour. de Med., Chir. and Phar._; vol. xvii., p. 261.)

The same author has related another case, which terminated more

fortunately:--A child, seven or eight years old, addicted to

masturbation, entered at la Charité, affected with gibbosity and

paralysis of the lower limbs. During the month he stayed in the

hospital, several cauteries were applied around the tumor, which

suppurated; tonics and strengthening medicines were administered

internally. He left, perfectly cured of the paralysis, and of the other

symptoms caused by the affection of the medulla; but the deformity

resulting from the prominence formed by the spinous processes of the

vertebræ continued. Three years after, this child, who had abstained

from this bad habit, had experienced no relapse.

We have seen, in several of the preceding cases, that permanent

contractions of the lower limbs resulted, in onanists, from affections

of the spinal marrow. Guersent, also, admits the possibility of

essential contractions--that is, those which do not result from a

disease of the nervous centres. According to this practitioner, these

kinds of contractions are seen most frequently in those nervous

children who indulge in bad habits, like that of masturbation. The

following case has been considered by him as an instance of this

affection:--

D-- E--, five years old, and addicted to masturbation, after passing

a part of the winter at the Hospital des Enfans, to be treated for

scrofulous engorgements of the glands of the neck, was sent to the

country in the spring. He had been there about three months, when he

was suddenly affected with a contraction of the lower extremities.

Examined the 5th of July, he complained neither of pain in the head

nor spine. The digestive passages were in very good state; there was

no derangement in the circulation or respiration; the muscles of

the lower extremities were permanently rigid: the tension, however,

was more marked in the adductors; for the patient constantly kept

his knees crossed. There was no deviation in the vertebral column.

Different remedies were employed, but without success; except a little

improvement under the use of carbonate of iron. The legs and thighs

of the patient could be flexed and extended with the hands; but he

could neither flex them when extended, nor extend them when flexed.

This child was cured in a singular manner. His state was as described,

when, at the beginning of September, he was affected with symptoms

of roseola. The contraction of the lower extremities disappeared,

when the fever came on. The eruption went through its course, and the

contraction of the limbs did not return. Thus, this disease, which

had resisted several efficacious remedies, disappeared before another

disease.

The loss or debility of the external senses, particularly those of

hearing and sight, when this state is the consequence of venereal

excesses, often result, as may be seen in several of the cases above

stated, from a disease of the brain. This organ was probably diseased

in the old man whose case was mentioned by Réveillé Parise. This man

was desirous of living with a young Italian girl, whose temperament

was extremely ardent. He paid for his imprudence by blindness, which

occurred in eight days, and which was followed by death. Sometimes,

however, the eye alone is diseased: at least, the pathological

state which it presents is unattended by any symptoms indicating an

affection of the brain or its membranes. Many libertines present only

an irritation of the conjunctiva and of the edge of the eyelids. It is

a sort of chronic ophthalmia; their eyes are red, watery, fatigued,

painful; and they cannot engage in the evening in any occupation,

such as reading, which requires the attention to be confined to one

object. Sometimes, a severe and deep-seated pain proves that, beside

the outer parts of the eye, the interior of this organ is the seat of

a severe irritation. Hoffmann has seen several cases of this. He cites

that of a young man, who indulged in onanism from the age of fifteen

to that of twenty-three. “His eyes and head were so weak,” says he,

“that these organs were often affected with violent spasms, during the

emission of semen. Whenever he attempted to read, he experienced a

sensation similar to that of drunkenness: the pupil was considerably

dilated, and excessive pains were felt in the eye. The eyelids were

glued together every night; the eyes were also watery; and there was,

at the two angles, a collection of whitish matter. These irritations,

especially when seated within the eye, may be followed by the loss

of sight.” Dr. Juengken, professor of clinical ophthalmology at the

Berlin faculty, and who has published an excellent work on the diseases

of the eye, indicates, when speaking of amaurosis resulting from

masturbation, that the pupil assumes a peculiar form, which is found

only (says this professor) in those individuals habitually addicted to

this vice. In these cases, the pupil, instead of being in the centre of

the eye, is removed upward, but does not lose its roundness: the upper

part of the iris seems narrower, and contracted on its ciliary edge.

This symptom has been mentioned, also, by Dr. Sichel, as occurring in

certain scrofulous ophthalmias: iritis then exists. Photophobia, which

is a greater or less aversion to light, resulting from the pain which

it occasions in the eye, has been indicated, by Sanson, as sometimes

preceding amaurosis, caused by too frequent a loss of semen.

All authors agree in placing venereal excesses, and particularly

those from masturbation, among the causes of amaurosis. They are so

unanimous on this point, that we shall cite no authorities. They

generally agree to regard amaurosis, in onanists, as produced by the

exhaustion caused by diurnal or nocturnal pollutions. Beer, and many

others, assimilate, in this respect, the loss of semen to that of other

fluids; and compares venereal excesses, especially those from onanism,

with cholera, diarrhœa, &c., as a cause of amaurosis. This idea of

exhaustion probably led Scarpa to remark, that amaurosis, resulting

from premature abuses of masturbation or coition, must generally be

regarded as incurable. This prognosis may be made, we believe, in

regard to most cases of amaurosis. Dr. Buzzi has published, with four

other cases of amaurosis, which were cured, that of an individual in

whom it had been produced by masturbation. It, however, yielded, on the

abandonment of bad habits, to the moderate use of good wine, combined

with milk diet.

Dr. Rognetta, in a memoir on the causes of amaurosis, insists on

the opinion that onanism produces this disease, by exhausting the

sensibility of the body. He compares this habit to decay. “Nothing,”

says he, “enervates the body so much as too frequent emissions of

semen, especially when they are caused by the hand: the spasm which

attends them throws the body into all the infirmities of old age. The

retina and optic nerve then gradually lose their sensitive faculty,

which finally becomes extinct. Those who masturbate are affected with

amaurosis, like decrepit old men.” Rognetta adds, that he has the

notes of several cases of amaurosis, which had resisted all remedies,

and which were caused entirely by the _luxuria manuensis_. He relates

the history of a young ecclesiastic, nineteen years old, a native of

Palermo, whose sight became very weak. This unfortunate young man had

been in the habit of masturbating seven times a-day: he was also prone

to sodomy. Rognetta advised him to leave off this bad habit, and to

return to his native place and take cold baths.

Sanson, also, places voluntary and involuntary pollutions among the

asthenic causes of amaurosis: he, however, regards these pollutions as

sometimes causing irritation of the retina. He assimilates them, as do

many other authors, to all abundant discharges of fluids. The following

case has been considered by him as one of asthenic amaurosis, produced

in this manner:--A notary’s clerk, twenty-four years old, experienced

for a year a progressive debility in his sight. He had labored much at

night, by lamp-light, and attributed his disease to this cause; but

another, which had contributed to the development of the amaurosis,

was the excesses of this young man, in onanism and coition. Venereal

disease, which he had contracted, might also contribute to this bad

result. The pupil was dilated; the iris was immoveable; the eye was

perfectly clear; and the retina, of a dull color, could be seen through

the pupil. An antivenereal treatment, purgatives, emetics, and

blisters around the organ, &c., produced no effect.

In my opinion, blindness from amaurosis, being not so much a disease as

a symptom, or rather the consequence, of many other diseases, is not,

in onanists, the result of exhaustion, of asthenia, any more than the

debility and paralysis of the lower extremities are, when the spinal

marrow is diseased. Besides, what difference does it make, how the

sight is lost in onanists? the most essential thing to be known is,

that they can lose it. This unfortunate circumstance is to be dreaded

by those whose sight is much affected during the act of venery, and

who remain, as it were, in a mist for a few moments after this act.

Thus, amaurosis was predicted in a public girl, whose case is mentioned

by Hoffmann, and whose sight was obscured whenever she had connexion

with men. She finally became blind. (_De morbis ex nim. ven._, § 26.)

The sight is rarely lost suddenly: it commonly fades away gradually;

and the onanist, if he can understand this warning, may, by abandoning

his bad habits in time, preserve the vigor he still possesses; and,

sometimes, even may recover what he has lost.

The weakness and loss of sight, and the other affections of the eye

already mentioned, are not the only ones which may arise from excessive

onanism or coition: the muscles of the eye may also be affected. Lorry

was, we believe, the first to notice this fact. “The eyes,” says he,

“are affected with convulsive and spasmodic motions, after venereal

excesses, rather than with blindness.” He states, that strabismus

may be caused by onanism. We have before stated the case of a young

man, whose eyes were affected with violent spasms at the moment of a

discharge of semen. Demours has observed similar facts. “Masturbation,”

says he, “affects the optic nerves, and also acts on the motor nerves

of the eye.” He admits that he can see no reason for this. The same

author mentions venereal excesses among the different causes of partial

paralysis of the muscles of the eye.

We have already mentioned the wandering pains, which frequently affect

onanists; we have also alluded to those which depend on an affection of

the spinal marrow. We have reason to think, from our own observations,

and the statements particularly of English authors, that the number of

pains dependent on an affection of the spinal marrow is much larger

than is generally thought: we think, that most of the pains termed

rheumatic, particularly those affecting the trunk and the limbs, are

neuralgic; and that most of these neuralgias proceed from an irritation

of the medulla or its membranes. We do not say that the spinal cord

is always affected then, as in those cases of myelitis which attend

paralysis and death: we think that it is affected in some manner;

and that these pains, which are commonly so severe, and frequently

so general--sometimes attended with tumefaction, but more frequently

without it--which are felt in the course of these nerves, are the usual

consequences of this affection. Hence, it is not surprising, that the

act of venery, which excites the nervous system so much--which has so

marked an action on the spinal marrow, has frequently predisposed to

neuralgic or rheumatic pains, and has directly caused or increased this

kind of pains. It is well ascertained, and many authors--particularly

Hoffmann--have remarked, that those who indulge in onanism, during

youth, are more subject to these pains than others. The act of venery,

even when indulged in to a moderate extent, generally increases their

violence. I have often seen attacks of neuralgia supervene immediately

after coition. It was an affection of this kind which was felt by the

onanist who wrote to Tissot, that he felt in his face a pain similar to

that caused by applying a great number of pins.

Individuals who have braved the usual causes of rheumatism with

impunity, not unfrequently become vulnerable to these causes after

venereal excesses. M. Villeneuve relates the case of a stonecutter,

who had long been exposed to changes of weather without inconvenience,

and who was violently attacked with rheumatism after unusual venereal

excesses. He also mentions the case of a groom, who had long slept in

a damp and narrow stable without suffering, but who was attacked with

rheumatism the winter after his marriage. Saucerotte has seen a similar

case: it was that of a man who had constantly braved the changes of

weather, and who was affected with rheumatism after indulging in

women and wine. The same author has established, in the memoir where

this fact was reported, that muscular rheumatism is only a variety of

neuralgia. Among the proofs which he gives of it, he states that many

authors, as Barthez, Scudamore, Chaussier, Olivier, and Ferrus, have

placed venereal excesses among the causes of neuralgias and those of

rheumatism.

