Man's mission on earth : being a series of lectures delivered at Dr. Jourdain's Parisian Gallery of Anatomy, addressed to those laboring under the baneful effects of self-abuse, excesses, or infection : also, a familiar explanation of the venereal disease showing the danger arising from neglect or improper treatment in disorders of the generative system / by R.J. Jourdain.

  • Jordan, Henry J.
Date:
1872, ©1867
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Man's mission on earth : being a series of lectures delivered at Dr. Jourdain's Parisian Gallery of Anatomy, addressed to those laboring under the baneful effects of self-abuse, excesses, or infection : also, a familiar explanation of the venereal disease showing the danger arising from neglect or improper treatment in disorders of the generative system / by R.J. Jourdain. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    the present system of keeping back from youth, all physiological knowledge, the child probably looks upon it as a pleasant, I might almost say, an innocent recreation. As he grows older, what was done merely for experiment, or, per- haps, to be in fashion with his yile and older associate, becomes'by repetition a regular habit. Lassitude, weakness, 'dizziness, loss of recollec- tion, and timidity, cause him to think that something must be wrong. A doctor is called in; he is questioned, of course; the lad carefully conceals his practices; though not ashamed to commit the offensive deed, he is yet too modest to talk about it. The doctor shakes his head; the symptoms are not sufficiently marked as yet to allow of his deciding on the true cause. The verdict is given,—stomach out of order, or cold, or too much hard study. Under the influence of medicine, he temporarily feels, or fancies himself, better. Then the disease again assails him. He shrinks from company, he almost trembles at the idea of a rough-and tumble game with his tougher comrades ; and, at the prospect of a fight, his cheek blanches, his lips quiver, and his heart almost chokes him with its throbs. Then he begins to feel melancholy. Strange ideas of early death come over him, and he wanders about in a state of semi-unconscious- ness. The habit grows deeper upon him. Still, if he have an idea it is his fatal habit which is