Women : their diseases and their treatment / by John King.

  • King, John, 1813-1893.
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Women : their diseases and their treatment / by John King. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    mus, and spasms or convulsive attacks. Sometimes the dis- ease assumes a remittent or intermittent form, being, however, readily aroused whenever any exciting cause presents itself. When nymphomania occurs among masturbators, the female loses all moral restraint, and rapidly destroys her health, by artificially exciting the venereal orgasm frequently, whenever an opportunity offers. She may be bold and public in this habit, but more generally will be found to manifest much artfulness, deception, and disingenuousness. Causes. Nymphomania is generally due to some irritation of the generative organs, with which the brain sympathizes, as, excessive coitus, pruritus of the vulva, enlarged and irritable clitoris and nymphse, ovarian or uterine disease, &c. Again, the brain may be primarily irritated, while the genitals are only sympathetically excited, as is apt to be the case with those who devote themselves to the reading of obscene works, or the studying of indecent engravings; who associate with the licentious; who are exposed at balls, parties, and the theater, to influences calculated to provoke erotic thoughts and desires; or who make free use of stimulants, spirits, wines, &c. The use of Opium sometimes occasions a transient and moderate nymphomania. Masturbation is a common cause of this malady among young females, which is often practiced as early as eight or ten years of age, and persevered in for many subsequent years. Females who masturbate will rarely acknowledge it, unless they consider their lives in danger. As a general rule, they may be known by their pale countenances, lack of fulness in the face, dilated pupils, dark circle around the eyes, palpi- tation of the heart, hysterical attacks, fondness of solitude, diffident behavior, and a hesitation or constraint in replying to the ordinary interrogatories relative to health. Generally, the nails of the index and second fingers will have small sores in their neighborhood, or one or more very rough and broad warts, not easily removed by the usual means. Females of strong sexual passion, widows, and those whose affections are concentrated, or who have been disappointed in love, are supposed to be the peculiar subjects of this disease j