EFFECTS.- These are often greatly exaggerated in the pamphlets of those who prey upon this class of patients. Nearly all the patients who consult us have previously read one or more of these pamphlets, and have had their happiness destroyed by the alarming and overdrawn statements they contain, every nervous sensation or symptom of indigestion being connected with Spermatorrhoea, as cause and effect. The following are, perhaps, the most common results of this sexual voice- depression of spirits, often to an extreme degree; bashfulness and inability to look frankly into the eyes of another, especially of the same sex; weakness of memory and other senses; enfeebled intellect; indecision and loss of moral control, sometimes to such an extent as to render the patient in capable of resisting temptation the patient in capable of resisting temptation to the vicious habit; weakness, with pain or aching in the back; Indigestion, with oppression after food, Constipation, Flatulence, Palpitation, Headache, cold, damp hands, and moist skin; spots of Acne on the face; sunken eyes, with dark rings round, paleness of the face, and loss of the healthy, tints of the lips the patient looking than his years; stunted growth the physical drain checking nutrition, and preventing in early life perfect bodily evolution. These last are the results only of very excessive indulgence. Remorse is often so keen and withering as to interpose the greatest barrier to success in the treatment. If indulgences in the habit were commended early, and have been frequent and long continued, the physical and mental injury is more serious and general, and no doubt predisposes to Tubercle. Happily, a course of judicious treatment is generally sufficient to effect a cure, and to restore the patient to a life of usefulness and happiness.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES. The sexual instinct in man in strong, and is the means provided day the Creator for the propagation of the race. But the precocious development of this passion may be prevented;l and when, an account of youth, and other circumstances, its gratification would be imprudent, it may be kept in abeyance by proper measures and correct discipline-the discipline leading to manliness of character, and at the same time better fitting the individual for the duties and enjoyments of mature manhood. The habits of control tend to great moral energy of character, and contribute to a superiority and vigour of intellect which contrasts most favourably with the feebleness of the incontinent. Indeed, we find many patients of the latter class lack sufficient resolution to employ the measures necessary to their restoration, thus rendering our task difficult and tedious. The following suggestions are offered in much confidence, and it faithfully adopted will, in the majority of cases, suffice to prevent sexual vice.
I. Good physical and mental training.- The systematic adoption of muscular and mental exercises expends the nervous energy, diverting it from the sexual organs, so that amorous thoughts and propensities become less prominent. The regular practice of gymnastics and athletic exercises, to an extent short of causing excessive fatigue, is of the first importance. Blood of is thereby diverted from the internal organs to the muscles, and while the economy is occupied in repairing the wear-and-tear thus occasioned, semen will be but scantily, if at all secreted. Much of the sexual vice of the present day is chargeable to the neglect of proper recreation, instruction, and amusement, by the young men in cities and towns in their leisure hours. Mental occupations also exercise a like tendency, though, perhaps, to a less degree. Constant and congenial occupation and recreation, bodily and mental, during the hours of relaxation, are indispensable. As just stated, the greatest danger arises during the hours of leisure, for if the mental and physical powers are not then employed, the mind is almost sure to be occupied with sexual thoughts. To a considerable extent the habits we are considering have arisen from young persons having had no object of pursuit when the ordinary work of the day was over.
Besides preventing the formation of a vicious habit, constant and congenial physical a nd mental occupations are necessary in most cases to the maintenance of a strictly continent life, and we recommend them as infinitely preferable to occasional illicit sexual intercourse. We are sorry to find from the testimony of patients that some medical men recommended sexual intercourse to the unmarried. Viewed medically, we think this most unwise, for such intercourse stimulates without satisfying the sexual passion, and at the same time exposes the individual to diseases of the most disgusting and baneful character. Diligent cultivation of the will, the practice of regular and healthy exercises gymnastics, suited to individual peculiarities, are sufficient to preserve continence. Fashionable and idle habits are the great cause of solitary vice on the hand, or of venereal excesses and diseases on the other. The establishment of systematic exercises at home and in schools-athletic sports, gymnastics, etc.; libraries, literary and scientific institutions, including the instructive and interesting experiments in chemistry, electricity, mechanics, and other sciences; the study of botany, geology, etc.; and these are highly useful, for they preoccupy the mind, and so prevent loose thoughts and habits.
2. Avoidance of stimulants and luxurious habits.- The too free us of meat, highly-seasoned dishes, coffee, wine, late suppers, etc., strongly tend to excite the sexual desire. Most persons in health, enjoying ample means, eat and drink too much. Strict temperance, both in eating and drinking, is a great preventive. Soft beds and too much sleep are also to be avoided.
3. Direct instruction and caution.- At the age of puberty or earlier, the young of both sexes should have the fundamental facts of sex simply and clearly explained, and their questions answered. Then the description of the dangers of self-abuse follows naturally and children so taught are never likely to fall into bad habits.
When there are any symptoms, a careful examination should be made, and the actions closely but unobtrusively watched. An examination of the linen generally affords conclusive evidence in the case of boys; the genital organs of these patients, it may be noticed, too, receive the undue share of their attention. If the practice be found to exist, its discontinuance must be made imperative, and the dangers, pointed out that will inevitably follow a persistence in the habit. The delicacy of the subject must never be allowed to operate as a barrier to an important duty. The patient should be constantly watched during the day till he falls asleep at night, and be required to arise directly he wakes in the morning. In confirmed cases, the night-dress should be so arranged that the hands cannot touch the genital organs.
4. Important precautions in the management of the young.- Under no circumstances should nurses ever be permitted unnecessarily to handle or expose the genital organs of children, and children should be taught at the very earliest period that it is undesirable to handle the parts. Flogging on the buttocks should be also avoided, for it is calculated to excite precious sexual sensations. The effect is of a reflex nature, and there is ample evidence that it tends strongly to excite the sexual instincts. In Schools, as well as at home, every boy should have a separate bed. The neglect of this important advice is a frequent cause of bad habits being taught and practised. In addition to a separate bed, he should be able to dress and undress apart from the observation of others. The necessary privacy may be secured by partitions placed between the beds, but not extending up to the ceiling, so as to interfere as little as possible with the ventilation. One of the few articles necessary in the sleeping- room is a sponge-bath. This, with a good-sized piece of honeycomb sponge, and a large towel or sheet, complete the outfit. The regular daily use of the sponge-bath, according to the suggestions given in Section II, conduces greatly to the cure or prevention of Self-abuse.
If the habit has been acquired, and any of the effects already stated developed, a proper course of treatment will usually suffice to restore the health, providing the habit be relinquished. The best homoeopathic doctor within reach should be consulted; or if there be none near, one should be consulted by letter. Under any circumstances all advertising quacks, a nd all advertised quack medicines, should be avoided. Hundreds of cases have come under our care with damaged health and exhausted purses, form failing into the hands of advertising quacks.
TREATMENT.- This must be both medical and hygienic, and include all available methods for establishing the constitutional strength, soothing excitement, removing local causes of irritability, and forming healthy habits both of mind and body.
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."