Satyriasis is a palpitation of the genital organ, accompanying some
inflammatory affection of the spermatic vessels, with erection; and, if
the palpitation do not cease, it is apt to terminate in paralysis of
the spermatic vessels, or in spasms. Those affected with convulsion die
speedily, having at last inflation of the belly and cold sweats. This
complaint sometimes, though rarely, affects women. Wherefore we must open
a vein without loss of time, keep the patient upon a spare diet without
wine, and purge the belly, not freely but gently, every day. The best
articles of food are beet, mallows, a little of the herb mercury, and the
soup of the shell-fishes. A simple clyster is no bad remedy. Diuretics
must be avoided; and medicines of a cold nature are to applied to the
loins, such as the juice of nightshade, of purslain, of henbane, or of
hemlock. It may be necessary, also, to rub the penis and the perineum
with some soothing and cooling things, such as litharge, Cimolian earth,
and ceruse, dissolved in vinegar, water, sweet wine, or rob. It is
hurtful to lie on the back. He may drink of the root of water-lily, iris,
and maiden-hair. Rue is beneficial both in gonorrhœa and satyriasis.
Give, likewise, food from grain in small quantity, and do not gratify the
thirst. When the affection is protracted, cupping with scarifications,
may be had recourse to; or, if a plethora be present, we may evacuate by
leeches. A cataplasm of raw barley-meal may also be applied to the belly.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Aretæus has drawn a lively but disgusting picture of a person
affected with this complaint, which it is to be hoped that the “march of
improvement” in morals has now rendered of rare occurrence. He calls it
a most unseemly disease. According to his account, it will even prove
fatal occasionally, and that within the space of seven days. He says
the natural cure of it is a diarrhœa coming on with bilious discharges.
This venereal mania, he says, is to be cured by bleeding from the arm or
ankle to deliquium animi, purging with hiera, and wrapping the genital
organs and adjoining parts with wool dipped in rose-oil and wine, or
in decoctions of such narcotics as hemlock, nightshade, mandrake or
poppy; the applications in either case being frequently changed. When
these things do not succeed, the neighbouring parts are to be cupped or
leeched; and in case of necessity the afore-mentioned refrigerants are to
be changed for calefacients, such as the oil of privet, or the Sicyonian
oil. This treatment, he remarks, will prove soothing to the nerves. He
also recommends castor and a refrigerant diet, from which wine and flesh
are to be excluded. It appears, therefore, that our author’s treatment is
mostly taken from him.
Oribasius pronounces satyriasis to be a fatal symptom in acute fevers;
and Professor Sprengel confirms the justness of this observation. (Hist.
de la Méd. t. ii, 188.)
Cælius Aurelianus gives a very circumstantial account of this disease.
His treatment differs from that of Aretæus in this respect—that he
disapproves entirely of the refrigerant applications, and, instead of
them, recommends soothing ones, namely, emollient oils, a hip-bath of
oil and water, and the like. He approves also of bleeding, cupping, and
leeching.
Octavius Horatianus treats it upon nearly the same principles, that is
to say, he recommends fomentations with the vapours of hypocistis or
hemlock, hard friction, exercise, and astringent food.
There is nothing original in the treatment of the Arabians. Haly Abbas
recommends calefacient and desiccative medicines internally, such as
agnus castus, rue, cumin, &c. He also permits the use of narcotics with
desiccants, such as coriander, henbane, lettuce, and opium. To the member
he directs us to apply a cataplasm containing the oil of roses, lettuce,
coriander, and camphor; and when this fails, some opium is to be added.
He enjoins hard exercise.
Alsaharavius recommends much the same treatment as our author, namely,
bleeding from the arm or foot, diluent and refrigerant draughts, cooling
applications containing vinegar, ceruse, &c.; and, if these do not
succeed, leeches.