654 PLAIN TACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



of time. In persons far advanced in years, who have 

 become impotent through the natural decline of the 

 vital powers, no measure of treatment can afford more 

 than temporary relief. In young men who are suffer- 

 ing with complete or partial loss of sexual ability, as 

 the result of excesses, the disease can usually be cured 

 by the adoption of proper methods in the hands of an 

 experienced physician. The patient may employ ad- 

 vantageously the regimen and treatment suggested for 

 seminal weakness, which will be found of great service 

 in conjunction with any other measures of treatment 

 that may be instituted. We would warn persons suffer- 

 ing in this way against the use of aphrodisiac reme- 

 dies, or sexual stimulants, as the ultimate results of 

 such measures are the very worst possible, and no cases 

 are so hopeless as those which have been mistreated in 

 this way. 



More abounding life and vitality are the things most 

 needful. With an increase of general vigor, there may 

 be likewise an increase of local vigor. 



An outdoor life, simplicity and naturalness in all 

 the habits of life, purity of life, physical as well as 

 mental,— these, with daily cold baths, short cold sitz 

 baths, bathing the parts in cold water, and the cool 

 enema, are the most effective measures. 



Sterility. —Sterility is by most men supposed to 

 be a disease confined almost exclusively to the other 

 sex ; but careful researches have shown that when mar- 

 ried couples are childless, the fault is with the husband 

 in not less than one case out of six. Want of pro- 

 creative power may be due to disease, or deficient 

 development of the testicles, or entire absence of the 

 organs. It may also arise from obstruction of some 

 portion of the seminal ducts, from disease of the sem- 



