of mucus. This proved to be an incomplete tertian, as she had 'only the cold and hot stages, the cold very severe, and lasting about fifteen minutes; the fever after was very high, and lasted eight hours. Prescribed nux vom., ten drops of the pure tincture, in a tumber half full of water, a teaspoonful every three hours. The patient had three more attacks, gradually becoming less severe, and has had no return.

CASE IV.

Miss S., aged fifty-five, residing at Harlam, in the midst of a malarious district, contracted ague of a subintrant type. Prescribed ipecacuanha, ten drops of the pure tincture, in half a tumbler of water, a teaspoonful every three hours; this resolved the fever into a tertian, when I prescribed nux vom., five drops of the pure tincture in the same manner, and after a few days the medicine was discontinued, as there were no more attacks. A fortnight after, the patient had a relapse, and of her own accord took a large dose of quinine, since which I have not prescribed for her.

CASE V.

The case to which I referred, as failing to cure, was a quotidian. I treated this for a fortnight, during which time I succeeded in postponing the attack from ten A. M., to half-past three P. M., when the patient was persuaded to use a patent medicine, and I ceased to prescribe for him.

I feel that I am touching in this paper, upon the vexed question of the "homoeopathic dose," which I take to mean, just that dose which will cure best, and I hold that physician very culpable and unworthy of his profession, who will allow his patient to remain ill, while he pursues an abstract theory. The true homoeopathist should be prepared to run the whole gamut as occasion requires.

If this paper should be read by any high dilusionist who is satisfied with the results which he obtains in the treatment of this disease, let him pay no regard to what I have written, but, if on the contrary he is dissatisfied, let him give the tinctures a fair trial, verbum sap.

XXIII.

Spermatorrhoea.

By HERBERT M. DAYFOOT, M. D.

American society has many social vices, and, as a natural consequence, disease follows in the wake of violated nature. Dyspepsia is the avenging nemesis of the glutton and epicure; the pains and torture of gout too often follow the pleasure and excitement of repeated convivial reunions; while an existence of untold misery is ofttimes the reward of her who saps the life's blood of her embryo offspring.

The sexual instinct is given to man for the propagation of his own species, and the proper use of this function is conducive to his own happiness and the welfare of humanity. But when this same man, the noblest and highest creation of animated nature, degrades and abuses this God-given function, he sinks so far below the level of the brutes, that he pays the penalty of outraged laws by a train of suffering and disease, the contemplation of which is sufficient to make the stoutest heart blanch.

We shall direct your attention to one of the scourges of this nature, viz., spermatorrhea, from the Greek sperma, and reo, signifying a flow of semen. That this disease has generally been consigned to the treatment of charlatans and ignorant imposters, generally, is a more sufficient reason why it should receive the consideration and investigation of the profession. When it is generally understood. that medical science is competent and willing to treat and cure diseases of this nature, a credulous and suffering humanity will not be so liable to be made the victim of every advertising knave who "restores manhood," "cures seminal weakness," "revives the drooping energies," and rejuvenates generally, all for the paltry sum of five dollars; perfect cure warranted or the money returned.

We beg to remind you that the semen is a mixed fluid, consisting, first, of spermatozoa, which are produced in the testicles. Under the microscope they are seen to have a singular movement, like a tadpole, about one six-hundredth of an inch in length, with a head of a triangular shape, one-sixteenth of the whole length of the body. We

find these spermatozoa mingled with a glairy, mucus-like fluid which is secreted by the walls of the epidymus and vas deferens; this is deposited in the vesiculæ seminalæ, where it is driven out by the muscular contraction of the surrounding parts, and meets in the urethra with, second; the secretion of the prostate gland. Third, the secretion of the glands of Cowper; and fourth, the secretion of the mucous follicles of the urethral passage. Of these various fluids the spermatazoa is of course the essential one.

I would also call your attention to the fact that the rectum passes directly in contact with the vesiculæ seminales and prostate, and that the latter, when enlarged, not unfrequently encroaches upon the cavity of the gut. Bearing this in mind, you will readily perceive how hardened fæces, passing along the rectum and pressing upon the prostate and vesiculæ, may lead, especially when these organs are enlarged and irritable, to an apparent seminal discharge, which, accordingly, in persons of costive habits, is not unfrequently found to take place during efforts at stool.

Pathology.

The pathology of this disease, like many other affections, is sadly deficient; however, we are aware of the fact that the constant loss of animal fluids disturb digestion and assimilation, and lead to a deterioration of the blood, which becomes watery, losing part of its fibrin and albumen; the blood disks diminish in number, the white globules increase in excess, and the blood itself is less coagulable. We also find that the urine contains oxalates and phosphates.

