First, as to the appearance and actions of the +Masturbator+--he who is
constantly and recklessly drawing drafts of exhaustion and decay on the
nervous energy and strength of his coming manhood, and which are sure to
bankrupt the most robust health.
If there is a man to be pitied on this earth, it is he who is walking
about from day to day conscious of being guilty of ever having practiced
this vice. Mark the man who is addicted to it in no matter how light a
form; _his face tells the story of his sin_. See his +haggard looks+,
his +deep, sunken eyes+, which he throws only half-way into the
countenance of his friend. _Note the +blue+ or +black discolorations+
under the +eye+; the +nervousness+ to get away from a crowd, and the
extreme +girlishness+ or +backwardness+ when +introduced+ into the
+company of ladies+._
The victim of the most dangerous of all vices soon reaches a state
which, if not promptly relieved by the proper remedy, will end in
life-long misery or an early death.
Objectively considered, the masturbator is recognized by a marked facial
expression, by a characteristic mannerism, and by a peculiar mental
state.
THE FACE.--_The +facial expression+ consists of a +pale+ and +sallow
tint+ of the skin, unusual +development+ of +acne+,--red pimples,--
especially on the +forehead+; a +dark circle+ around the +orbits+;
+dilated+ and +sluggish pupils+; +lustreless eyes+, and an +oblique line
extending+ from the +inner angle+ of the +lids transversely+ across the
+cheek+ to the +lower margin+ of the +malar+ (cheek) +bone+. The +face+
has a +haggard, troubled, furtive expression+._
THE MANNER.--_The +manner+ of the +masturbator+ is peculiar. He is
+listless, shy, retiring+, and +easily confused+; he +avoids society+,
preferring +solitude+; there is a want of +steadiness+ and +decision+
in his +locomotion+; his inferior +extremities+ seem +deficient+ in
+power+, and all his movements betray +a mind ill at ease+._
THE MIND.--_His +mental operations+ are +confused+; his +speech is
embarrassed, awkward+, and +without directness+; his +memory+ is
+defective+, and he is +absent-minded+ and +given+ to +reverie+. If the
habit has long existed, and been excessively frequent in repetition,
+epilepsy+ may be produced; or +serious mental disorder+, as +delusional
insanity+, +dementia+, etc., may occur._
THE SEXUAL ORGANS.--The state of the +genital organs+ varies with the
length of time the habit has been indulged. In some young subjects,
there will be observed an _+extraordinary development+ of the +organ+_,
owing to premature excitement; but the disproportion is not maintained.
Prof. Barthalow says: "With the progress of the habit the organ becomes
_+small+ and +relaxed+, the +erections feeble+, the +corpora cavernosa+
either +waste away+ or their +vessels+ lose their +tonicity+, whereby
an apparent +shrinkage takes place+; the +corpus spongiosum+ and the
+glands+ also +shrink+, so that the +prepuce+ (fore-skin) appears
+unnaturally elongated+. The +testes+ may +increase+ in +size+, become
+tender+ and +irritable+_, or they may waste away to nothing but little
strings; the latter is the more usual result.
"_+Pains+ in the small of the +back+, a sense of +weight+ and +aching+
in the +loins+, around the +anus+, and in the +testes+_ is experienced.
_The +appetite is capricious+, the +digestion feeble, and the bowels+
are +constipated+_, or constipation alternates with diarrhoea.
"_The+ mind+ is +deficient+ in +power+ of +attention+, the +imagination
is constantly pervaded with vague erotic dreams+, the +moral sense+
is +blunted+, and the +perceptions+ are +dull+ and +confused+. +Pains+
in the +head+, in the +occipital+ and +frontal regions+ (front and back
of head)_, and a sense of fullness, and in serious cases _alarming
+Vertigo+ (dizziness and falling); +pains+ in the course of the
+principal nerves+, and an extreme +nervous susceptibility+, are
experienced. The +organic nervous system+_ manifests a functional
disturbance in harmony with the disorder of the nervous system of animal
life. _+Gastralgia+ and +abdominal pain+ (pain in stomach and bowels)_
and +uneasiness+ are in some cases very distressing symptoms.
"The distinctiveness of the foregoing symptoms will be determined
by the extent and duration of the habit, and by the constitutional
peculiarities of the patient. +The more highly developed the nervous
system, and the more it preponderates in activity over the muscular and
digestive systems, the more serious the effects.+