104 DISEASES OF THE MALE SEXUAL ORGANS. 



CHAPTER II. 



IMPOTENCE AND IRRITABILITY, WITH WEAKNESS OF THE MALE 

 SEXUAL ORGANS. 



DURING the period of manhood, complete and permanent inability 

 of performing coitus successfully is rarely seen. Even some deformi- 

 ties of the penis, loss of one testicle, or disease of both, often will not 

 cause absolute impotence. On the other hand, cases of diminished 

 power and of temporary impotence are very frequent, and it is of the 

 utmost importance for the practitioner to be thoroughly acquainted 

 with the various and peculiar forms under which these states may 

 occur. Unhappy marriages, barrenness, divorces, or perhaps an occa- 

 sional suicide, may be prevented by an experienced physician, who has 

 the entire confidence of his patient, if he can give him comfort and 

 consolation when consulted concerning impotence. The persons that 

 come to the physician for counsel are chiefly young husbands, filled 

 with despair at the discovery that they cannot cohabit with their wives. 

 Not only sensual women, but all, without exception, feel deeply hurt, 

 and are repelled by the husband whom they may previously have loved 

 dearly, when, after entering the married state, they find that he is im- 

 potent. The more inexperienced and innocent they were at the time 

 of marriage, the longer it often is before they find that something is 

 lacking in their husband ; but, once knowing this, they infallibly have 

 a feeling of contempt and aversion for him. And it is not the lost 

 pleasure or the fear of remaining childless that brings the young hus- 

 bands to the physician, but a sense of shame, and the knowledge that 

 they are becoming contemptible and disgusting to their wives. This 

 sad secret is often concealed from the nearest relatives, and confided 

 only to the physician, in whose art and discretion the patient has full 

 confidence. 



The next most frequent class of persons that consult the physician 

 for impotence are young men engaged to be married, who, previous to 

 their wedding-day, have experimented whh lewd women to see whether 

 they were impotent, and who have not succeeded on that occasion. 

 Impossible and disgusting as this may sound to the student, when he 

 acquires a moderate practice he will often encounter persons who will 

 relate such things to him with perfect unconcern. 



Under proper treatment the great majority of these cases terminate 

 well, so that, when the desperate spouses fall into the right hands, in 

 the course of tune they almost always become happy husbands and 

 fathers. The most frequent cause of temporary impotence is lack of 

 self-confidence, and a consequent straining of the mind for the success 



