648 PLAIN FACTS TOR OLD AND YOUNG 



Treatment.— The very same measures which have 

 elsewhere been i'ecommended for local congestion, par- 

 ticularly hot sitz baths, hot fomentations to the lower 

 portion of the spine and perineum, are among the most 

 useful measures in these cases. The same regimen 

 as to diet should be followed as has been indicated for 

 other sexual disorders, particularly the avoidance of 

 all stimulating foods, tobacco, alcoholics, tea, coffee, 

 etc. It is important, however, that the patient should 

 avoid violent exercise, and that total abstinence as 

 regards sexual indulgence should be observed until the 

 disease is thoroughly cured. 



In chronic cases, the prolonged cold sitz is useful 

 (78° to 65°, ten to twenty minutes). When there is 

 much tenderness, pain or smarting after urinating, or 

 frequent urination, the very hot sitz is best. Begin 

 at 104°, and increase rapidly to 118° to 120°. Dura- 

 tion, four to six minutes. Keep the bowels regular by 

 the free use of granose flakes, fruit, and nuts. 



Stricture. — A contraction, or stricture, of any por- 

 tion of the urethral canal is usually the result of the 

 acute inflammation of gonorrhea, or the chronic irri- 

 tation and inflammation of gleet. All grades of stric- 

 ture exist in different cases, from a very slight narrow- 

 ing of the canal, to complete obstruction. The idea 

 that a stricture does no harm if it does not very mate- 

 rially obstruct the passage of urine, is a popular error 

 which should be corrected. Any considerable degree 

 of narrowing of the canal, whether sufficient to pre- 

 sent a serious obstacle to the evacuation of the bladder 

 or not, is a serious matter, and requires the attention 

 of a competent surgeon. Such a contraction is usu- 

 ally sufficient to maintain a gleety discharge, and a 

 chronic irritability which is likely to result in early 



