1. Actual impotence during the period of manhood is a very rare
complaint, and nature very unwillingly, and only after the absolute
neglect of sanitary laws, gives up the power of reproduction.
2. Not only sensual women, but all without exception, feel deeply
hurt, and are repelled by the husband whom they may previously have
loved dearly, when, after entering the married state, they find that
he is impotent. The more inexperienced and innocent they were at
the time of marriage, the longer it often is before they find that
something is lacking in the husband; but, once knowing this, the wife
infallibly has a feeling of contempt and aversion for him though there
are many happy families where this defect exists. It is often very
uncertain who is the weak one, and no cause for separation should be
sought.
3. Unhappy marriages, barrenness, divorces, and perchance an
occasional suicide, may be prevented by the experienced physician, who
can generally give correct information, comfort, and consolation, when
consulted on these delicate matters.
4. When a single man fears that he is unable to fulfill the duties
of marriage, he should not marry until his fear is dispelled. The
suspicion of such a fear strongly tends to bring about the very
weakness which he dreads. Go to a good physician (not to one of those
quacks whose advertisements you see in the papers; they are invariably
unreliable), and state the case fully and freely.
5. Diseases, malformation, etc., may cause impotence. In case of
malformation there is usually no remedy, but in case of disease it is
usually within the reach of a skillful physician.
6. Self-abuse and spermatorrhoea produce usually only temporary
impotence and can generally be relieved by carrying out the
instructions given elsewhere in this book.
7. Excessive indulgences often enfeeble the powers and often result in
impotence. Dissipated single men, professional libertines, and married
men who are immoderate, often pay the penalty of their violations
of the laws of nature, by losing their vital power. In such cases of
excess there may be some temporary relief, but as age advances the
effects of such indiscretion will become more and more manifest.
8. The condition of sterility in man may arise either from a condition
of the secretion which deprives it of its fecundating powers or it may
spring from a malformation which prevents it reaching the point where
fecundation takes place. The former condition is most common in old
age, and is a sequence of venereal disease, or from a change in the
structure or functions of the glands. The latter has its origin in a
stricture, or in an injury, or in that condition technically known as
hypospadias, or in debility.
9. It can be safely said that neither self-indulgence nor
spermatorrhoea often leads to permanent sterility.
10. It is sometimes, however, possible, even where there is sterility
in the male, providing the secretion is not entirely devoid of life
properties on part of the husband, to have children, but these are
exceptions.
11. No man need hesitate about matrimony on account of sterility,
unless that condition arises from a permanent and absolute
degeneration of his functions.
12. Impotence from mental and moral causes often takes place. Persons
of highly nervous organization may suffer incapacity in their sexual
organs. The remedy for these difficulties is rest and change of
occupation.
13. REMEDIES IN CASE OF IMPOTENCE ON ACCOUNT OF FORMER PRIVATE
DISEASES, OR MASTURBATION, OR OTHER CAUSES.--First build up the body
by taking some good stimulating tonics. The general health is the most
essential feature to be considered, in order to secure restoration
of the sexual powers. Constipation must be carefully avoided. If the
kidneys do not work in good order, some remedy for their restoration
must be taken. Take plenty of out-door excercise avoid horseback
riding or heavy exhaustive work.
14. FOOD AND DRINKS WHICH WEAKEN DESIRE.--All kinds of food which
cause dyspepsia or bring on constipation, diarrhea, or irritate the
bowels, alcoholic beverages, or any indigestible compound, has the
tendency to weaken the sexual power. Drunkards and tipplers suffer
early loss of vitality. Beer drinking has a tendency to irritate the
stomach and to that extent affects the private organs.
15. COFFEE.--Coffee drank excessively causes a debilitating effect
upon the sexual organs. The moderate use of coffee can be recommended,
yet an excessive habit of drinking very strong coffee will sometimes
wholly destroy vitality.
16. TOBACCO.--It is a hygienic and physiological fact that tobacco
produces sexual debility and those who suffer any weakness on that
source should carefully avoid the weed in all its forms.
17. DRUGS WHICH STIMULATE DESIRE.--There are certain medicines which
act locally on the membranes and organs of the male, and the papers
are full of advertisements of "Lost Manhood Restored", etc., but in
every case they are worthless or dangerous drugs and certain to lead
to some painful malady or death. All these patent medicines should be
carefully avoided. People who are troubled with any of these ailments
should not attempt to doctor themselves by taking drugs, but a
competent physician should be consulted. Eating rye, corn, or graham
bread, oatmeal, cracked wheat, plenty of fruit, etc. is a splendid
medicine. If that is not sufficient, then a physician should be
consulted.
18. DRUGS WHICH MODERATE DESIRE.--Among one of the most common
domestic remedies is camphor. This has stood the test for ages. Small
doses or half a grain in most instances diminishes the sensibility
of the organs of sex. In some cases it produces irritation of the
bladder. In that case it should be at once discontinued. On the whole
a physician had better be consulted. The safest drug among domestic
remedies is a strong tea made out of hops. Saltpeter, or nitrate of
potash, taken in moderate quantities are very good remedies.
[Illustration]
19. STRICTLY SPEAKING there is a distinction made between; _impotence_
and _sterility._ _Impotence_ is a loss of power to engage in the
sexual act and is common to men. It may be imperfection in the male
organ or a lack of sufficient sexual vigor to produce and maintain
erection. _Sterility_ is a total loss of capacity in the reproduction
of the species, and is common to women.
There are, however, very few causes of barrenness that cannot be
removed when the patient is perfectly developed. Sterility, in a
female, most frequently depends upon a weakness or irritability either
in the ovaries or the womb, and anything having a strengthening effect
upon either organ will remove the disability. (See page 249.)
20. "OVER-INDULGENCE in intercourse," says Dr. Hoff, "is sometimes
the cause of barrenness; this is usually puzzling to the interested
parties, inasmuch as the practices which, in their opinion, should be
the source of a numerous progeny, have the very opposite effect. By
greatly moderating their ardor, this defect may be remedied."
21. "NAPOLEON AND JOSEPHINE.--A certain adaptation between the male
and female has been regarded as necessary to conception, consisting of
some mysterious influence which one sex exerts over the other, neither
one, however, being essentially impotent or sterile. The man may
impregnate one woman and not another, and the woman will conceive by
one man and not by another. In the marriage of Napoleon Bonaparte and
Josephine no children were born, but after he had separated from the
Empress and wedded Maria Louisa of Austria, an heir soon came. Yet
Josephine had children by Beauharnais, her previous husband. But as
all is not known as to the physical condition of Josephine during her
second marriage, it cannot be assumed that mere lack of adaptability
was the cause of unfruitfulness between them. There may have been
some cause that history has not recorded, or unknown to the state
of medical science of those days. There are doubtless many cases of
apparently causeless unfruitfulness in marriage that even physicians,
with a knowledge of all apparent conditions in the parties cannot
explain; but when, as elsewhere related in this volume, impregnation
by artificial means is successfully practised, it is useless
to attribute barrenness to purely psychological and adaptative
influences."
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