Most authors have considered these excesses as one of the predisposing

causes of gout. Hippocrates, probably, entertained the same idea, if we

may judge from these two aphorisms:--“_Eunuchi neque podagra laborant,

neque caluescunt. Puer podagra non tentatur ante venereorum usum._”

Sydenham also regarded excessive indulgence in venereal pleasures as

tending to produce gout. Guilbert remarks, that even hereditary gout

is neither a disease of infancy nor of youth: he admits, however, that

venereal excesses may produce it before the time it generally appears.

Roche exclaims against this opinion: he thinks that venereal excesses

can only cause attacks of gout. He says--

“What influence have masturbation and venereal excesses in producing

gout? According to men of the world, and even to some physicians, they

are the most fruitful source of this infirmity: and yet on what facts

does this opinion rest? On this, that several gouty people have been

great libertines in their youth. But how many chaste persons, and how

many prelates, too, are attacked by this cruel disease? On the other

hand, are there not as many, and even more libertines among the poor,

than among the rich? and yet, in general, they are not attacked by the

gout. Finally, the shameful vice of onanism is observed most frequently

among the young; and we have already said that gout is a disease of

manhood and old age. Hence, it is wrong to attribute to this order of

causes a part of the influence which it has not, and cannot have, in

producing gout. Here, doubtless, has been committed the error which

has been several times pointed out: attacks of gout have frequently

been known to supervene after venereal excesses or masturbation; and

it has been concluded that these causes concur powerfully in producing

the disease itself. Good living and gormandizing are, we repeat, the

real--the only sources of gout: sobriety, frugality, are the best

preservatives from it.”

This last phrase shows clearly the origin of Roche’s opinion. It is

evident that he denies the influence attributed to venereal excesses,

in the production of gout, only to sustain a favorite theory. Roche

certainly never would have said, that there is more libertinism in the

lower than in the higher walks of life, if he had not been preoccupied

with the desire of proving that good living is the cause of gout,

to the exclusion of every other cause. It may be asserted, that one

mode of living predisposes to the gout more than another; and we will

agree with every author, that this disease appears particularly in

individuals who are well fed; but we cannot admit, that the possible

action of certain influences, as that of venereal excesses, should be

denied. Impressed, however, with the vast extent of the influence of

venereal excesses, and with the uncertainty of its limits, we prefer to

allow, with all authors, that venereal excesses, like many other known

and unknown causes, may predispose to gout. This opinion seems to be

more logical than that sustained by Roche with his usual ability.

Roche, also, in accordance with other authors, regards venereal

excesses as injurious to those affected with gout. “The indulgence in

venereal pleasures,” says Barthez, “should seldom be permitted to those

affected with gout; for they should abstain from whatever weakens or

exhausts. Coste, who has written on gout, is much more formal. “A gouty

person,” says he, “should choose between living apart from his wife,

and being cured of his disease; or caressing her, and rendering his

disease incurable. Whenever a gouty person sees a female,” he adds,

“if young, a new root to his disease sprouts forth; and if he be old,

he drives a nail into his coffin.” This opinion differs from that of

Pietsch, who maintains that gout arises from the absorption of vitiated

semen, which is retained by continence in the seminal vesicles.

Can venereal excesses cause hemorrhoidal affections? For want of facts

on this subject, we would remark, that these excesses _may_ contribute

to develop these affections, and particularly the exacerbations to

which they are subject. This was Montegre’s opinion: he admitted, that

the nervous debility which resulted from the abuse of the genital

organs, generally favored the occurrence of fluxes, motions which occur

most frequently in people subject to hemorrhoids; and also, that in

those females who have hemorrhoidal tumors on the rectum or vagina, the

abuse of coition may excite inflammation of these tumors. Montegre,

however, thinks that excessive continence has a more detrimental effect

on those affected with hemorrhoids than the contrary. He thought that

the irritation which extreme continence causes in the seminal vesicles

and adjacent parts, may excite a hemorrhoidal paroxysm: hence, he

regards the act of venery as generally useful to persons affected with

hemorrhoids, provided it is confined within certain limits. On this

opinion, we would say, that if the irritation of the seminal passages

may extend to the adjacent passages, venereal excesses which produce

this irritation may also cause inflammation of the hemorrhoidal tumors

much more frequently than continence. This is the opinion of Begin,

also, who mentions, among the direct causes of hemorrhoids, “excesses

in venereal pleasures--excesses which are always attended with a state

of orgasm and vascular fulness in the genital system, and in all the

parts connected with it; and particularly in the lower region of the

rectum, which receives the same vessels in the neck of the bladder,

the prostate gland, and the seminal vesicles, in the male, and in the

uterus and vagina in the female.”

We may believe, from the enervating action of masturbation, that the

development of scrofula may be excited or favored in those young

patients who are addicted to it. Few proofs of this, however, are found

in authors; and it is rare to find records of scrofulous symptoms in

the histories of those onanists which have been published. It, however,

would be absurd to conclude, from this silence, that the coincidence

of these symptoms and the ordinary effects of onanism never occur, or

that this habit cannot call into action a disposition to disease. But

we must admit, that if masturbation be an active cause of this disease,

this fact would have been noted more frequently.

Further: Certain circumstances seem to indicate, that onanism must be

but little favorable to the development of scrofula. First, onanism

renders the limbs thinner, dries them, then deprives them of those

white fluids with which the flesh of scrofulous persons is generally

infiltrated. Next, since in these latter the sensibility is as it

were blunted, and the susceptibility is slight, onanism tends to

excite them. Besides, one of the most common effects of the action of

the genital organs, at puberty, is the disappearance of scrofulous

engorgements and other symptoms, if they exist. Sometimes, the normal

development of the genital apparatus excites in those who have arrived

at puberty the swelling of the lymphatic ganglions of the neck, axillæ,

and particularly of the groins: but in this case, these ganglions

are painful, and present a kind of inflammatory state, analogous to

that which is attempted to be produced when they are affected with

scrofulous engorgements. Cabanis has well described what then takes

place:--“From the time,” says he, “that the evolution of the genital

organs commences, there is a general motion in the whole lymphatic

apparatus; the glands of the groins, the mammæ, those of the axillæ,

and neck, swell: they often become painful. It is not only in girls

that the mammæ swell; in young men, I have frequently seen them form

tumors, which seemed inflammatory: they have often been considered as

such by ignorant quacks. This symptom generally causes uneasiness in

those who experience it: but this depends not so much on the pain,

(which sometimes impedes the free motions of the body,) as on the

influence of this new action--the commotion caused in the imagination

by the new system.” This state of the lymphatic system would be, as is

seen, rather antithetic, than analogous to what is seen in scrofulous

patients. Farther: we have only to compare the eunuch with him who

has vigorously passed through puberty, to see that the action of

the genital organs is not adapted to favor the development of this

affection.

The act of venery often causes, also, ganglionary swellings; but they

do not resemble scrofulous engorgements, more than those which arise

from the influence of puberty. “The first essay of venereal pleasures,”

says Cabanis, “is often necessary to complete the development of the

genital organs: thus, the general swelling of all the parts where the

glands are situated, especially of the bosom, of the anterior face

of the neck, is often the consequence of this great commotion. The

characters which manifest this swelling are much more remarkable in

females; hence, perhaps, the old physicians, and even some moderns,

have stated the sudden swelling of the neck in young girls as a sign of

defloration. But it is wrong to consider this as a general and certain

sign: it is certainly not one.” If the act of venery can produce such

an excitement in the lymphatic system, it ought to be still more

manifest when a part of this system is already inflamed. This is

confirmed by a fact stated by Lordat, in the bulletin of the scientific

society of Montpelier. It relates to a young woman, in whom the jugular

glands being swelled, a few days after her marriage, increased or

diminished in size, according as she yielded to her husband’s embraces

or not. Thus, then, if we consider the genital organs, either during

the acute period of their development, or when the act of venery is

indulged in, we see that they extend their action to the lymphatic

apparatus, as they do to the other systems; but in a manner which seems

the reverse of that reputed to favor the production of scrofula.

Symptoms, however, analogous to those caused by scrofula, have been

known to occur where there is evidence of venereal abuses. Two cases,

which we have already quoted from M. Dalandeterie, are instances of

this. The first relates to a young man, twenty-four years old, whose

health, before he was addicted to masturbation, had been good; and

whose parents, so far as could be ascertained, had never been diseased

with scrofula, and had never presented any disposition to the disease.

First, he was affected with numbness in the little finger of the

right hand, and the ring-finger of the left hand; the articulations

swelled, and formed in these parts tumors, which were regarded as

scrofulous, and which were soon followed by ulceration and caries. The

patient experienced no pain; and only felt an intolerable itching. The

lymphatic ganglions of the groin and axillæ were permanently swelled;

and the bodies of several vertebræ became, as we have seen, affected

with caries.

The other patient, who was forty-five years old, presented an advanced

case of myelitis, and caries of the vertebræ, when there formed, at the

lower part of the sternum, a hard and indolent tumor, which soon became

apparently a scrofulous ulcer. The pus from this ulcer was ichorous,

and the edges were of a violet red, swelled and hard; and the soft

parts adhered to the subjacent bones. The lymphatic ganglions of the

neck swelled for some time, but they then returned to their natural

state. M. Dalandeterie adds, that these two cases have been selected

from many other similar or analogous facts: hence, he considers caries

of the vertebræ as having then been the consequence of a scrofulous

principle, which was developed by onanism.

If, however, we carefully analyze these facts, we shall find that they

do not indicate a scrofulous disease, the development of which was

but slightly favored by the age of the patients, as a _tubercular_

affection--that is, a disease which might be developed at every period

of life. We think that tubercles were developed, in the phalanges,

in the first case; and in the sternum, in the second; that these

tubercles softened, and suppurated; and thus were formed the apparent

scrofulous ulcers presented by these individuals. Probably, a similar

circumstance occurs in the vertebræ, the bodies of which are destroyed;

for distinguished observers, especially Delpech, have regarded Pott’s

disease as a tubercular affection of the body of these bones. The cases

of Dalandeterie would prove only that onanism favors the development of

tubercles. Unfortunately, they are not the only cases, as we shall see,

which establish this fact.

Consumption, or phthisis tubercularis, is, in fact, one of the diseases

caused most frequently by onanism. The act of venery--that power which

has so much influence on the internal life of the tissues, and on the

respiratory organs, and which, to use Rullier’s expression, seems

to agitate the lungs--is commenced in most onanists exactly at that

age when the chest enlarges in every direction, and which phthisis

seems to prefer. “How many young persons,” says Portal, in his work

on phthisis pulmonalis, “have been victims to their unhappy passion?

