ristic feature is, that your patient
almost always dreams of sexual intercourse. This is one of the earliest, as
well as most constant symptoms. When it occurs most frequently, it is apt
to be accompanied with pain. A gleety discharge from the urethra may also
be frequently discovered, especially if the patient examine when at stool
or after urinating. Other common symptoms are nervous headache, giddiness,
ringing in the ears, and a dull pain in the back part of the head. It is
frequently the case that the patient suffers a stiffness in the neck,
darting pains in the forehead, and also weak eyes are among the common
symptoms.

One very frequent, and perhaps early symptom (especially in young females)
is solitariness--a disposition to seclude themselves from society. Although
they may be tolerably cheerful when in company, they prefer rather to be
alone.

The countenance has often a gloomy and worn-down expression. The patient's
friends frequently notice a great change. Large livid spots under the eyes
is a common feature. Sudden flashes of heat may be noticed passing over the
patient's face. He is liable also to palpitations. The pulse is very
variable, generally too slow. Extreme emaciation, without any other
assignable cause for it, may be set down as another very common symptom.

If the evil has gone on for several years, there will be a general
unhealthy appearance, of a character so marked as to enable an experienced
observer at once to detect the cause. In the case of onanists especially
there is a peculiar rank odor emitted from the body, by which they may be
readily distinguished. One striking peculiarity of all these patients is,
that they cannot look a man in the face! Cowardice is constitutional with
them.

* * * * *

HOME TREATMENT OF THE SECRET HABIT.

1. The first condition of recovery is a prompt and permanent abandonment of
the ruinous habit. Without a faithful adherence to this prohibitory law on
the part of the patient all medication on the part of the physician will
assuredly fail. The patient must plainly understand that future prospects,
character, health, and life itself, depend on an unfaltering resistance to
the morbid solicitation; with the assurance, however, that a due
perseverance will eventually render what now seems like a resistless and
overwhelming {456} propensity, not only controllable but perfectly
loathsome and undesirable.

2. Keep the mind em