316 PLAIN FACTS FOE OLD AND YOUNG 



By degrees the discharge increases in quantity and 

 virulence, extending backward until it reaches the 

 sensitive womb. 



Contact with the acrid, irritating secretions of the 

 vagina produces soreness of the fingers at the roots of 

 the nails, and also frequently causes warts upon the 

 fingerSo Hence the value of these signs, as previously 

 mentioned. 



Uterine Disease,— Congestion of the womb is also 

 produced by the act of abuse ; and as the habit is con- 

 tinued, it also becomes permanent. This congestion, 

 together with the contact of the acrid vaginal dis- 

 charge, finally produces superficial ulceration or abra- 

 sion upon the neck of the womb, together with other 

 diseases. 



Another result of congestion is all kinds of men- 

 strual derangements after puberty, the occurrence of 

 which epoch is hastened by the habit. 



Prolapsus and various displacements are produced 

 in addition to these menstrual irregularities. The most 

 common forms of displacement resulting from self- 

 abuse, are retroflexion and retroversion, which are usu- 

 ally accompanied by congestion and enlargement of the 

 womb, catarrh of the lining membrane of the womb, and 

 relaxation of the vagina. When these conditions are 

 present in a young woman, together with the enlarge- 

 ment of the labia and clitoris, they may be looked upon 

 as positive evidence of the existence of the habit. After 

 a large experience in this class of cases, in which an 

 opinion of the nature of the case has been based upon 

 the symptoms named, the author has never found such 

 an opinion erroneous. 



Sterility. —Sterility, dependent on a total loss of 

 sexual desire and inability to participate in the sexual 



