In this stage the sexual organs of the brain and nervous system first
begin to feel the strain of early abuse, overwork, confinement, sexual
excess, or whatever the cause may be in this particular case.
The Prostate Gland (_j_, _b_, _Fig. 5_) the Seminal Vesicles (_l_,
_Fig. 5_), Cowper's Duct (_n_, _Fig. 5_), the Testicles and Spermatic
Cord (_h_, _f_, _k_, _Fig. 5_), indeed all the sexual apparatus,
including the bulbous sympathetic nerves lying just inside the spine,
from the small of the back down to the end of the organ, become filled
with dark, thick and stagnated blood. The Prostate Gland swells and
becomes enlarged, the Seminal Vesicles become weak, baggy and filled
with a thin, glairy fluid that oozes out into the urine and urine canal
on any little strain, exertion or excitement; especially when, after
being in the presence of the opposite sex, weak, feeble erections
follow. The testicles become flabby and stringy and no longer make
strong, healthy, fecund vital fluid. The constant calls upon them has
exhausted them as also the nerves that gave them life, strength and
vitality. A heavy dragging +weight+ is often felt in the +groin+,
especially after walking or long standing. There is a feeling of
+weakness+ and +exhaustion+ in the parts. Often +strange sensations+
shoot through the parts, and they are +cold+ and +clammy+ at one time,
while +weak+ and +sweating profusely+ at another.
{Illustration: Fig. 5.
MALE ORGANS OF GENERATION.
[From Acton's Celebrated Work on "The Reproductive Organs."]
_Side view of Body cut in half lengthways_ showing the course taken
by the +vital fluid+ from the +Testicle+ (where it is made) to the
Seminal Vesicles (where it is stored). The penis is shown cut off at
dotted line _g_.
As shown here the +vital fluid+ secreted in the minute tubules of the
healthy testicle is gathered into the vas deferens or conveying tube
_k_, which passing through the groin dips behind the bladder _a_ and
empties into the Seminal Vesicles or Storehouse _b_. From here it is
thrown forcibly into the urethra (urine canal) _e_, when needed, and
expelled anteriorly by the ejaculatory muscles of the urethra. To
reach the urethra the Seminal Duct _m_ passes directly through the
body of the Prostate Gland _j_-_b_. Upon the outside of the testicle,
the tube or duct is found twisted and forming a slight bunch, known
as the epididymis, _f_, _g_, _h_.
It is here that the pressure of a +Varicocele+ is first felt--here
that it succeeds _in cutting off the free upward flow of vital fluid_
by pressure on these soft branches of the duct, causing +emissions+
by varying and irregular pressure and +Impotence+ by constant
pressure. When the +Varicocele+ becomes very large, it then destroys
the delicate tubing or the testicle itself.}
The general nervous system also feels the +strain+ and +drain+. +Memory
and application+, +good judgment+, +decision of character+, and
+clear-sightedness+ are not what they were. +Headaches+ are not
uncommon. +Bashfulness and trepidation+, especially in the presence of
females, is the rule. The person feels +clumsy+, +embarrassed+ and +ill
at ease+. +Sleep+ is sometimes poor, there are occasionally +terrible
dreams+, sometimes +lascivious ones+ accompanied by +emissions+,
+drowsiness+ and a tired, languid feeling in the morning, and a
+disinclination to rise+ and go to work are certain signs of +impending+
nervous exhaustion. +The eyes are dull and heavy+, often +black-ringed+
underneath. The pupils of the eyes are unequal--often very
large--sometimes one small and one large. The hands tremble and perspire
+easily+. The person is +absent-minded, melancholy, prone to brood, and
fears the jests+ or ridicule of his companions. The +skin+, especially
of the +face+, sometimes becomes +coarse and red, sometimes is pale and
pasty+ and covered with +blotches or pimples+. There is sometimes +spasm
at the neck of the bladder+, causing +some delay before the urine will
flow freely+. Often it is passed in a +forked or twisted stream+,
plainly showing the presence of either organic or spasmodic stricture.
+Twitching of the muscles of the eyelid, face and limbs+ is often
present, accompanied sometimes by +creeping sensations up the spine+,
+flushings of the face+, +chills+ (slight), +dizziness and black spots
before the eyes+ on stooping over and occasionally by neuralgic pains in
the +head+ and about the heart. If unchecked, or if the baneful habit is
still persisted in, the symptoms of the First Stage merge rapidly into
those of the