Wender’s forceps may have several inconveniences, and may frequently fail of the proposed end. But has it not been too much ridiculed, and is it not susceptible of improvement? Serrurier thinks that the idea may be turned to advantage, and Reveillé Pariset assures us that he has used it twice in cases of pollution, and with success. (_Revue. Med._, _April_, 1828, p. 94.)
Having mentioned the course to pursue in order to reach the seat of the disease, that is, the voluntary and involuntary pollutions, let us now speak of their effects. One of two things must happen; either these pollutions pursue their work, or finally the economy becomes insensible to their action. The first supposition is that least favorable to success: the physician prescribes for effects while the cause continues to act; he _doctors_, as it is called, for symptoms; and it is the same as if one should attempt to cure gastritis or pleuritis, without attending to the pleura or stomach. This, however, is no reason for abstaining completely from treatment. We may also sometimes retard the progress of the disease, or calm any painful and disquieting symptom. The physician has a much better prospect of success, when there is no longer a habit to destroy the health, and when no pollutions occur. We shall not attempt in this place to give the treatment proper for the different diseases which may be produced by onanism. Myelitis, dementia, amaurosis, epilepsy, &c., &c., whether caused by onanism or not, require special remedies, which are stated in works which treat of these affections. We would remark, however, that when these diseases are caused by onanism, it is perfectly futile for the physician to attempt to treat the disease, unless the habit of self pollution be arrested. In this place we will only mention that consumption, that exhaustion, in fact, that deterioration, which we have described in the third chapter of our first part.
Onanistic deterioration presents two very distinct phenomena: 1st, the consumption of the strength; 2d, the excitement of the senses. Thus, then, to restore the strength without increasing, and even, if possible, to diminish the general disposition to receive impressions, are the two indications to be fulfilled.
