DISEASES PECULIAR TO MEN 637 



and body which had previously followed their occur- 

 rence. This is a sign of improvement in general nerve 

 tone, by means of which the disorder will be ultimately 

 controlled. This change in the advance of the disease 

 toward health is directly the reverse of that which oc- 

 curs in the march of the disorder in the opposite direc- 

 tion. Patients may often imagine the emissions are 

 doing no harm, though occurring with great frequency, 

 simply because they do not feel any serious effects. 

 But this is only because the general vital tone is suffi- 

 ciently great to withstand for a time the exhausting 

 drain upon the system; but sooner or later, nervous 

 bankruptcy will supervene, and the patient will appreci- 

 ate his true condition. 



As regards the treatment of this disorder, it is not 

 necessary to repeat what has been said in previous 

 portions of this book, and we cannot attempt to treat 

 the subject in anything like a complete manner, not 

 only because our space is limited, but because such a 

 treatise would not be in conformity with the general 

 character of this work. The following, however, is 

 what almost any young man may do to aid himself in 

 recovering from this disease, in addition to such meas- 

 ures as may be suggested by a competent physician 

 who has been made thoroughly cognizant of the pecul- 

 iarities of the case: 



1. Diet.—Fjat only plain and simple food. Avoid 

 all highly seasoned and stimulating articles of food, 

 such as sauces, pepj^er, pepper-sauce, mustard, and 

 condiments generally. Also avoid eating too fast, over- 

 eating, and eating hearty or late suppers. It is far 

 better to eat but two meals daily, and nothing after 

 4 or 5 p. M. Take care to chew the food very thor- 

 oughly. Substitute nuts and nut preparations, such as 



