UNCHASTITY 269 



enter upon such a subject, it cannot be passed over in 

 silence without a great violation of duty. Unhappily, 

 it has not been hitherto exhibited in the awful light in 

 which it deserves to be shown. The tvorst of it is that 

 it is seldom suspected. There are many pale faces 

 and languid, nervous feelings attributed to other causes 

 when all the mischief lies here. ' ' * 



. We scarcely need add further evidence of the fear- 

 ful extent of this evil, but will conclude with the fol- 

 lowing : 



*'The pernicious and debasing practice of mastur- 

 bation is a more common and extensive evil with youth 

 of both sexes than is usually supposed." "A great 

 number of the evils which come upon the youth at and 

 after the age of puberty, arise from masturbation, 

 persisted in, so as to waste the vital energies and ener- 

 vate the physical and mental powers of man. " ' ' Many 

 of the weaknesses commonly attributed to growth and 

 the changes in the habit by the important transforma- 

 tion from adolescence to manhood, are justly refer- 

 able to this practice. ' ' f 



Not a Modern Vice.— That this vice is not entirely 

 a modern one is proved by the fact that in many 

 ancient writings directions are given for treating its 

 effects. Even Moses seems to have recognized dis- 

 orders of this class. Hippocrates and others devoted 

 considerable attention to them. 



Victims of All Ages.— The ages at which the 

 habit may be practiced include almost the whole extent 

 of human life. We have seen it in infants of only 

 three or four years, and in old men scarcely less than 

 sixty, in both extremes marked by the most unmistak- 

 able and lamentable consequences. Cases have been 



*Sir W. C. Ellis. t Boston Medical and SurgicalJournal. 