Physicians find those every day, who remain imbecile, or who are so

enervated, physically and morally, that they barely drag along a

miserable existence: others die with marasmus; and many with phthisis

pulmonalis.” In another work, the same author relates the case of a

young person, seventeen years old, who was addicted to masturbation,

and who fell a victim to this disease. This young person, who had

became much deformed, was affected with raising of blood, and soon

died of phthisis. “It results from numerous well ascertained facts,”

say Fournier and Begin, “that those persons who indulge in onanism are

generally remarkable for the imperfect development of their thorax, and

for the promptitude with which the least exercise renders respiration

difficult and hurried. Almost all these individuals contract chronic

catarrhs, or more serious affections of the pulmonary organs; and

finally perish, in a complete state of phthisis.” Broussais, also,

places among the causes of phthisis pulmonalis, “erotic spasms, no

matter in what manner they are excited.”

We have seen this affection, more frequently than any other, resulting

from onanism. Among other instances, we would mention that of a young

man, who died in 1833. This young man sustained himself so well in

public debate, that he was placed, at the expense of government, in a

public school. He was then sixteen years old; and his health, which had

previously been good, now failed. He became pale, languished, and grew

thin; and this, too, although his appetite was keen, and his digestion

excellent. Having my suspicions, and having communicated them to the

patient, and also to other persons who could enlighten me, we were led

to believe, from the answers made to me, that the too rapid growth of

the body was the only cause of the state presented by the patient;

and his state varied so little from that of health, that the young

man assured me that he was very well. I therefore simply directed him

to take more exercise, and to be more free in his diet. His loss of

flesh, however, and paleness continuing, his parents felt anxious about

him. I examined his organs separately: I could find none presenting

any marks of disease, or which could explain the general state of the

patient. My first suspicions then returned; but on questioning him, the

same answers were given. The patient, who had already seen an instance

of the bad effects of onanism, in the person of his younger brother,

seemed deeply impressed with the danger of his habit. He, however,

continued to lose strength. One day, after taking more violent exercise

than usual, he fainted away. At the same time, a dry cough supervened,

to which the patient at first did not attend. This was the first

symptom indicating an affection of any particular organ. This cough

soon became more frequent; and, by means of auscultation, we found that

the respiration, at the summit of one of the lungs, was imperfect.

At this time, the patient avowed to his father his deplorable habit.

This had been contracted at school; it had been indulged in for two

years; and of late, much more frequently than before. His danger was

fully pointed out to him; parents, friends, physicians, all conjured

him to abandon this secret vice. Treatises on onanism were placed in

his hands; and every attempt was made to arouse in him the feeling

of self-preservation. He was terrified; but the power of the habit

was so great, that he did not leave it off till consumption had

progressed very far. Deep abscesses successively formed in his lungs;

the expectoration soon became purulent and excessive. Night sweats and

diarrhœa followed; and the patient died in a terrible state of marasmus

and exhaustion.

In 1829, we prescribed for a young man, whose career was much more

rapid. He had always enjoyed excellent health; and his parents

exhibited no marks of consumption. Having married a very pretty widow,

he indulged himself with her very freely at night, while during the

day both were assiduously engaged. The female was seven or eight years

older than her husband, and did not suffer much. He, however, soon

became affected with cough, attended with bloody expectoration. When

consulted, we informed the patient of his danger, unless he changed

his mode of living. Our advice was not followed; and shortly after,

hemorrhage from the lungs supervened so abundantly and obstinately,

that notwithstanding the most active treatment, he died in eight days.

The young man, too, mentioned by Tissot, was also doubtless affected

with phthisis. “He came to Montpelier to pursue his studies; but was

affected with phthisis, from excessive onanism: and I remember that his

cough was so hard and constant, that all those who were near him were

incommoded by it. He was frequently bled; doubtless, with a view to his

relief. On consultation, he was ordered to go home, and take turtle

soup; and two hours after, he died.”

It is with phthisis, as with most of the other diseases, caused

by masturbation. This habit causes disease, by cherishing and by

cultivating special dispositions. Thus, the onanist born of consumptive

parents, whose chest is narrow, with a long neck and thin limbs,

and who presents symptoms of scrofula, is more liable to be affected

with phthisis or consumption. This was the case with a young man, as

mentioned by Rozier. This patient was evidently scrofulous, and many

members of his family had been affected with the disease. He remained,

however, pretty well until he was eighteen years old, when, in

consequence of a contusion in one of his legs, he became affected with

an ulcer, which was a long time healing. After it was cured, however,

he remained in good health, and was lively, animated, and intelligent;

but when twenty-five years old, he commenced indulging in onanism.

He soon felt oppression at the chest, and cough; and although the

affection of his chest increased, and he was aware of the dangers of

onanism, he continued to indulge. Many physicians were consulted; but

he did not mention his bad habit. The affection of the lungs continued;

his sleep was interrupted; hectic fever supervened; his cheeks were

tinged with an unnatural color; and his expectoration was grayish

and purulent. The patient then decided on avowing his habit. Rozier

attempted, in the most touching and persuasive manner, to induce him

to abandon it; but in vain. Consumption continued to progress; and he

was soon unable to talk, to move, or to make the least motion, without

danger of suffocation. After remaining in this horrid state three

years, the patient died.

We have already remarked several times, that the respiration in

onanists is frequently affected. Their breath is often short; they

pant on the slightest exercise; are subject to stifling, &c. These

symptoms, the existence of which cannot always be explained by that

of any organic alteration in the heart or lungs, finally assume, in

some individuals, the characters attributed to _nervous asthma_.

The authors who have written on this subject, have all classed

venereal excesses among its most frequent causes. “Individuals of a

nervous temperament,” says M. Ferrus, “seem most particularly liable

to it. But the influence of certain bad habits--as masturbation,

the abuse of venereal pleasures by young persons, excesses of the

table in old men, &c.--contribute, as powerfully as individual

predispositions, to produce this disease.” Jolly remarks, in nearly

similar language:--“Venereal excesses and masturbation,” says this

distinguished physician, “have appeared in some cases to produce

asthma. And if some authors think that too much importance is attached

to this cause, they may readily appreciate its value by observing the

effects of the venereal orgasm on the pulmonary circulation.” Daily

observation proves that persons affected with asthma have generally

used the goods of this life freely. To admit that venereal excesses

often prepare for or excite an attack of asthma, we have only to regard

an attack of asthma, whether excited or not by an organic lesion, as

consisting in a spasm of the glottis; or, as Reisessen and Cruvelhier

think, of the ramifications of the bronchi.

Our remarks on asthma may apply to diseases of the heart and large

vessels. The frequent repetitions of an act which render the emotions

so powerful, frequent, and tumultuous, has often produced or increased

aneurismatic dilatations of this organ; the thickening of its parietes,

or other diseases, of the parenchyma, or of the vessels which leave

it and go to it. Thus, the abuse of onanism, and of the pleasures of

love, holds a high place on the list of causes of this affection.

We have seen dilatations of the left ventricle of the heart, which

evidently arose from this cause. “In some cases,” says Fournier and

Begin, “palpitations, and even considerable lesions of the heart and

large vessels, could have no other cause, in patients whose vigorous

constitutions have long resisted the destructive practice of onanism,

and who, notwithstanding their excesses, have attained an advanced

age.” This last remark is particularly just. These diseases are by no

means so immediately dangerous as is generally believed. The principal

symptoms of diseases of the heart may exist, although this organ may

not be materially altered. A remarkable instance of this may be seen

in one of the cases already mentioned. The patient experienced for

a long time difficulty of breathing; which increased on walking, and

especially on going up stairs. These symptoms were so marked, that on

entering the hospital, he exhibited all the symptoms of a hypertrophy

of the left cavities of the heart. Four months after his entrance into

the hospital, the patient died of the consequences of myelitis; and on

opening the body, the heart was found perfectly healthy, of its normal

size, and presented nothing unusual in the extent of its cavities, or

in the thickness of their parietes.

Among the diseases of the heart which may be caused by venereal

excesses, there is one in particular mentioned by Blaud. He thinks

that too frequent coition predisposes to _polypi of the heart_. He

maintains, that the act produces its effects, either by weakening the

motive powers of this organ, which they over-excite momentarily; or

by causing too great an accumulation, and consequently a congestion

of blood, in the cardiac cavities. This last fact seemed to him to

be proved, by the oppression, the congestion in the head, and the

palpitations, which attend coition.

If venereal excesses may cause diseases of the heart, they may increase

those which exist. They may also, by causing the rupture of an

aneurism, produce instant death. But having already treated of these

effects, we shall not return to the subject.

Rachitis, and particularly alterations in the height, have been named

by many authors among the ordinary effects of premature indulgences.

We have already given, from Portal, the remarkable case of a young

girl, who, indulging in excesses of onanism, became humpbacked, and

then consumptive. In six months, the curve of the vertebral column

progressed rapidly; the chest was depressed at the lower part of the

sternum; there was a deep hollow in the epigastric region, while the

abdomen was prominent. The same author has observed other similar

cases. “I have seen,” says he, “four or five of these unfortunate

creatures, from fifteen to eighteen years old, in whom the back was

very convex, and the abdomen seemed pressed into the chest; the

extremities of the long bones, particularly those which form the elbows

and knees, were very much enlarged; the legs were thrown out, and

their muscles were scarcely developed; their eyes were sunken; their

countenances pale and white; and their voices acute. Any one, to judge

of their ages by their looks, would think that they were not more than

twelve years old. They were extremely weak, physically and morally,

and became imbecile long before they died.” Dr. Richard, cited by

Petit, has also seen considerable deformity of the ribs, resulting from

onanism. Tissot placed this habit first among the causes of rachitis.

M. Lonyer Villermey, also, regards onanism and involuntary pollutions

as an active source of deviations in height. On the other hand, Dr.

Laguerre, a gentleman who has attended to rachitic persons a good deal,

tells us that the habit has been observed by him only once, as a cause

of spinal deformity.

It has also been advanced, that premature enjoyment may arrest the

growth of the body, and consequently prevent it from attaining its

normal height. We do not deny the possibility of such a result. We have

seen many onanists, however, grow very rapidly, notwithstanding their

excesses, and all the symptoms of extensive alteration. It follows,

also, from the researches of Villermé and Quetelet, that the mean

height of man is generally greater in the city than in the country; and

yet, in the former, masturbation is more frequent. We can see, too, by

comparing the increase in weight to that in length, during the first

twenty years, that the development of the genital organs exercises

much more influence on the mass of the body, than on its height: thus,

between the ages of four and fifteen years--that is, during the period

of puberty--the annual increase of weight is quadruple of what it was

in preceding years. Do not these reasons authorize us to think, that if

premature excesses have any influence on the height of man, this action

is less than is generally imagined?

