322 OP THE GENITAL FUNCTION IN MAN. 



532. I conceive that this end is accomplished in a 

 very different mode, by a circumstance which occurs, 

 as far as I have been able to discover, in no animal 

 but man, — by nocturnal pollutions, which I regard as a 

 natural* excretion intended to liberate the system 

 from the otherwise urgent superfluous semen, more or 

 less frequently, according to variety of temperament 

 and constitution. f 



533. The semen is never discharged pure but mixed 

 with the prostate fluid, which is very much of the ap- 

 pearance of the white of egg, and has acquired its 

 name from the organ by which it is produced, — an 

 organ of some size, of a singular and very compact 

 texture, lying between the vesiculae seminales and 

 bulb of the urethra, and commonly denominated pros- 

 tate gland. The passages for the course of this fluid 

 are not well known, unless perhaps they communicate 

 with the sinus of the seminal caruncle, the middle of 

 the orifice of which opens into the urethra J between 

 the two mouths (525) of the seminal vesicles. 



534. The male urethra is the common outlet of three 

 different fluids, — the urine, semen, and prostate liquor. 

 It is lined with mucus which proceeds from numerous 

 sinuses dispersed along the canal. § We find it sur- 

 rounded by a spongy texture, upon which lie two other 



* Chr. R. Jacnisch, De pollutionc noctuma. (Jotting. 1 79a. 4to. 



+ I willingly grant tiiat barbarous nations, of a phlegmatic temperament 

 and copulating promiscuously, do not require this excretion ; but I must 

 contend that it is a perfectly natural relief in a young man, single, sanguineous, 

 full of juices, with a strong imagination, and living high, although enjoyiug the 

 complctest health. 



J Morgagni, Adverser.. liiat. iv. fig. 1,2. 



§ J. Ladmiral, Effiifits pr>ii< humani. LB. 1741. 4to. 



