TTlSrCHASTITY 299 



effects, but is certainly caused otherwise in many cases. 

 It is not infrequently found in these patients ; but Pro- 

 fessor Bartholomew contends that even in such cases 

 we should ''consider its presence, in general, as acci- 

 dental." Atrophy of the left testicle is often produced 

 by the pressure of the distended veins; but this does 

 not certainly occasion impotence. It sometimes occurs 

 simultaneously on both sides, and certainly greatly ag- 

 gravates the effects of self -abuse, if it is not itself an 

 effect of the vice. 



Nocturnal Emissions.— Seminal emissions during 

 sleep, usually accompanied by erotic dreams, are known 

 as nocturnal pollutions or emissions, and are often 

 called spermatorrhea, though there is some disagree- 

 ment respecting the use of the latter term. Its most 

 proper use is when applied to the entire group of 

 sjonptoms which accompany involuntary seminal 

 losses. 



The masturbator knows nothing of this disease so 

 long as he continues his vile practice; but when he 

 resolves to reform, and ceases to defile himself volun- 

 tarily, he is astonished and disgusted to find that the 

 same filthy pollutions occur during sleep without his 

 voluntary participation. He now begins to see some- 

 thing of the ruin he has wrought. The same nightly 

 loss continues, sometimes being repeated several times 

 in a single night, to his infinite mortification and cha- 

 grin. He hopes the difficulty will subside of itself, 

 but his hope is vain; unless properly treated, it will 

 probably continue until the ruin which he voluntarily 

 began is completed. 



This disease is the result of sexual excesses of any 

 kind; it is common in married men who have abused 

 the marriage relation, when they are forced to tempo- 