Etiology.

The causes that tend to set up a seminal discharge are various, and it behooves the physician to investigate this matter closely, for oftentimes the success of his treatment will depend upon a knowledge of this point.

We sometimes can trace the seat of the difficulty to a gonorrhea, or rather, gleet; the affected part being at that portion of the urethra where the seminal ducts terminate. Again, constitutional debility, nervous and cardiac diseases, diabetes and tuberculosis are exciting causes; and, in fact, any condition of the system which will produce an irritable weakness of the sexual sphere.

Obstruction of the rectum is a fruitful souce of trouble. We have already referred to hardened fæces pressing against the prostate gland; a tumor of any kind will answer the same purpose; or

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ascarides may produce sufficient irritation. Then we have morbid conditions of the rectum, as in piles, fistula, diarrhoea, etc., a aphrodisiacs, and even cathartics may cause an irritation of the seminal vesicles, and thus produce a flow of semen. The use and abuse of tea and coffee, an excessive length of prepuce, horseback riding, sedentary mode of life, hereditary taint are all mentioned as either. predisposing or exciting causes.

But undoubtedly the most frequent cause is that of onanism or masturbation, for the very good reason that this filthy and disgusting habit, leaves the parts in such an irritable and excited condition, relaxing the ducts and opening the orifices, that ofttimes the smallest amount of friction is only necessary to produce a seminal emission. Excessive coitus producing a determination of blood to the parts, results in a relaxation of the whole body, and a chronic inflammation. of the seminal vesicles and ejaculatory ducts. But whatever the exciting cause, it must be remembered that the irritation which is at first local, soon finds it way to the spinal marrow, from whence the nerves derive their origin, and from thence to the brain, where it is communicated to the sympathetic system, and produces some or all of the following train of

Symptoms.

Paleness of the face with dark margins around the eyes; insufficient sleep; drowsiness, with inability to sleep; dullness of the head; aching and pressing pain in the head; deranged appetite, digestion, and deficient assimilation; sometimes true salivation like pregnant women; pulse quick, irritable, and peculiar; vertigo; deafness and ringing in the ears, etc. Hippocrates says, "such persons eat much, but grow thin; we find gradual emaciation; loss of tone of the whole system; voice grows thinner and the calves of the legs become flabby, losing their substance, and the gait is slowly, dragging without energy." In the legitimate attempts of intercourse, the union between the mind and body being lost, the effort is twofold, and the act of both futile; the emission is completely without the erection, or the erection is not maintained so as to complete the act. The accession of debility is slow at first, but rapid when the disease has taken root. The invalid, for such he should be called, has his attention drawn upon some occasion to a sense of general weakness. He next perceives his memory to be less acute, his voice less clear; hoarseness will perhaps assail him with an accumulation of phlegm in the throat, in the morning, which he will experience trouble in

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getting rid of. He will be troubled with occasional fits of abstraction; become low spirited, melancholy; again, he will exhibit an irritative, sensitive temper, and invariably show an aversion to society and physical exertion. The ultimate termination depends somewhat on the treatment pursued; he may recover, or consump tion or decline may claim him for their victim.

Diagnosis.

Bearing in mind the symptoms we have enumerated, there will be no trouble experienced in forming a correct diagnosis. The patient if closely questioned, will acknowledge the condition, though he may be loath to admit the cause. One point it may be well to notice, that a patient who has suffered from involuntary emissions to such an extent as to produce constitutional symptoms, no matter what the cause my be, but more especially in cases of masturbation, will never look you in the eye even for the shortest space of time. Such a symptom should arouse the physician's suspicion, and command his closest investigation.

every

On the other hand, you will sometimes be consulted by patients in the agony of terror and alarm, who imagine they are in a very critical condition. Having read some "marriage guide," or "advice to young men," or some of the thousand and one pamphlets or advertisements that are scattered broadcast through the country, and, being aware of the fact that they have an "emission" three or four weeks, they imagine they are in great peril, and anxiously seek for relief from the impending calamity. Too often they go to the same source from whence they derived their information, getting their pockets relieved of their superfluous cash, and their stomachs filled with all kinds of vile compounds and mixtures. More happy they if they consult a scientific and conscientious physician, who will tell them that the emission is but a conservative effort of nature to relieve a surplus secretion, and, instead of being injurious, is a wise provision on behalf of the brain; that if it does not happen more frequently than once in two or three weeks, cæteris paribus, it is a proof of vigorous health and a full performance of the functions of the testicles and adjacent organs.

Prognosis.

The prognosis must be guarded. Though it is of the utinost importance that we should give our patient all the moral encouragement within our power, yet it must be remembered, that, in