of bursting is done
away with. We have, in an unnaturally contracted urethra, a favorable
condition for the development of disease in the urinary canal and
adjacent parts of the generative organs. Irritation is set up in the
urethra behind the stricture by undue strain in passing water, and the
frequent reoccurrence of acrid urine, as the result of any of the causes
we have already mentioned, this irritation keeps gradually increasing.
It will be felt more during the periods when the urine is acrid, but may
pass unnoticed even at such times. The seminal sacs and the prostate and
Cowper's glands communicate with the deeper portions of the urethra by
means of canals or ducts, lined with mucous membrane which is continuous
with the urethral mucous membrane. Hence we can readily see that not
only by reflex nervous irritation are those parts debilitated, through
the contraction of the urethra, but the affection is apt to extend by
continuity of the mucous membrane, and thus become more and more
manifest, through symptoms of disease of the testicles, prostate gland
and seminal vesicles, and these disorders become more and more seated
the longer the morbid condition of the urethra is allowed to run on,
until there may be an entire loss of the sexual functions, occurring at
an age when there should be present the most vigorous manhood. From no
other cause can we explain the common prevalence of disease of the
deeper portions of the urethral canal and bladder, many times confounded
with other diseases of the urinary and generative organs.

The following is the history of a case that fully illustrates the
foregoing statements:

CASE 112,289. MR. O.C.E., SINGLE, 32 YEARS OF AGE.

[Illustration: Fig. 4.
Condition of the urethra in Case 112,289; permanently cured at the
Invalids' Hotel and Surgical Institute.]

He applied to us suffering from entire loss of the sexual
function, with great nervous debility, and there was a thin
slimy discharge from the urethra, and the usual symptoms of
melancholia and weakness. He had lost all taste for business,
and was extremely nervous, from the fact that he was engaged
to be married, and felt that his condition would not permit
it. On examination a contraction of the urethra was found at
the point shown in Fig. 4, which had probably been present
for years. He stated that he never had been just right in
those parts, but had lived a virtuous life, ha