EPITOME.- 1. Abortive treatment.- One of the following injections-
(a) Rx. Hydrastis O3; Aquae; z3vj. M.
(b) Rx. Argen nitras, grs. ij.; Aquae des., z3viij. M.
(c) Rx. Zinci Sulph. grws, viij.; Aquae des., z3 viij. M.
(d) Rx. Potassi Permang. (I 10,000).
(e) Rx. Calendula O mxv.; Aq. z3 vi.
II. Inflammatory Stage.- Aconite, Cann., Cantharis, Mercurius-Cor., Copa., Petrol., Thuja. Also the use of suspensory bandage.
III. Gleet.- Mercurius, Gelsemium, Nux., Sulphur, Agnus Castus, Hydrast, Petrol., Matico., Still., Thuja; also a recourse to the injections, the first-named especially being a great value.
IV. Balanitis.- Mercurius-Sol., Aconite, Hydrast.
V. Chordee.- Aconite, Cantharis, Gelsemium, Argentum-Nit., Still.
VI. Epididymitis.- Pulsatilla, Iodium, Aconite, Gelsemium, Clem., Mercurius, Hamamelis, Phyto. The testicles should be supported by a suspensory bandage.
VII. Prostatitis.- Belladonna, Atropine, Mercurius-Iodium
VIII. Rheumatism.- Colchicum, Coloc., Ranunculus-Bulb., Rhododendron, Rhus., K.- Hyd., Sticta.
IX. Stricture.- Pulsatilla, Eupat.-Pup., Agaric., Clematis Iodium (See next Section.)
X. Warts.- Thuja, Ac.-Nit.
XI.- Phimosis.- Aconite, Belladonna, Cann., Gelsemium, Also warm baths, wet compresses, etc.
Regular and early hours, and good, temperate habits and living, are also necessary to insure successful results.
The patient must place himself on a light and easily digested diet and avoid alcohol in any form or indulgence in violent excitement is in the highest degree injurious, and is a frequent cause of retarded recovery. Where it is impossible for the patient to remain in bed the genitals should be supported by a well fitting suspensory bandage, care being taken that this does not press unduly on the penis or perineum. Some arrangement should be contrived for the absorption of the free purulent urethral discharge, such as placing the penis on a little absorbent wool bag, like that supplied by Hartmann’s Wood-wool Company.
The patient must remember the highly contagious character of the disease, and the necessity for the most scrupulous care and cleanliness, lest infection be conveyed to others, or the patient inoculate himself in other parts of the body, such as the conjunctiva or in other parts of the body, such as the conjunctiva or rectum. All contaminated dressings should be burnt at once.
Antiseptic solutions to cleanse parts by bathing and so avoid risk of infection, are Carbolic Acid lotion (I 80) and Biniodide of Mercury lotion (I 2,000 to I 5,000).
One of the difficulties in the treatment to gonorrhoea arises from the fact that the patient is very apt to regard himself as restored long before a cure has been effected. So long as the gonococcus is present in the urethral secretion or in the mucous membrane, there can be no question as to the patient’s infectivity and his need for further treatment. The detection of the gonococcus in the later stages of urethritis is far from easy, for it frequently happens that the organism is absent from the secretion for days, and even weeks together, and only reappears when the urethra is usually stimulated from any cause as sexual excitement or indulgence in alcohol. In the intervals the micro-organisms may be lying Perdu in some of the numerous crypts and follicles with which the urethra abounds.
GONORRHOEA IN WOMEN.- The recognition of the gravity of this disease in women has been tardy. The inflammation rarely remains localized to the site of inoculation, but spreads till it affects the sexual apparatus, so that in many cases the symptoms of acute inflammation of the womb and Fallopian tubes associated with pelvic peritonitis are superadded to those of the urethra and vulva. Recent investigations lend support to the view that the former organs rarely wholly escape.
The treatment of this disease in women is surrounded by many difficulties, and is as a rule very imperfectly carried out. In the main it proceeds on lines similar to those laid down in connection with the male. Locally the parts must be kept clean and provision made for the absorption of the copious discharge. Hot sitz baths and the application of fomentations may be employed for the relief of pain. As soon as the patient can tolerate it the vulva and vagina should be copiously irrigated twice or three times a day, with one of the injections mentioned for the male.
