632 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



The opinion expressed by many physicians when 

 called upon by patients suffering in this way, that the 

 disease is one of little consequence, and probably does 

 not exist at all, often leads to great mischief; and cer- 

 tainly, when such an opinion is given without a close 

 and critical investigation of the case, the patient may 

 well doubt the individual's competence to deal with 

 disorders of this class. Those who have had much to 

 do with cases of this sort, have become thoroughly con- 

 vinced, not only of their great frequency, but of the 

 fact that their successful treatment requires the most 

 painstaking efforts, and the exercise of the highest 

 skill, not only in the selection and the application of 

 remedial measures to the diseased parts, but in the edu- 

 cation and discipline of the patient so as to secure his 

 co-operation in carrying out those measures of treat- 

 ment and regimen elsewhere suggested, such as proper 

 diet, exercise, abstinence, etc., which are more impor- 

 tant than any medicinal remedies that can be employed. 



In the treatment of this disease, it should be thor- 

 oughly understood that the danger to the system con- 

 sists, not alone in the loss of seminal fluid, but in the 

 nervous exhaustion arising from reflex nervous action, 

 which ultimately results in general debility and de- 

 rangement of the whole system. The irritable condi- 

 tion of the diseased surfaces of those portions of the 

 urethra usually affected, occasions a morbid irritability 

 of the nerve centers of the lower jDortion of the spine, 

 which have charge of this part of the body, and from 

 this the irritation is propagated to other portions of 

 the central nervous system. It is by this means that 

 the digestive organs, lungs, heart, and in fact every 

 portion of the body, suffer, even in an extreme degree, 

 as the result of this disorder. 



