872' 1 M P 
Debility, however, from too frequent or unnatural in¬ 
dulgences, is the moft common caufe, fhown by an im- 
perfeft ereftion of the penis, or too weak a difcharge of 
the femen ; the l.atter is often a confequence of the for¬ 
mer. In fome weak habits the difcharge immediately 
follows the flighted irritation, either of the parts or of 
the mind. Dreams fo imperfect as fcarcely to be remem¬ 
bered will occanon it; and this arifes from the increafe of 
irritability, in confequence of debility. From its remote 
caufe, tonics, and the moft ftimulant nutriments, are em¬ 
ployed ; but the only remedies are thofe which lelfen ir¬ 
ritability, viz. camphor, opium, and henbane, or hemlock. 
Wathing the penis and fcrotum, morning and evening, 
with cold water, and dalhing the water againlt thefe parts 
from a bidet, are often ufeful; but it is neceffary to re¬ 
move every alluring or enticing objefl:; to guard againlt 
every lafcivious thought. When impotence arifes from 
fo great a debility as to admit of the difcharge of femen 
by the efforts to relieve the belly, the ftrongeft tonics and 
aftringents are required. It lias been fuppofed by fome 
authors, that, in fuch cafes, the femen wants its ufual fti- 
mulating properties, as it is obferved to be unufually 
fluid; but of this there is no evidence; and, as the dif¬ 
charge is fo readily excited, we think it more probable 
that its fluidity depends on its not being allowed to ftag- 
nate. 
Mr. Hunter has, we think, refined unneceffarily on this 
fubjeft, by Fating one caufe of impotence to be a want 
of correfpondence in the lucceflive actions of fecretion 
and difcharge. If the firft is too rapid for that eredled 
Fate of the penis which renders the ejaculation effectual, 
it conftitutes this difeafe as certainly as when the action 
of the mufcles of the latter is too quick for the former. 
Debility, and its confequent Fate of irritability, is fufii- 
cient to explain all the circutnftances of the cafe without 
fuch recondite refearches. In general, where there are 
correfponding actions of two connefted parts, it is very 
unufual to find them feparated. Each may be weakened ; 
but from habit each will partake of the difeafe, and will 
ail together as before, but with diminifhed power. 
The Fate of the mind, it is obferved, has a conliderable' 
influence on the powers of the body, particularly in the 
venereal adl. The body, Mr. Hunter remarks, fliould 
not only be in a Fate of health, but the mind free from 
apprehenfions, anxiety, and diFrefs. The mere anxiety 
of excelling in this a< 5 t has been no uncommon caufe 
of difappointment. A Fate of hope, a confcioufnefs of 
crime, a recolleftion of former failures, equally enervate 
the body. Such caufes of impotence are to be clearly 
diflinguiflied from real defefts, fince an alteration in cir- 
cumFances, by which anxiety, diFrefs, &c. are removed, 
will relieve the complaint. Greater confidence, from hav¬ 
ing once fucceeded, will alone break the charm, and all 
will be well. The mind is more intimately connected 
with the genital fyFem, chiefly in men, though in a cer¬ 
tain degree in the other fex, than has been imagined. 
The apprehenflon of weaknefs, in this moF important of 
functions, really produces it. The imagination broods 
over fancied ills, till the whole fyFem is really difordered. 
In this Fate every quack is tried in fucceffion, till tired 
nature decays into a heftic, is overwhelmed in a dropfy, 
or the mind finking in imbecility, or mania, offers a me¬ 
lancholy fpeftacle of what degradation human nature can 
fuffer. All this diFrefs might be removed if the patient 
had the reiolution to tell his grief to a friend, or a phyfi- 
oan of character and judgment. A well-regulated plan 
of medicine and diet would contribute to relieve the bo¬ 
dily complaint, while the mind, confoled with the profpeft 
of returning health, would affiF in realifing the predic¬ 
tion. Many fuch inFances we have known where the 
difeafe has been radically removed, and the delponding 
patient become a happy hufband, and the delighted fa¬ 
ther of a numerous and ‘healthy offspring. 