Besides rachitis, caries, and tubercles, which have been mentioned,

are the bones ever affected with any other disease, in consequence

of venereal indulgences? The only case in point is that already

mentioned,(p. 85) as reported by Serrurier, of a man who was reduced

to a complete state of marasmus, in consequence of venereal excesses

and nocturnal pollutions. In this man’s case, a remarkable circumstance

occurred. Having attempted, a few days before death, to rest himself

from the fatigues of the bed, by spending a few hours in the easy

chair, he fractured the bone of his right thigh at its centre, merely

by attempting to cross the right thigh on the left. Might not this

disease, which is very rare, and is termed friability of the bones, be

also caused by the excesses we have mentioned?

These excesses, if accompanied by those of the table, or if indulged

in under unfavorable circumstances, may be followed by acute, as

well as by chronic affections, and particularly by fevers of a bad

character. This result of excessive enjoyments is frequent; and cases

of it have been seen by almost every physician. It was known to the

ancients. Hippocrates gives the history of a young man of Melibœa, who,

after indulging in women and wine, was attacked with all the symptoms

of typhus fever. Bartholin knew a person, recently married, who was

attacked, after conjugal excesses, with an acute fever, attended with

great depression, sinking, nausea, immoderate thirst, &c. This patient

was cured by rest and tonics. Hoffmann, who states this case, also

mentions that of a man, who never indulged in venereal excesses without

being attacked with fever, which continued several days. Tissot, in

1761 and 1762, knew two very healthy, strong, and vigorous young men,

who were attacked, one the day after, and the other the second night

of their marriage, with a very violent fever, preceded by no chill,

pulse quick and hard, wakefulness, many slight convulsive motions, very

great inquietude, and dry skin. The appearance of the second was very

much altered, and he was troubled with dysuria. He first thought that

an intemperate use of wine was in part the procuring part of these

symptoms; but I was of a different opinion in regard to the second.

They were cured at the end of two days. This circumstance added to the

character of the disease, leaves no doubt of the cause.

Sauvages admits, after Dellon, that a typhus of exhausted persons

exists. The Portuguese term patients affected with this malady,

_esfalfados_. The exhaustion caused by immoderate indulgence in

venereal pleasures, says this author, is very common among the

Indians. It is a continued fever, in which the pulse is sometimes full

and strong, sometimes weak, and almost imperceptible. The urine is

sometimes very red, but transparent; the skin is hot and dry; and there

is watchfulness, nausea, and violent thirst.

Farther: All authors who have written on the diseases of warm climates,

have mentioned the too frequent repetition of the act of venery among

the causes of these typhus affections, which have been termed _febris

ardens_, _causus_, _yellow fever_, &c. In temperate climates, adynamic

ataxic fevers, &c., and very severe acute diseases, have often been

known to occur from excesses in venery, or from masturbation.

If _satyriasis_ and _nymphomania_ have been regarded as rare diseases,

it is only because the meaning of these terms has been too confined

to embrace numerous cases which, however, have the greatest analogy

with those diseases to which these terms are applied. Generally, these

persons are considered as affected with satyriasis and nymphomania,

who are irresistibly impelled to coition, and resort, to satisfy

their desires, to the most indecent actions, and to the most direct

provocations. Thus defined, these diseases are rare; and most

practitioners have never seen them. But if satyriasis and nymphomania

be regarded as an unusual state of heat, by which one is led to desire

and to practise not only coition, but the act of venery in any mode,

then the scene enlarges, and these affections deserve to be placed

among those which are observed most frequently.

We shall adopt the latter sense. In our view, male and female onanists

are affected with satyriasis and nymphomania, as much as those to whom

these terms are generally applied. In both, the sense of venery,

existing to an unusual extent, affects the mind, and incites to

dangerous actions, repugnant both to modesty and reason. Onanists do

not, like other persons affected with satyriasis, expose their persons,

and solicit with voice and gesture those of the other sex: their

deranged and delirious imaginations pursue another course. What need

have they of the other sex? Their inclinations lead them to solitary

indulgence. Their thoughts and actions, however, are not less vile than

those of others affected with satyriasis; but they are indulged in

secret. Hence, between the satyriasis of books and that of onanists,

there is only a difference of form: the foundation is the same. Admit,

however, that it be desirable to distinguish this satyriasis from the

former, and to give it a special name; is it not better to consider

them only as two varieties of the same affection, one of which impels

to onanism, the other to coition?

The degree of onanistic satyriasis and of nymphomania depends on the

power the venereal sense has over the will. These affections do not

exist in those with whom it is optional whether they shall indulge in

onanism or not, nor in those who can refrain from coition. Thus, then,

a person may masturbate, without being affected with satyriasis. This

is the case, when the sentiment of self-preservation is sufficiently

strong to resist desires, when the persons yield readily to reprimands

and punishments. Satyriasis may be considered as existing to some

extent in the onanist, if he cannot refrain. This was the case with a

young man, whose history is given by Begin and Fournier. From early

puberty, he was addicted to masturbation; and when eighteen years

old, he presented some of the bad effects of this habit. This young

man was endowed with a brilliant mind: but, although well educated,

and although he well knew the dangers of his habit, yet he could not

refrain. His good resolutions were formed only to be broken. He died.

In a young woman whom we attended, the struggle with her passions

terminated more favorably. It was not the desire of preserving her

life, which induced her to leave off her bad habits; but the wish of

conforming to the will of her father. Her constitution was already

considerably affected, when the cause of it was discovered. The father

of this young girl told her how much pain and shame her bad habit

caused him, and requested her to abstain from it. She was extremely

mild and docile, and made every effort to please and obey him. It was

in vain: but whenever she was inclined to masturbate, the fault was

confessed as soon as committed. Coercive measures were finally resolved

upon. The patient not only consented to have her hands tied every

night, but requested it, and even stated the manner in which she might

be most effectually prevented from abusing herself. The venereal sense

gradually became subdued, and confined within the proper limits. And

thus, this habit--or, rather, the nymphomania, which was the result,

and also the cause of it--was cured.

Satyriasis and nymphomania, arising from onanism, are most intense,

when the persons affected with it can no longer conceal their feelings,

but indulge openly in vile manœuvres. We have already mentioned some

remarkable instances of this state. The following may serve as the type

of the greatest degree of nymphomania. The patient was a little girl

less than three years old, who indulged freely in onanism. Neither

caresses, entreaties, threats, nor punishments, could correct her.

The child grew, however. But at the sight of any pleasant object, she

abandoned herself to her manœuvres. At the period of the crisis, she

seemed almost entirely to have lost her sight and hearing. Threats

and punishments finally restrained her, while in the presence of her

parents; but when alone, she still continued her bad habits. This

state resisted all remedies. When married, the legitimate sources of

enjoyment took the place of the passionate indulgences to which she had

been accustomed from infancy. She finally became pregnant, and died in

labor. (_Dict. des Sc. Med._; vol. xxxvi., p. 566.)

Onanism is not only a direct cause of satyriasis and of nymphomania;

it may leave in the genital organs a certain disposition, which, if

cherished, may degenerate into one of these affections. The following

case, published by Duprest-Rony, seems to us to be an instance of

this:--

A young man, twenty years old, of a strong and almost athletic frame,

but who had been enfeebled by onanism, abandoned himself, from the age

of fifteen to eighteen years, to this destructive habit. He indulged

in this habit even while in the bath, and sometimes to the extent of

fifteen times in a day. His constitution was enfeebled; his mind was

affected; his memory impaired. In accordance with the advice of some

prudent people, this young man renounced this fatal habit. During the

next two years, he was perfectly continent. His constitution resumed

its vigor; his memory and other mental faculties were restored. His

parents now placed him with a merchant. He entered upon his new

occupations with zeal and activity; but receiving marks of attachment

from the merchant and his wife daily, he imagined that she was in love

with him. On his side, the passion was returned. Actuated by the fear

of violating the duties of gratitude, and the desire of possessing this

lady, who was neither young nor pretty, his situation daily became

more embarrassing. Whenever she looked at him, erections took place,

and there was a discharge of semen. During the night, he had frequent

pollutions. His faculties now became deranged: this derangement

supervened after reading the Phedra of Racine. He identified himself so

closely with the characters of this piece, that he supposed himself to

be Hippolyte, and considered his mistress to be Phedra, and her husband

as Theseus. More amorous than Hippolyte, and no less virtuous, he threw

himself one day at the feet of Theseus, and said, “Theseus! the crime

is not yet consummated--your wife is not yet guilty. I have hitherto

resisted her prayers--her tears: but I am no longer master of myself;

and if she is not removed from my presence, I must yield.” Great was

the astonishment of the supposed Theseus. He resolved to send the

young man away. This cured the delirium: but the erections and seminal

emissions continued. The stomach and intestinal tube became inert. The

patient’s appetite was good; but as soon as he ate food, pains occurred

in the epigastric region, and uneasiness in the rest of the body. The

disease finally yielded to the combined use of antispasmodics and

tonics. And now, this young man, who has been married for five or six

years, enjoys fine health. (_Diss. sur le Satyriasis._ Paris, an xii.)

Instead of the disposition just mentioned, masturbation may leave in

the genital organs an irritability of a different kind, the results of

which are not less disagreeable. A case of this presented itself in a

young female, whom we attended. While at board, she indulged freely in

onanism. She was married when seventeen years old; and then expected

legally to enjoy what had seemed to her the extreme of pleasure. She

was disappointed, however: marriage was only the source of uneasiness

and pain. She was perfectly insensible to the caresses of her

husband--or, rather, in submitting to them, she experienced the most

disagreeable sensations. A painful state of spasms and convulsions then

affected her, which continued several hours after the cause had ceased

to act. We were called to her several times at night, to relieve this

state, which caused great anxiety. This lady’s susceptibility, also,

was very great; and she constantly complained of some of the attendants

of hysteria. She presented every appearance of a lymphatic temperament.

During her youth, too, she had been affected with symptoms of scrofula,

from which even now she is not entirely free, although twenty-two years

old. Do not these circumstances, not generally coexistent with extreme

sensibility, prove, that the extreme irritability of the uterine system

is to be ascribed to her self-abuse?

Priapism, which signifies permanent erection of the penis, without

pleasure, and even in some cases with pain, sometimes follows

indiscretions. This has been seen particularly in young children, whose

genital organs have been excited: sometimes, too, it occurs in old

men. Cœlius Aurelian, (lib. iii., ch. 18,) relates, that an old man was

affected with priapism for several months. The erection was firm, like

a horn, but not very painful. Finally, it yielded.

