The effects of either self-pollution or excessive sexual indulgence, appear
in many forms. It would seem as if God had written an instinctive law of
remonstrance, in the innate moral sense, against this filthy vice.
All who give themselves up to the excesses of this debasing indulgence,
carry about with them, continually, a consciousness of their defilement,
and cherish a secret suspicion that others look upon them as debased
beings. They feel none of that manly confidence and gallant spirit, and
chaste delight in the presence of virtuous females, which stimulate young
men to pursue the course of ennobling refinement, and mature them for the
social relations and enjoyments of life.
This shamefacedness, or unhappy quailing of the countenance, on meeting the
look of others, often follows them through life, in some instances even
after they have entirely abandoned the habit, and became married men and
respectable members of society.
In some cases, the only complaint the patient will make on consulting you,
is that he is suffering under a kind of continued fever. He will probably
present a hot, dry skin, with something of a hectic appearance. Though all
the ordinary means of arresting such symptoms have been tried, he is none
the better.
The sleep seems to be irregular and unrefreshing--restlessness during the
early part of the night, and in the advanced stages of the disease, profuse
sweats before morning. There is also frequent starting in the sleep, from
{455} disturbing dreams. The characteristic feature is, that your patient
almost always dreams of sexual intercourse. This is one of the earliest, as
well as most constant symptoms. When it occurs most frequently, it is apt
to be accompanied with pain. A gleety discharge from the urethra may also
be frequently discovered, especially if the patient examine when at stool
or after urinating. Other common symptoms are nervous headache, giddiness,
ringing in the ears, and a dull pain in the back part of the head. It is
frequently the case that the patient suffers a stiffness in the neck,
darting pains in the forehead, and also weak eyes are among the common
symptoms.
One very frequent, and perhaps early symptom (especially in young females)
is solitariness--a disposition to seclude themselves from society. Although
they may be tolerably cheerful when in company, they prefer rather to be
alone.
The countenance has often a gloomy and worn-down expression. The patient's
friends frequently notice a great change. Large livid spots under the eyes
is a common feature. Sudden flashes of heat may be noticed passing over the
patient's face. He is liable also to palpitations. The pulse is very
variable, generally too slow. Extreme emaciation, without any other
assignable cause for it, may be set down as another very common symptom.
If the evil has gone on for several years, there will be a general
unhealthy appearance, of a character so marked as to enable an experienced
observer at once to detect the cause. In the case of onanists especially
there is a peculiar rank odor emitted from the body, by which they may be
readily distinguished. One striking peculiarity of all these patients is,
that they cannot look a man in the face! Cowardice is constitutional with
them.
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