We have lb mixed the medical directions with the de- 
fcriptions of the difeafe, that we have little to add on this 
IMP 
part of the fubjeft. We may however again repeat, that, 
except in impotence from great relaxation, tonics and 
aFringents are of little avail. Where it arifes from too 
great irritability, a cooling diet, abFaining from lafcivl- 
ous thoughts or objects, with fedatives, are the belt re¬ 
medies. There is no opinion more inconvenient in its. 
effeCts than that which dictates a full, nutritious, and Fi- 
mulant, diet. We have often had occaflon to repeat, 
that no caufe of weaknefs is fo frequent and obFinate as 
that which arifes from fulnefs of the circulating fyjlem, and 
no plan by medicine more injurious than conFringing 
over-diFended veffels by tonics. But, where the fulnefs. 
is not conliderable, cold bathing, both general and topi¬ 
cal, is highly ufeful. 
To abltain from, or to indulge, venereal pleafures, is 
equally injurious. A moderate ufe is falutary ; and, when 
the confidence that the power is not wholly loF be once 
eFablifhed, the power itfelf is foon regained. 
IM'POTENCY, in law, is a canonical difability, to 
avoid marriage in the fpiritual court. The marriage is 
not void ab initio, but voidable only by fentence of repa¬ 
ration, but to be actually made during the life of the 
parties. See the article Marriage. 
Impotency, Property by reef on of. A qualified proper¬ 
ty may fubfilt with relation to animals fera natures,, ration: 
impotentice, on account of their own inability. As when 
hawks, herons, or other birds, build in my trees, or co¬ 
neys or other creatures make their neFs or burrows in my 
land, and have young ones there ; I have a qualified pro¬ 
perty in thofe young ones, till fuch time as they can fly 
or run away, and then my property expires. Carta de Fo¬ 
refid-, (9 Hen. III. c. 13 ;) but till then it-is in lome cafes 
trelpafs, and in others felony, for a Franger to take them 
away. 7 Rep. 17. 2 Comm. 394. See the article Game. 
IM'POTENT, adj.' Weak; feeble; wanting force; 
wanting power.—We that are fcrong muF bear the imbe¬ 
cility of the impotent, and not pleafe ourfelves. Hooker. 
Although in dreadful whirls we hung, 
High on the broken wave, 
I knew thou wert not flow to hear. 
Nor -impotent to fave. Addifon. 
Difabled by nature or difeafe.—In thofe porches lay a 
great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, and wi¬ 
thered. John v. 3. 
I have learn’d that fearful commenting 
Is leaden fervitor to dull decay; 
Delay leads impotent and fnail-pac’d beggary. Shakefpeare , 
Without power of reFraint: 
With jealous eyes at diFance fire had feen, 
Whifp’ring with Jove, the filver-footed queen ; 
Then, impotent of tongue, her filence broke, 
Thus turbulent in rattling tone Fie fpoke. Dryden. 
Without power of propagation.—He told beau Prim, who 
is thought impotent, that his miftrefs would not have him, 
becaufe he is a floven, and had committed a rape. Tatler. 
IM'POTENT, f. [from the a.df\ One that languifhes 
under difeafe: 
Your talk fliall be 
With all the fierce endeavour of your wit, 
To enforce the pained impotent to fmile. Skahefpeare. 
IM'POTENTLY, adv. Without power; 
Proud Casfar, ’midF triumphal cars. 
The fpoils of nations, and the pomp of wars. 
Ignobly vain, and impotently great, 
Shew’d Rome her Cato’s figure drawn in Fate. Pope. 
To IMPOVERISH, v. a. To empoverifh, to make 
poor. 
IMPOVERISHMENT, /. Empoverifhment, the Fate 
of being made poor. Scott. 
To IMPOU'ND, v.a. [ in and pound. See Pound.] To 
inclofc as in a pound3 to ihut in ; to confine.—The great 
care 