The genital organs may, from too much excitement, lose their

sensibility, and waste. The manipulations, which at first were followed

with the desired result, become unable to excite the genital sense.

They may sometimes cause the erection of the penis, and even excite a

painful or inconvenient priapism; but they cannot renew the fountain of

enjoyment. The remembrance of past pleasures remains; and the onanist,

disturbed by their recollection, torments his blunted organs. Obtaining

no satisfaction from the modes formerly employed, he now resorts to

others, which are sometimes dreadful. His hand which is now armed with

some instrument, no longer confines itself to the surface: the surface

no longer feels. He now ventures inside, and shrinks from nothing. This

continues until these dangerous resources fail, which happens, because

they also lose their effect, or because of the severe accidents with

which they are sometimes attended.

The following case from Chopart, on diseases of the urinary passages,

shows the almost incredible extent of insensibility which the penis may

attain, or of delirium which may affect a man, who, having exhausted

his faculties by excesses, still remains a slave to his passions:--

“A shepherd of Languedoc, Gabriel Gallien, about the age of fifteen,

became addicted to onanism, and to such a degree, as to practise it

seven or eight times in a day. Emission became at last so difficult,

that he would strive for an hour, and then discharge only a few drops

of blood. At the age of six and twenty, his hand became insufficient:

all he could do, was to keep the penis in a continual state of

priapism. He then bethought himself of tickling the internal part of

his urethra, by means of a bit of wood, six inches long; and he would

spend in that occupation several hours, while tending his flocks in

the solitude of the mountains. By a continuation of this titillation

for sixteen years, the canal of the urethra became hard, callous, and

insensible. The piece of wood then became as ineffectual as his hand.

At last, after much fruitless effort, G., one day in despair, drew

from his pocket a blunt knife, and made an incision into his glands,

along the course of the urethra. This operation, which would have

been painful to any body else, was, in him, attended with a sensation

of pleasure, followed by a copious emission. He had recourse to his

new discovery every time his desire returned. When, after an incision

into the cavernous bodies, the blood flowed profusely, he stopped the

hemorrhage, by applying around the penis a pretty tight ligature. At

last, after repeating the same process, perhaps a thousand times, he

ended in splitting his penis into two equal parts, from the orifice of

the penis to the stratum, very near to the symphisis pubis. When he

had got so far, unable to carry his incision any farther, and again

reduced to new privations, he had recourse to a piece of wood, shorter

than the former: he introduced it into what remained of the urethra,

and exciting at pleasure the extremities of the ejaculatory ducts, he

provoked easily the discharge of semen. He continued this about ten

years. After that long space of time, he one day introduced his bit

of wood so carelessly, that it slipped from his fingers, and dropped

into the bladder. Excruciating pain and serious symptoms came on.

The patient was conveyed to the hospital at Narbonne. The surgeon,

surprised at the sight of two penes of ordinary size, both capable

of erection, and in that stage diverging on both sides; and seeing,

besides, from the scars, and from the callous edges of the divisions,

that this conformation was not congenital from his birth; obliged

the patient to give him an account of his life, which he did, with

the details which have been related. This wretch was cut, as for the

stone--recovered of the operation--but died three months after, of an

abscess in the right side of the chest; his phthisical state having

been evidently brought on by the practice of onanism, carried on

nearly forty years.”

Whatever may be the degree of degradation attending onanism, we do not

think it possible to adduce a second instance of such a mutilation.

Gallien’s unhappy idea of introducing a foreign body into the

urethra, has often occurred to others, who had availed themselves,

but unsuccessfully, of the ordinary resources of masturbation. These

unfortunate people have always been obliged to call in medical advice,

either on account of the diseases caused by their dangerous manœuvres,

or--much more frequently--by the symptoms to which they fall victims,

through their carelessness. In fact, the implements used often escape

into the bladder; and then the acute suffering and fear of death oblige

them to reveal what they had formerly concealed, and to undergo an

operation which is always painful, and which is not exempt from danger.

We will give a few instances of this kind of accident. An innkeeper,

near Saumur, was in the habit, like Gallien, of titillating the

urethra, by introducing foreign bodies. He used an iron wire, seven

or eight inches long, the end of which was crooked like a hook, to

obtain, probably, more exquisite pleasure. One day, while indulging in

this singular manœuvre, he suddenly felt severe pain. The membraneous

portion of the canal was ruptured. The unfortunate man made several

attempts to withdraw the wire; but the hook, which had entered the soft

parts, rendered it impossible. Overcome by suffering and shame, he

wished to get rid of it; and with this view, he rounded the loose part

of the wire into the form of a ring, proposing in this manner to pull

upon it more firmly. He exercised this force till the ring was nearly

broken, but the iron was still in its place. He now expected death; but

the suffering was so great, that he was obliged to call a physician;

and Dr. Fardeau, of Saumur, visited him.

The penis, and also the skin of the scrotum, was enormously tumefied:

all the tissues which are inserted in the penis were also swelled,

hot, and painful. The belly began to be puffy, and the urine was

suppressed; the face was red, and the eye filmy; the mind began to be

affected; the pulse was hard, frequent, and corded. Dr. Fardeau grasped

the loose portion of the wire, pulled upon it slightly, and immediately

found that the other end was arrested by an immoveable obstacle. He

then examined the parts attentively; and found, to his astonishment,

that the hook was fixed in the inner edge of the ischiatic tuberosity.

An oblong incision was now made over this part, the hook seized, and

the wire was withdrawn through the perineum. The patient was relieved,

and finally was completely restored. (_Lancette Fr._, October 13th,

1831.)

Saraillé has reported a similar case. The patient was fifty years old,

and called this surgeon the 18th of October, 1813. He stated that a

sailing needle, about four inches long, had unfortunately slipped into

the urethra; and the point had become fixed upward, near the root of

the penis. After suffering for eight days, during which the presence of

this body excited frequent erections, Lallemand operated, and extracted

it.

Many individuals have been similarly affected. They have all imagined

that they could extract the instrument they used, when some unforeseen

accident has deprived them of it. A young man, nineteen years old,

whose case is mentioned by Louis Senn, made use of the stalk of a

plant, which he introduced into the urethra. It broke; and after much

suffering, the operation for stone was employed to extract it, and the

calculi which had formed around it. A similar circumstance happened

to a man, thirty-eight years old, a patient of Rigal’s. This man

introduced into his urethra the stalk of a sword lily, (_gladiolus

communis_.) This stalk broke, fell into the bladder, and after two

months of pain and danger, the operation for stone was employed to

extract it. It was two inches long; and was already covered with a

saline concretion, one or two lines thick. Bonnet, formerly surgeon at

Hotel Dieu, at Clermont, stated in his lectures, that a vine-dresser

used a vine-stalk for this purpose. During an emission of semen, he

dropped the stalk, which entered the urethra, and passed into the

bladder, where it caused symptoms which required the operation of

lithotomy. The foreign body extracted was three inches long, and three

lines thick. Would it be believed, that Civiale has extracted from the

bladder of a man, by means of lithotrity, a bean, which was introduced

eleven months before, and which gave rise to all the symptoms of stone?

A volume might be filled with facts of a similar character. Many may be

found in the Ephemerides Curiosorum, Memoirs of the Royal Academy of

Sciences, those of the Royal Society of Medicine, and of the Academy of

Surgery; in the works of Chopart, Deschamps, Lamotte, Tolet, Morgagni,

Van Swieten, Morand, Pouteau, &c.

The dangers of these practices are not simply those which are stated in

the facts already mentioned; nor are they confined to exhausting the

rest of the sensibility preserved in the genital organs: they finally

cause chronic diseases of the urethra and bladder. These organs, when

constantly irritated by applications which in individuals not entirely

exhausted are always painful--these organs inflame; indurations,

ulcerations, and strictures, form in the urethra; after which supervene

all the symptoms of acute and chronic blenorrhea, detentions of urine,

and catarrh of the bladder.

Venereal delirium has led other individuals to use processes no less

ridiculous, and equally as dangerous. The penis of those who are thus

unfortunate has remained in the places where it has been introduced,

with a view to imitate the natural process better. Sabatier has related

the case of a young man, who had passed his penis through the handle

of a key. The handle had been pushed far towards the pubis, and the

penis had swelled so as to conceal it from sight: the swelling was also

increased by the efforts of the patient to withdraw it. After oiling

the parts well, the handle was slipped down as far as the glans; but

here scarifications were required, to diminish the engorgement, before

the penis could be liberated. After this, escars sloughed off, which

were followed by cicatrices, which rendered the part deformed, although

a sound was introduced into the urethra, to prevent this result.

The same author relates that a young man had passed his penis into a

copper ring: this, however, was fortunately divided with a pair of

strong scissors. Another used a rough iron ring for this purpose. The

penis puffed out, above and below this ring. A locksmith was called in,

to file it off, which could only be done by placing small bits of wood

between the penis and the iron ring. Much time was required to remove

it. In the same manner--that is, by filing--a ring was removed from

another patient, where gangrene had threatened to appear.

One of the most horrid cases of this kind on record, is that of a young

man, who, on taking a bath, indulged in masturbation, by placing his

penis into the hole in the bottom of the tub, made for the removal of

the water. The glans soon became so much swelled, that he could not

withdraw it. His cries brought him assistance; but it was not easy to

remove him from the fetters he had forged for himself. (_Dict. des Sc.

Med._, vol. xxi., p. 167.)

Many similar cases have occurred in Dupuytren’s practice. One was that

of a young man who came to the clinical lecture at Hotel Dieu, having

the socket of a candlestick, in front of which the glans was enormously

tumefied. Being unable, by any effort, to remove it, the cylindrical

portion surrounding the penis was filed, and thus taken from him. It

would occupy too much room, to enumerate all the facts of this kind

which have been noted by practitioners; but a common accident, and

which has been seen several times by Dupuytren, is the ligature of

the penis by a thread or wire. Some young men, and even adults, have

bound the penis in fits of erotic delirium, so that the knot could not

be loosed; and a circular section has been made in the skin, and the

urethra even has been opened and cut. It is evident, that, in these

cases, the only thing to be done is to divide the thread, to dress the

wound, and then to introduce a gum-elastic sound, in order to prevent

the formation of an urinary fistula, or of an accidental hypospadias.

Another kind of strangulation--which is much less serious, however,

than those we have mentioned--may result from masturbation and coition,

in those individuals where the opening of the prepuce is too narrow.

This prolongation of the skin, after being drawn violently back behind

the corona glandis, strangles the penis, as would be done by a foreign

body, and cannot be brought again to its primitive situation: there is

then a paraphimosis. All authors who have treated of this affection,

have placed among the causes of it that which we have mentioned. We

have seen several instances of this character. I will cite that of a

young boy, seven or eight years old, in whom this accident was produced

during masturbation. The glans was tumefied, and the prepuce formed a

large fold around it. The frightened parents sent for our assistance.

