_Masturbation._――Under this caption will I proceed with the topic of
self-abuse; as this term more properly covers the vice of both sexes,
as well as of childhood.
The small boy, only four years of age, will often titilate his genitals
until the prepuce has become inflamed and swollen. In this undeveloped
and delicate condition of the genitalia, more harm may be accomplished
than could be imagined. Nurse-girls, sometimes, for the purpose of
quieting a child, will titilate its genital organs; which is quite
sufficient to lead the child to manipulate its own organs as it goes on
in age and development. Often a feeble state of health in the child,
will cause the mother to consult a physician; and the genitalia will
show signs of irritation; and when the true nature of the difficulty
is revealed to the mother, it will be much to her surprise, and
often, disgust; and she will not be convinced beyond a doubt until by
constantly watching, she has observed actions more convincing than the
doctor’s hints.
Boys at school teach each other to perform this manual pollution; and
vile servants initiate small boys at a surprisingly early period. I
have often gained the confidence of these little ones, and learned
things more astounding than amusing. Not long since a boy only eight
years of age convinced me, by his confidential description of his
little vice, that he realized passion, erection, and as he called
it the “goodie feeling” (orgasm); which was evidently the sensation
without emission of semen. No small amount of injury is done to the
nervous system by the constant titilation of the undeveloped genitalia;
and as the habit passes on to the puberty-stage of adolescence, the
novelty of the first ejaculation affords great and frequent amusement
to the child, and he pursues it as often as he can obtain an obscure
corner. This must be the time that the greatest harm is wrought upon
the brain and spinal cord. The first five years succeeding puberty, the
vice is carried on with great energy in a vigorous youth. Doubtless,
the majority of boys have practiced masturbation, to some extent, some
time during adolescence, but as they arrive at the age of discretion,
become disgusted; or some influential person frightens them, and they
quit the practice. Where it has only been an occasional indulgence, no
lasting injury has occurred.
Masturbation is practiced among men, not so much to the injury of their
physical structure, but it is nevertheless a common vice. Miserly
bachelors, hermits, and often widowers resort to self-pollution
when financial affairs prevent their visiting houses of ill fame. I
am credibly informed that the vice of self-pollution, by the hand,
prevails largely among soldiers, as well as in convents, and public
schools.
_Pollution Among Females._――This is less common in childhood than in
the male. Small girls are naturally more modest than small boys: they
will not so readily fall into such vices, as they do not readily submit
to having their genital organs manipulated; they therefore remain
comparatively free until puberty, and often later; and then the habit
is not common, but occasionally exists. With the limited opportunities
for finding out such things, it will undoubtedly be long before an
estimate, as to the extent that it prevails, can be made. I cannot
better continue this subject, than by giving a case which is typical
of many adult cases that I have observed in this peculiar and delicate
role of physician; and it is not a “cooked” case, but one in actual
life, which cannot be fully portrayed by type or word:
Mrs. X. visited me professionally; aged 28; mother of three children;
been married nine years; spare, dark hair and eyes, rather brilliant;
small of stature; retiring and confiding of disposition. She was very
neurasthenic and excitable; never hysterical; bowels constipated. I
prescribed all kinds of treatment for her during the first six weeks,
after which time, as I had failed to find out anything that might be a
cause for such a peculiar nervousness, I suggested an examination _per
vaginam_. As soon as my finger reached the orifice of the vagina, I
was convinced that my case was a sexual one, as a nervous, passionate
shiver ran over her; but she soon controlled herself, and I proceeded
with my examination, with the discovery of only slight general
irritation. She then gave me the following account of her married life
and condition. She was married at nineteen, a robust, vigorous girl.
Her husband was amorous and ignorant of her requirements; would soon
satisfy his desires and go to sleep, when she had but just become
excited; but when her erotic excitement was aroused she had no control
of it: would remain wakeful during the entire night, with the husband
sleeping, regardless of her condition. She finally learned to use a
clothes-pin, by which means she could appease her burning and bring
about an orgasm. She says that she could then sleep. She of late had
consented to the advancements of a prominent lawyer; but she was
conscience-stricken and desired, if possible, to be a “good woman;” but
was satisfied that, to be a virtuous woman, she must remain away from
her husband, so that her passion never would be beyond her control. I
immediately, after her departure, sent for the husband, and informed
him how to perform the marital connection, and that, if he desired that
his wife should become a well woman, he must adhere to my instructions.