We have entered only superficially into the management of this disease; considerations of its difficult nature, its numerous and annoying complications, and the risk exposing another to contagion, render professional treatment most desirable.
186.- Spermatorrhoea – Involuntary Emissions.
The subject which heads this Section claims our special attention for several reasons, more particularly the following- The extreme frequency of the complaint; the moral and physical dejection which it causes; the too common indifference with which it has been met by the medical profession; (This treatment has recently been contradicted; we have, however, abundant evidence of the fact, and therefore we retain the statement.) the damaged health, and exhausted resources, frequently occasioned by charlatans, who find it a fruitful field for plunder; and lastly, the comparative facility of cure when proper remedies are administered, and a judicious line of conduct fairly persevered in. These considerations meet us on the threshold of the injury, and form ample justification for the unusual length of this Section.
DEFINITION.- Involuntary seminal discharges occurring during either sleep, or under various conditions at other times. It is not actually a disease in itself, an occasional involuntary emission is not in the least abnormal, but if the symptom occurs too frequently, or if self abuse is practised, treatment is required.
EXTENT AND EVILS OF THE HABITUAL CAUSE.- We have had considerable opportunities of investigating this subject, the result of which is the conviction that the evils of the above condition are widespread, beyond the credibility of those who have not thoroughly investigated it. The notion that boys are ignorant of the subject, and that we ought not to remove that ignorance, is wholly incorrect. Self-abuse is of such extreme frequency, that it is a question whether even a majority of the youth of all classes of the community do not practise it. The consequences of the habit occasion of the deepest distress, and too often disqualify the patient for the discharge of the ordinary duties of life. Unfortunately, we find such patients exhibit extreme feebleness in overcoming incitements to sexual vices, inability to control the will being one of the most lamentable results result of self-abuse. Instead of exercising mental and physical self-control, patients too often abandon themselves to self-reproaches and despair, and unless rescued by a prompt and strong but kind hand, extreme demoralization is inevitable.
Our experience forces us to the conclusion that, notwithstanding the magnitude of the evil, the subject has been much overlooked, or underrated, by medical men generally. We are frequently told by patients that medical men appear to ignore the functional diseases of the generative organs, and manifest indifference with respect to the matter. Probably in many cases we have been consulted from an insuperable dislike on the part of patients to confront a medical man in their own neighbourhood on a subject of such extreme delicacy. The whole question, however, demands far more attention from the profession than it has yet received, both on account of the physical and mental suffering involved, and the charlatanism and imposture which professional neglect involves. Numerous cases have come under our notice in which shattered health and exhausted resources have resulted from sufferers falling into the hands of the advertising quacks who in large towns prey on patients of this class. Newspaper proprietors, especially provincial, are great offenders against public morality by opening their columns to quack advertisements, and thus prostituting a powerful influence to co-operation with charlatanism.
OUR ALLUSION TO THE SUBJECT.- Since the previous editions of this Manual were published, many patients have expressed to us their regret that they never received any instruction on sexual subjects or warning of the danger of masturbation. Boys, and girls, too, are certain to have their curiosity exited, and if information be withheld, to seek it in improper channels. To suppose that boys who watch animal, and who obtain intimations from literature, and hear the conversation of the immoral, can be kept in ignorance, is evidence of profound want of knowledge of human nature. Better, from every point of view, to furnish, proper instruction and warning.
CAUSES.- Spermatorrhoea is most frequently the result of a direct violation of a great physiological law, the habit of sexual excitation-self-abuse-either accidentally acquired or learned from associates, as in schools, and subsequently continued under the influence of a morbid imagination, or from the excitement occasioned by impure books or conversation, reports of divorce-court trials, etc., often in ignorance of the consequences of the vicious practice. Schools, especially boarding-schools and colleges, are often fruitful sources of instruction and initiation into this vice. From innumerable frank personal disclosures made to us in our professional capacity, we have ground to conclude that school are the very hotbeds of this degenerating habit. Other causes may be-morbid conditions of the urethra; irritability of the bladder, as shown by wetting the bed; Ingestion with constipated bowels, rectal irritation from Worms, which occasion scratching or friction; a too long or narrow prepuce, causing irritation; frequent excitation of the sexual passion without natural gratification; sexual excesses; disease of the brain or spinal marrow.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."