Methodical and long continued pressure soon brought things to their

proper state.

_Herpes praeputialis_, another affection of the prepuce, may arise from

the constant excitement of this part. Fortunately, this eruption is a

slight disease, and generally terminates in a week or two, even without

medical treatment.

Persons who indulge in lascivious ideas, are often affected with a

discharge from the end of the penis--and this though there has been no

masturbation--of a viscid, whitish mucus, which leaves on the linen

spots similar to those produced by the white of an egg. The edges of

the meatus urinarius may also be glued together, by the drying of this

mucus. This discharge, which has been described by John Hunter, is

not a disease, although it has all the appearance of it; and it keeps

some people in constant fear, lest they have contracted gonorrhœa. It,

however, results from an unusual excitement of the mucous membrane,

lining the glans and urethra. Now, if the simple excitement of the

venereal sense can cause such an effect, what might not be expected

from excesses in coition or masturbation? Thus, these causes are

mentioned, whenever the causes of balanitis and blenorrhagia are

alluded to. All authors agree on this subject; and if but few cases are

brought forward in support of this opinion, it is because the subject

has not been disputed. The following is found in a dissertation of

Closs. The patient was a young man addicted to masturbation, who had

been affected for more than six months with a gonorrhœal discharge,

which had been neglected because it occasioned no suffering. The

matter of the discharge, however, becoming acrid, green, and yellow,

he was obliged to ask medical advice. He protested, under oath, that

he had never been exposed to contract disease; and Closs, therefore,

considered this blenorrhea as the result of masturbation, in which the

patient had indulged even before puberty.

This symptom is seen still more frequently after excesses in coition,

especially if attended with excesses in drinking, as Lallemand has

remarked, or if one has cohabited with a female whose genital organs

were very small. It has often been observed in the newly married, and

has sometimes occasioned unmerited suspicions and reproaches. It is

said, too, that excesses indulged in by persons whose genital organs

are perfectly sound, may produce in one or both of them a more or less

intense blenorrhea. Cullerier and Ratier say, that they have verified

this fact several times. Can such a blenorrhea be communicated? Cassan,

in the Bulletin Universel of Ferussac, has inserted a note, in which he

states that many of the facts observed in man and animals, particularly

of the genus Bos, prove, that blenorrhea, which is simply the result

of venereal excesses between healthy individuals, easily assumes a

contagious character, and is attended with symptoms analogous to those

of syphilis, and requires the same treatment.

Inflammation of the urethra may become very intense, and extend

to the bladder, particularly when venereal excesses coexist with

intemperate habits: the discharge of urine may then be interrupted, and

consequently all the symptoms of dysuria and strangury may supervene.

Chronic catarrh of the bladder is often observed, also, in those

individuals who have abused the pleasures of love.

Montegre, speaking of a kind of cystitis, which he terms _vesical

hemorrhoids_, mentions among its causes venereal excesses, and

particularly those repeated titillations, which keep the genital organs

in a state of semi-orgasm, which is not terminated by any crisis.

Lallemand reports the case of an individual, who, being addicted to

venereal excesses, experienced frequent desire to urinate, and found

it difficult to empty his bladder. Finally, unable to pass water

without the use of a sound, he learned to introduce it himself. This

was not difficult, although the bladder could not be emptied without

it. The urine was turbid, thick, and deposited a great deal of glairy

mucus, which adhered to the pot de chambre. The prostatic portion of

the urethra was cauterized, but without success. Lallemand thought

that there was a morbid development of the middle lobe of the prostate

gland. In another patient, whose history is given by this excellent

observer, excessive masturbation appeared to have predisposed to a

chronic inflammation of the genito-urinary organs, which were developed

under the influence of the abuse of coition. (_Obs._, &c., p. 440.)

It is easily seen, that if coition and masturbation may cause all

these inflammations, so, too, they may sustain and increase them.

The pleasures of love, therefore, should be strictly forbidden to

persons affected with diseases of the genito-urinary passages. Acute

inflammation of the urethra, blenorrhagia, has often been known

to pass to a chronic state by a single act of venery; which, says

Lewedrain, may even cause this change several months after the apparent

termination of acute blenorrhagia.

May an incontinence of urine be produced by excesses in coition or

masturbation? We have more than once seen this disease in young

onanists. Sainte Marie, also, places it among the symptoms of

daily involuntary pollution; and Lallemand has remarked, that most

individuals affected with this pollution had been subject, in their

infancy, to incontinence of urine. May not the relations between these

two affections extend to the causes which determine them?

One of the most common causes of excesses in venery is, the

_involuntary loss of semen_. This disease, which has been termed

_spermatorrhœa_, _involuntary pollution_, may also arise from other

causes; but as it results most frequently from excesses in masturbation

or coition, we shall devote particular attention to it.

Let us consider the mode in which the excretion of semen takes place in

the normal state. It is the remote consequence of a voluntary action,

and the immediate result of involuntary contractions. The venereal

sense is excited voluntarily, either by copulation, or by applying the

hand: this excitement is carried to as great an extent as possible; and

then a crisis, entirely independent of the will, terminates it. This

crisis occurs sooner or later. It may even be quickened or retarded by

the will, which may excite or modify the venereal sense; but when it

does take place, it is always by involuntary contractions--that is, by

a true convulsion.

This last action has two well marked periods. In the first, the semen

passes from the seminal vesicles into the urethra; in the second,

this liquid is violently expelled. The contraction of the seminal

vesicles--and perhaps, also, that of the levatores ani muscles--are

the powers by which the semen comes into the urethra. The ejaculation

is caused by the muscles of the perinœum, and particularly by the

bulbo-cavernosus muscle. The swelling and hardness of the corpus

cavernosum furnish this muscle with a point of resistance, which

enables it to compress more efficiently the semen with which the

urethra is filled; and the straightening of this canal, by the

erection, renders the expulsion of this fluid more easy. All these

motions take place by jerks; and, we repeat it, convulsively, without

the aid of the will.

The involuntary excretion of the semen, the morbid pollution, may take

place sometimes in the manner described, sometimes in another mode.

In the first case, it differs from what occurs in the normal state,

only not being preceded by those acts which are performed voluntarily

by man. Secondly, the semen is excreted without any convulsive effort;

it flows like the tears, the saliva, the bile. The semen comes into

the urethra, and escapes from it merely because it is there. There

is no ejaculation: and this is easily conceived of; for the genital

organs are not sufficiently excited, to cause the ejaculatory powers to

be convulsed, as is proved by the excessive weakness of the venereal

sensation. And, secondly, one of the indispensable conditions of

the ejaculation--erection of the penis--does not exist. There are,

then, two kinds of involuntary pollutions; one which is _convulsive_,

and the other which is _not so_. Between these two kinds, there are

intermediate degrees, in which spermatorrhœa partakes more or less of

one or the other. These degrees often mark the passage from convulsive

spermatorrhœa to that which is not convulsive; for the latter has

generally been preceded by the former. We shall see hereafter, that the

existence of one of these affections does not forbid that of the other;

and that the ejaculation of semen is possible in some individuals who

present habitually an insensible flow of this fluid.

Involuntary pollutions have been distinguished until now in another

manner: they have been divided into _diurnal_ and _nocturnal_.

These distinctions are founded only on accessory circumstances.

What difference does it make, whether the pollutions occur by night

or by day, provided they are similar in other respects? If, on the

contrary, there are more essential differences, why not give to them

the importance they demand? Farther: is not convulsive spermatorrhœa,

like that which is not convulsive, seen both at night and day? These

are the reasons why we have sought to distinguish these affections more

logically, and which have led us to propose the new distinction just

mentioned.

Convulsive spermatorrhœa may occur in all individuals, and under the

influence of a great many causes, without being necessarily a disease.

After excessive continence, it may even prove a salutary crisis. This

pollution has a pathological character, when it is repeated too often,

or under unfavorable circumstances; and then it produces the same

result as excesses in coition or masturbation, and generally occurs

only in individuals already enfeebled by this kind of excess. Sleep

is the most favorable state for an attack of spermatorrhœa; and from

this circumstance it is called nocturnal pollution. The temperature of

the bed, and lying on the back--circumstances which favor the warmth

and excitement of the lower part of the spinal marrow--may also cause

the convulsive excretion of the semen. But another cause of it is,

that during the sleep of the external senses, the internal senses have

control, and have more power, because the action of the others is

completely suspended. Cabanis remarks this fact, in saying that the

genital organs do not participate in the repose of the external senses,

but seem to be more excitable when these are asleep. We consider, that

what takes place then is analogous to what is observed in idiots,

who, deaf, blind, and dead to all the feelings of relation, abandon

themselves to every excess, to satisfy a sense, the excitement of which

in them often amounts to constant satyriasis.

If the sleep be very profound, pollution may take place without the

consciousness of the patient, or, at any rate, without his remembrance

of it. When he wakes, the loss of semen is then discovered only by its

stain, and the state of fatigue, weakness, and malaise attending it. A

lascivious dream, however, generally attends a pollution. These dreams

are not, as is generally thought, the cause of the pollution: if they

exist, it is because the venereal sense, which is excited, speaks for

itself, even as hunger, thirst, or any internal sensation may do. These

dreams have a peculiar character, which has been pointed out by many

writers. The individual is rarely placed in voluptuous circumstances,

where his imagination places him during his waking hours; but he is

surrounded by females who are hideous and repelling, and whom he is as

it were compelled to enjoy.

In fact, these pollutions fatigue more than those which are excited

voluntarily. On rising, the patient experiences a general and more

or less distinct feeling of feebleness and of suffering. His loins

and limbs seem as if he had taken a long walk, or as if they had been

bruised; the countenance is pale; the eyelids are swelled and bluish;

the patient is sad and stupid. Finally, he presents physically and

morally the consequences of an abuse of venery. It may readily be

imagined, that the periods of spermatorrhœa render the exhaustion more

rapid than the voluntary excesses already commenced. If, contrary to

custom, the onanist remains one night without pollution, the organs

which he permits to rest supply the unaccustomed activity. Happy is

he, when these symptoms do not seem to him an evidence that this flow

of semen is necessary. Every thing which specially excites the genital

organs, as lascivious thoughts, voluptuous sights, riding, a soft and

warm bed, &c., and also every thing which produces a more general

excitement, in which these organs participate, as wine, liquors,

coffee, spices, &c.; are so many causes which combine with the direct

provocations of the patient, to multiply the causes by which he is

excited.

The nocturnal pollutions, however, are not formidable to those onanists

who are reformed. Inspired by the sentiment of self-preservation,

warned by the sufferings, counsels, and by reading, they have resolved

to abandon for ever the manœuvres which they know to be dangerous.

