Manhood : the causes of its premature decline, with directions for its perfect restoration : addressed to those suffering from the destructive effects of excessive indulgence, solitary habits, &c. &c. &c. / by L. Deslandes ; translated from the French, with many additions, by an American physician.

  • Deslandes, L. (Léopold), 1796-1850.
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Manhood : the causes of its premature decline, with directions for its perfect restoration : addressed to those suffering from the destructive effects of excessive indulgence, solitary habits, &c. &c. &c. / by L. Deslandes ; translated from the French, with many additions, by an American physician. 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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    opinion of the consequences of it. If we reflect on the symptoms attending dentition which are often severe; or those depending on too rapid growth of the bones, and then measure the great difference between the vitality of the osseous and genital systems, we can form an idea of the injury caused by the prema- ture enlargement of the genital apparatus. Although there may be no real disease, yet the wasting of the body, the enervation which results from excessive growth are often sufficient to give to a young man the appearance of an onanist. If such feelings arise simply from the osseous sys- tem, what must we expect when onanism, with its train of moral and of sensual feelings, forces the gen- ital organs to take part in the efforts of growth. The power which is then impaired is the same which we have seen extend over all parts of the organization, that, whose action when regular, contributes so much to make each tissue perfect, in fact that which when removed gives to man the characters of an eunuch. Now consider onanism as possessing this power and usins: to do injury all the energy which it possesses to do good; what limits shall be assigned to its inju- rious effects? and yet some authors question them. Many general phenomena of puberty also appear pre- maturely, when premature indulgences call them into development. Thus the beard appears on the chin, the pubis is covered with hairs, the voice assumes a deeper tone, and the first indications of virility show themselves much earlier than is proper. These symp- toms serve to trace the aberrations which onanism causes in the formation of the organs. This vice too does not surely hasten or retard; it deranges: for the derangement of the functions is not generally mani- fested by irregularities in formation, aspect, and tex- ture, but by material alterations, by diseases. Hence why inflammations of all kinds, and numerous organ- ic affections result, as observation proves, sooner or iater from anticipated pleasures: now as the suscep- tibility of the organs varies in individuals, and as in one, the heart, in another the lungsj the stomach &c.