He was glad of the information, and was successful in his efforts. She
was soon free from her troublesome neurasthenia, and beatitude prevails
to this day; and, I believe, she is as virtuous and worthy a woman as a
man deserves.
Women use tallow candles, clothes-pins, and other commodious means,
such as friction over the pubes, titilations of the clitoris, etc., for
the purpose of exciting erotic energy and sexual orgasm. The nervous
excitement which is wrought, is not unlike shock, from general causes;
yet, when frequently brought about, may produce an over-stimulation,
followed by relaxation and general weakness of the nervous system, or a
neurasthenia, advancing to hysteria and organic disease of the nervous
system. Various devices have been resorted to to overcome the habit of
masturbation. Such things may be of service in children, but in adults
moral treatment alone is of any value; and as to any appliances and
devices I have nothing new to offer. The old means of blistering, tying
the hands, etc., may be resorted to with children, by those who have
confidence in their efficacy. In adults, matrimony will often do good,
when the habit is in its incipiency; but in an advanced stage it is of
little benefit.
The great variety of unnatural ways of gratifying the sexual passion
is only an evidence of human depravity; and the entailed diseases must
be unreservedly studied, that, as much as possible, these abominable
conditions may be confined within a certain limit, which should be
legally set apart and licensed, that the chaste and elevated portions
of society may find protection.
These conditions all exist: there is no remedy to abort or expunge
them; and the numerous diseases, growing out of this great depravity
and mismanagement of the sexual, must all be duly considered, by the
medical man, as predisposing and exciting causes of neurine maladies.
To prevent the spread of disease, should be the chief aim of every
humane citizen, and more especially the physician. Much is said in
regard to means and legislation to prohibit the spread of venereal
disease; but the nervous diseases caused by sexual debauch and
mismanagement are of equal importance and as devastating to the race.
If we can give credence to what Dr. S. W. Gross says, in the May
number, 1877, _Medical and Surgical Reporter_, of Philadelphia,
masturbation has, in his cases, caused fifteen out of nineteen cases
of urethral stricture, while four were caused by gonorrhœa. I am not
aware of any such proportions reported by any other authority, yet I am
thoroughly convinced that masturbation has existed in a great majority
of cases of urethral stricture, and in many such cases has been a
cause, primarily or secondarily. It is not far from true to say, that
a large proportion of masturbators, of advanced age, have a general
contraction of the entire urethral canal and a diminished dilatability.
Purulent discharges and abscesses are not uncommon along the course of
the urethra and prostate gland, followed by folicular disintegration
and perforation.
_The Effect of Sexual Excesses upon the Neural Axis as a Cause of
Organic Disease._――“_Sexual excesses_ and _Onanism_ are certainly of no
slight significance, at least in the development of a predisposition
to tabes.” (Erb.) Again, in speaking of causes in general of spinal
disease, the same author says: (P. 147, Ziemssen’s Cyclopœdia, vol.
XIII.)
“Of these (causes) _sexual excesses_ and _irregularities_
occupy the first place. * * * * I believe we may say that
_any gratification of the sexual passions, whether natural or
unnatural, indulged in to an excess and for a long time, forms
for many men――not for all――a circumstance that powerfully
depresses the spinal cord and predisposes it to disease_.” * *
* *
“_Excessive natural coitus_, in many persons, certainly
produces symptoms which point to a weakness and a diminished
functional capacity on the part of the spinal cord; weakness of
the legs, inability to stand for a long time, trembling when
forcible movements are made, pains in the back, shooting pains
in the legs, sleeplessness, etc. This may often be noticed in
the newly married, or in persons who have indulged in great
excess for a short time. If the cause of these symptoms soon
disappears, the injury may in most cases be quickly repaired;
but if the excesses are continued, further injury, or even
positive disease, occurs. Any external injury, exposure to
cold, excessive walking, etc., may then bring on the worst
results.”