This resolution they will be able to keep: they, however, anxiously

demand if they are not too late. The genital organs rebel against the

decision. How melancholy must be the state of the patient! He sees, in

perspective, sufferings, even a death, which seems to be inevitable.

To avoid it, he had made a sacrifice; he has abandoned those tastes

which exercised such absolute control over him: but his organs, which

have been irritated, continue the work which he wished to interrupt.

He is irritated--he despairs. Let him be of good cheer; when the will

perseveres, it generally triumphs. I attended an onanist, who was

suddenly converted by reading the work of Tissot, and who experienced

all the troubles to which we have alluded. He was constantly tormented

by the remembrance of the past night, and the fear of that which was

to come. He slept on a coarse bed; and always enveloped the privy

parts with linen, wet with vinegar and water, before going to sleep;

promising himself to awake, as soon as he was assailed by dreams.

By his will, however, he finally succeeded; and he had the power of

watching himself during sleep. His pollutions gradually became less

frequent, and finally disappeared entirely. This is generally the case

where all bad habits cease.

Convulsive spermatorrhœa is not very common, while a person is awake:

it then rarely presents the purely convulsive character, with perfect

erection, and distinct ejaculation, that is seen in a healthy emission

of semen. This state, however, is possible: an instance of it may be

seen in the case of satyriasis stated by M. Duprest-Rony. Whenever this

young man beheld his mistress looking at him, erection took place, and

ejaculation followed. He, however, had refrained from masturbating for

two years, and had regained in a great measure his former strength. M.

Sainte Marie has reported a case of priapism, during which the patient

ejaculated fourteen times in a few hours. But this affection was not in

consequence of venereal excesses, and the emission of semen presented

nothing more extraordinary than other cases of priapism. Diurnal

convulsive pollution is seldom accompanied, in individuals exhausted

by abuses of masturbation and coition, with a perfect erection. The

size of the penis increases, but it does not become hard. The semen is

then emitted only to a short distance, if there be any ejaculation. The

least cause, the slightest touch, is sufficient to excite this. Thus,

in a man thirty years old, whom Tissot has mentioned, after Boerhaave,

the semen escaped whenever there was a commencement of an erection,

for it was never complete; and instead of being expelled forcibly,

it oozed out drop by drop. The patient became impotent. This symptom

(adds Tissot) is very frequent among those who are exhausted, and it

contributes to continue the exhaustion. The slightest excitement causes

the commencement of an erection, which is followed by an emission.

We have seen a similar phenomenon in one of the patients of M.

Dalandeterie. There were frequent painful erections, of short duration,

which always terminated by a more or less abundant discharge of fluid.

These kinds of pollutions were always painful, and were followed by

extreme prostration. It is evident, from the remarks we have quoted,

that there was no ejaculation in this patient; and probably, also,

the erections, though painful, were imperfect. Daily convulsive

spermatorrhœa assumes then, as it were, a bastard character in

onanists: it occupies an intermediate place between proper convulsive

spermatorrhœa, such as occurs during sleep, and the non-convulsive

spermatorrhœa, which we shall mention directly.

There is a phenomenon very similar to this bastard spermatorrhœa, and

which shows itself when the patient is inclined to indulge in coition

or masturbation: the emission of semen takes place on the commencement

of the act of venery. It is a quasi involuntary pollution. In this

case, which is by no means rare, the erection is not complete, simply

because there is not time for it to be so, the premature emission of

semen not admitting it to be perfect. Sometimes, erection is radically

impossible, and prevents the ejaculation. This was the case with the

onanist who wrote to Tissot, that the semen would flow, but there was

no ejaculation. Farther: when there is no erection, either because

this is impossible, or because the semen is discharged prematurely,

the person becomes impotent, because the power of procreating requires

erection and ejaculation.

In persons affected with spermatorrhœa, the seminal fluid must preserve

its normal characters. It is generally thinner, less opaque, and

similar to serum: sometimes it resembles a fetid sanies or corrupt

mucus; in other cases:, the seminal vesicles are evidently affected.

Sometimes, blood is exhaled from these vesicles, and is even

ejaculated. We have already stated instances of this emission. Tissot,

also, has published a case of it. It was a young man, less than sixteen

years old, who indulged in onanism to such an extent, that blood was

finally emitted, instead of semen. This emission was soon followed by

excessive pains, and an inflammation of all the genital organs. We must

remark, that blood never seems to be discharged, unless the pollution

is excited directly: this, at least, would seem to follow from the

cases stated, and particularly from one mentioned by Dalandeterie. The

erections (said he) always terminate with a more or less abundant flow

of mucus--perhaps, also, of prostatic fluid, or even of a very diluted

semen. In ejaculations excited by the hand, a semi-clotted, blackish

blood comes, instead of semen: sometimes, a teaspoonful is discharged.

This is always attended with pains, and followed by great prostration.

We have seen that involuntary pollution may take place, like voluntary

pollution, by the convulsive contraction of the ejaculatory muscles,

with erection of the penis, and sensations of venery. We have also

seen, that the semen may be discharged, although the erection of the

penis, the sensation of venery, and the convulsive contraction of the

ejaculatory muscles is slight, and almost nothing. When this exists

to a still greater degree, we have _non-convulsive_ spermatorrhœa, or

_diurnal involuntary pollution_, as it is called: here there is no

erection, convulsion, nor ejaculation; there is no feeling of venery;

the semen flows, instead of being expelled; and there is no feeling of

pleasure attending this discharge.

This affection may arise from different causes. It is owing most

frequently to venereal excesses; and, as but little is known in regard

to it, we shall enlarge on the subject. This pollution for a long time

was confounded with all the discharges from the urethra, which were

blended under the term gonorrhœa. A contrary opinion was then adopted,

and the existence of the disease was denied _in toto_. The remarks

of several authors, and particularly of Wichmann, Sante Marie, and

Lallemand, place its existence, however, beyond a doubt. The first

ideas on this kind of spermatorrhœa may be referred to the earliest

periods of medicine. It was known to Hippocrates, who has mentioned

(_De Morbis_, lib. ii., sect. 5) one of the principal symptoms, the

loss of semen, during the emission of urine, and of feces, when

describing the tabes dorsalis which affects libertines and those

lately married. Celsus, also, (_De Medicina_, lib. iv., ch. 28,) has

admitted that there may be loss of semen, without pleasure, without

voluptuous dreams, and which may be followed by a fatal consumption.

After this, we find no mention of the disease for a long period.

Tauvry says positively, (_Naw. Anat. raisonnée_, 1693, p. 164,) that

men who abuse themselves are liable to have emissions of semen on

the slightest compression of the seminal vesicles, when they pass

urine or feces. Morgagni admits that the semen may escape without any

pleasurable sensation, as happens from the effect of an injection which

is too warm, and from the excretion of hardened feces; but he adds,

that the fluid discharged may come in some from the prostate gland,

in others, from the seminal vesicles. There is much uncertainty on

this point of science among authors, many of whom have considered as

spermatic most of the discharges from the urethra. The dissertation of

Wichmann, however, on the subject of diurnal pollution, is valuable.

This dissertation was printed in 1782, at Gœttingen. In it, Wichmann

states, first, the characters which distinguish diurnal from nocturnal

pollution. The first occurs when the patient is awake, and without

his experiencing erection or desire. He is unconscious of it; and

this circumstance, with the absence of any swelling of the corpora

cavernosa, and of all venereal ardor, serves to distinguish this

pollution from the flow of the fluid of the prostate gland, or from a

loss of semen, which takes place in some persons when they are excited

by desire. To these characters, Wichmann adds another, drawn from the

mode in which the excretion of semen takes place. In diurnal pollution,

(says he,) men do not lose their semen constantly by a continual

excretion of this fluid, like females subject to leucorrhea; but they

ejaculate, at a single time: and this circumstance has rendered the

term pollution applicable to this disease. He does not consider, as

a diurnal pollution, the gonorrhœa in which the semen is continually

escaping drop by drop. He, however, doubts the existence of this

last affection, and remarks that authors are very much confused on

the subject. Nor would a pollution which was involuntary, and during

the hours of waking, be considered as a diurnal pollution, if the

evacuation of semen had been caused by any aphrodisiac substance. And

on this topic, he relates the case of a man, who, having been addicted

to onanism in his youth, was affected with involuntary pollutions if a

blister was applied to him, if he perceived the odor of cantharides, or

even spoke of them.

According to Wichmann, the semen never escapes with the urine: thus,

it is not a seminal discharge which comes from persons affected with

external or internal hemorrhoids, who pass off with their urine a

milky fluid. He, however, admits, with Hippocrates, that the straining

of persons at stool often occasions, in those affected with diurnal

pollution, the discharge of a greater or less quantity of semen. When

the existence of this affection is suspected, we must attempt to

ascertain its truth; and for this purpose, the patient should be made

to urinate freely; and then, in passing the feces, he should sit in

such a manner that the penis may be outside, and one can see all that

escapes from it in the efforts at stool. In a diurnal pollution, there

is rarely as much semen lost as in a nocturnal pollution. The disease

is quite as serious, if it be semen which escapes--if it occurs once

a-day, and even more frequently; and at the lightest effort to stool,

and without any pleasure, to inform one of the risk which is run.

Thus, then, involuntary emissions of semen, while the patient is awake,

without erection, without pleasure, and while the patient is ignorant

of it; an emission which takes place, not drop by drop, but at one

time, and especially while at stool, are, according to Wichmann,

specific characters of involuntary diurnal pollution.

The general effects of this diurnal pollution, as he has often observed

them, are those seen in onanists. He remarks:--When you see a man

extremely thin, pale, stupid, enervated, complaining of great debility,

especially in the thighs and loins, lazy in his actions, and with

sunken eyes, you have reason to suspect this cause.

Patients in this state never complain of any absolute pain. Their

digestive powers are ruined: the appetite, however, continues--even

increases, and sometimes becomes voracious. After taking food, they

seem to have more strength; but this advantage is soon paid for, by the

inconveniences resulting from digestion--especially if that variable

appetite be too much indulged. As the stomach and most of the other

viscera do not perform their functions properly, the more that is eaten

the more the belly is tumefied, by the relaxation of the digestive

organs. This swelling is attended with a painful feeling of anxiety,

which exists in these unfortunates at other periods of the day, and

impels them to avoid society. They are more disposed to sorrow than

to joy--that is, the news of an unfortunate event brings with it more

sorrow than that of a happy event causes pleasure. In them, as in

onanists, there is a want of intelligence; they are stupid; natural

sleep does not refresh them; the memory and sight are particularly

debilitated. And this is the state of things, until the patient becomes

affected with phthisis. At first, neither moral causes, nor affections

of the soul, nor disappointment, can be suspected. There is apparently

no viscus affected; nor can we ascribe the disease to any deleterious

substance concealed in the body, and consuming the flesh. The patient

has no pain, excepting that obtuse, compressive pain, which is referred

to the hypochondria, and which depends on the swelling of the weak

intestines. If you add to the characters the absence of fever, and of

the ordinary causes of exhaustion, you may be persuaded that diurnal

pollution exists--that it is the hidden cause of all the symptoms. This

is a general description of the disease, drawn up from a considerable

number of cases which we have observed.

