The Cause* 



at the period of sexual development are of great 

 influence in producing this disease, such as 

 premature excitement of the sexual passions."- 

 (" Ziemsson's Cyclopedia," Vol. XIV.) 



Fautrel and Wendt speak especially of the 

 consequences of self-abuse, practised in great 

 excess previous to puberity. Fautrel's patients 

 were all onanists. 



Neurosis. " We meet with spasm in the 

 bladder in the hypochondriacal and hysterical 

 and in very nervous persons in general, in whom 

 mental excitement, excessive sexual indulgence, 

 the incautious use of cantharides, occasionally 

 also it is met with in connection with onanism 

 and spermatorrhoea." (Dr. Lebert : " Ziemsson's 

 Cyclopedia," Vol. VIII.) 



Hysteria. " More frequently, however, does 

 sexual over-irritation, particularly that induced 

 by onanism, cause the disease." (Dr. Jolly : 

 " Ziemsson's Cyclopedia," Vol. XIV.) 



Vaso Motor and Trophic Neurosis. " Other 

 writers have laid it to excess in venery or 

 onanism." (Dr. Eulenberg : " Ziemsson's," 

 Vol. XIV.) 



Tremor. " As causative may also be men- 

 tioned, excess in venery and onanism." 

 (Eulenberg.) 



Atrophy of the Cerebrum. Dr. Hitzig 

 mentions the practice of onanism by a little girl 

 of twelve suffering from the above affection. 

 (" Ziemsson's," Vol XII.) 



Spermatorrhoea. " Masturbation plays also a 

 prominent part among the abuses of the genital 

 organs. To speak plainly, the majority of those 

 101 



