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 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.