Wichmann, also, remarks the resemblance between individuals affected

with diurnal pollution and those affected with phthisis pulmonalis.

Experience has taught me, (says he,) that in many patients who have

been considered as affected with true phthisis, the disease must be

referred to this cause alone. The symptoms of diurnal pollution are not

very dissimilar to those of the first period of phthisis pulmonalis,

at this purely spasmodic period, which I should be tempted to term

insidious, if I considered merely the difficulty and uncertainty of the

diagnosis at this period. The cough which then attends some patients,

also, leads physicians to dread phthisis: or, rather, consumption,

arising from diurnal pollution, assumes so much the characters and

form of this disease, that one is disposed to treat it by the ordinary

method, to the great disparagement of the patient, whose state requires

opposite remedies. Farther: it is clear, that the disease of which we

speak must infallibly terminate in phthisis, if it be not soon arrested.

In 1772, Wichmann observed internal pollution for the first time. The

case was that of a young man, over twenty years of age, who for a long

time had been affected with spasms. “He was manifestly in a state of

cachochymia, and of wasting away. The physicians whom he had consulted

before he came to me judged, from these appearances, that he was

hypochondriac: in fact, different symptoms led to the belief that the

disease was situated in the hypochondria. The loss of strength--the

languor of digestion, although the appetite was not lost--the paleness

of the countenance--the sadness and pusillanimity which led him to

seek solitude--the vivid redness which rushed over his cheeks in

conversation--his restlessness of character--and, finally, a certain

weakness of intellect--seemed to justify the diagnosis. He had formerly

indulged with females, and had been affected with venereal disease,

to which he attributed his present state. Although there was not the

slightest trace of these old affections, the physician, misled by the

false conjectures of the patient, had kept him for a long time on

mercurial preparations, by which the symptoms were aggravated, the true

cause being overlooked.

“Mercury was then abandoned for tonics; and the ferruginous waters were

employed, with the idea that the patient suffered from hypochondria.

But this was no better than the former treatment; and the patient

begged me to take charge of him. I could not attribute the extreme

thinness which existed to the remnant of an imperfectly cured venereal

affection, nor to the usual cause of exhaustion and fever. I then

asked the patient if he indulged with females, or in onanism; or if

he was affected with involuntary loss of semen. He almost swore to

the contrary. I then told him of his obligation to speak the truth,

and assured him that I should not prescribe for him until he was

attentively examined. Some days after, he came to me again, and told

me that he had been affected with something like loss of semen. I

satisfied myself that the observation was correct. The cause of the

evil being known, the treatment was simple. In a few months, the

patient was restored to health; and this happy effect of the remedies

proved that we had attacked the origin of the evil.

“This young man had probably indulged in premature excesses: in fact,

this is the most usual cause of involuntary pollution. All the patients

observed by me, (says Wichmann,) were from twenty-five to forty years

old. All were addicted to the pleasures of love, or to onanism; or had

become affected with blenorrhœa, by intercourse with diseased women.

“I am led to believe,” (adds he,) “that the effects of onanism would

not be so pernicious, were it not for this diurnal pollution; that

without it, this shameful habit would not be followed with consumption,

and other symptoms of phthisis. In fact, onanism does not always give

rise to this pollution. If this were the case, the number of onanists

affected with consumption would be very great. The number of men

addicted to this vice from early childhood is immense; for we do not

know a greater scourge than this social corruption. From the fact, too,

that onanism sometimes produces involuntary diurnal pollution, we ought

to investigate if it does not exist in those who have renounced this

pernicious habit. Advice to them would be useless, inasmuch as, having

renounced this vice, they do not suspect the enervating cause which

destroys them. About eighteen years ago, before I had discovered this

cause of consumption, I knew a young man, thirty years old, who had

been addicted to masturbation from the time he was ten years old, and

who learned this pernicious habit from his preceptor. He died, after

experiencing all kinds of infirmities, with extreme debility of all

his physical and moral faculties. He acknowledged his error, and that

for a long time he had renounced his bad habit; but his late return to

continence did not save him. Now, I feel confident that this shameful

habit had brought on an involuntary diurnal pollution, which caused his

death.”

Wichmann remarks, that it is at the commencement of the fine season of

spring that the patients are most conscious of their situation. They

owe this increase of their ills (says he) to that general procreative

faculty which becomes more active in all animated beings at this period

of the year. The more full the vesicles of semen, the more liable are

patients to lose it. We must also remark, that most patients secrete

prolific semen, and preserve their procreative power. This, however,

requires the patient to have the faculty of erection; for, otherwise,

he would be impotent. This was the case with an individual, whose case

is stated by Henry Van-Hers.

A young man of rich family, and who had arrived at puberty, consulted

this physician, avowing, that from the time he was ten years old, he

had enjoyed frequent intercourse with young girls, who had excited him

by their lascivious touches; adding, that from this period the power

of erection had disappeared. He had travelled for a long time, and

had received advice from several French physicians. He went to the Spa

waters, and there his case was examined by Van-Hers. The sensibility

and weakness of the genital organs were so great, that on the slightest

touch, and without any desire for coition, or any sensation, there was

a discharge similar to thin milk. This excretion continued both night

and day, whenever he passed urine, or on the least rubbing of his

shirt. A great many remedies had already been tried. Van-Hers regarded

the disease as incurable, but the young man would not listen to his

advice; and being very rich, he continued to travel in Italy, France,

England, and Germany, in the hope of recovering his lost virility.

He consulted many physicians. He then had recourse to quacks; and

even tried the powers of magic: but all in vain. After six years of

travel, he returned to Van-Hers, regretting that he had not taken his

advice. The young man then returned home, deploring the advantages of a

large fortune, which rendered him the victim of a precocious abuse of

pleasure, of a kind of premature depravity.

Wichmann’s dissertation was but little known in France, when Sainte

Marie undertook its translation; and not only this, but added many

important notes, which have shed new light on diurnal pollution.

Wichmann had said, as we have seen, that patients affected with this

disease _ejaculated_ the semen. This expression was inexact, and has

been rectified by M. Sainte Marie. The patients (said he) do not

ejaculate the semen; but it runs away from them: it is not emitted with

force. The characters which it presents had briefly been alluded to by

Wichmann: his translator has stated them more clearly. According to

him, the semen which runs away in diurnal pollution is paler, thinner,

and more watery, than that which escapes when the act is attended with

pleasure. Its odor, also, is fainter; and the stains it leaves on the

linen are slight, superficial, and not very apparent. Wichmann had

admitted the existence of a discharge from the prostate gland, which

ought not to be confounded with diurnal pollution. Sainte Marie has

attempted to point out the characteristics of this discharge. Those in

whom it exists, (says he,) find the glans moistened in the morning when

they rise with an unctuous substance: if they then compress the urethra

from the root to the end of the penis, they press out some drops of a

greenish, gluish, and slightly fetid fluid. They thus lose a little of

this fluid after indulging in desires, or after erections which have

not been followed by the act of venery. Sainte Marie considers it as

probable that the mucus of the urethra then mixes with the fluid of the

prostate gland, and forms a part of the discharge.

This author confirms Wichmann’s remarks on the general effects of

diurnal pollution. He says, “Since I read his treatise, I have found

this pollution in diseases of languor, which I could not attribute to

a special or primitive alteration of any organ; and I have discovered,

that a great many cases of hypochondria, of slow nervous fevers, of

consumptions, were kept up by this kind of gonorrhœa, to which the

patients, unable to observe themselves, had paid no attention. I have

known several individuals, who have been affected with this diurnal

pollution for a long time, without experiencing any marked derangement

in their health: to them, it was an inconvenience; rather than a

disease. But in these cases, diurnal pollution is not habitual: it only

occurs when continence of days or weeks, an exciting or substantial

regimen, long exercise on horseback or in a carriage, have accumulated

semen in its reservoirs, or have irritated specially the genital

organs: then the least effort to expel the feces causes the seminal

vesicles to pour forth the surplus of fluid which they contain. Let not

this state inspire too much security. Diurnal pollution is commenced:

it is not yet serious; but it may progress, return every day at

each evacuation, and finally produce all the bad results noticed by

Wichmann.”

Wichmann said nothing in regard to the organic conditions of the

diurnal pollution: he merely stated that this affection was the

result of debility. M. Sainte Marie, on this point, makes many

interesting remarks. He considers diurnal pollution as sometimes

the cause, and sometimes the effect, of dorsal consumption; and he

considers this to be an affection of the spinal marrow. We will quote

this passage:--Diurnal pollution (says Sainte Marie) is sometimes

only an effect; the origin of which must be sought after in a serious

and primitive alteration of an important system of organs. Thus, we

must reason, for instance, in respect to dorsal consumption. It is

said, that one remarkable symptom of this disease is an abundant

discharge of watery semen, which comes sometimes at each emission

of urine. Involuntary diurnal pollution is here only a symptom: it

occurs, because the genital organs do not receive, _from the spinal

marrow_, the nervous and well regulated influence which they require

to perform their functions properly. Hence, the super-abundant

secretion of semen--its unfitness for fecundation--the relaxation of

the seminal vesicles, which allow it to escape so readily--the atony

of the scrotum--the inconvenient pulling of the spermatic vessels--the

weakness of the erections--impotence, &c., &c. The same state of the

organs which deprives the genital organs of life, explains, on the

other hand, the wasting of parts which respond to this sensitive

centre--the thinness of the loins, thighs, and lower extremities--the

debility--the paralysis of these extremities--the obstinate

constipation, complained of by the patients, and which is similar

to that of old men, yielding only to the employment of stimuli--the

formications along the back--the incontinence of urine--the gangrenous

eschars, which at a more advanced period of the disease form on the

sacrum, hips, and trochanters. We might easily pursue this subject,

and extend it to the most general symptoms of consumption, as deep

melancholy, weakness and slowness of the pulse, disposition to faint,

and all those marked symptoms which assimilate this disease to slow

nervous fever; but this would estrange us from the principle we seek to

establish--which is, that diurnal pollution is sometimes the cause,

and sometimes only the symptom, of dorsal consumption. Wichmann has

treated only of the first: the second is connected with a general

disease, and cannot be studied separately. These remarks of Sainte

Marie will be admitted to be much more important, if compared with our

remarks on the abuse of the genital organs on the spinal marrow, and

with what we shall say hereafter on the power which this has on the

same organs.