s
restricted to children, as has been shown in the case reported by Dr.
Mott to Dr. Sayre, in regard to the middle-aged man with a string about
his penis. One of these cases was that of a young man, six feet in
stature, broad-shouldered, and well built. He applied for relief for a
dyspepsia that affected his stomach and also his heart. The man had an
apparently feeble and irritable heart; cold, clammy skin; disturbed
digestion, and uneasy sleep; was constipated and flatulent. No treatment
seemed to make any impression upon his case. At last he began to
emaciate and look haggard. His mind was also becoming visibly weaker,
was attacked by dizziness, and on several occasions he fell in a fit.
With this condition he at last began to have frequent nocturnal
emissions. On account of the latter his genital organs were examined,
and the penis was found smaller than the average, with a long and narrow
prepuce. The glans could easily be uncovered, but the tightness of the
prepuce and its unyielding qualities made paraphimosis a possibility; so
that the young man, having once or twice had considerable difficulty in
returning the prepuce to its place, never attempted its retraction
again. There were no adhesions, but the inner fold of the prepuce had
been thickened by balanitis. Seeing the need of circumcision _for the
local benefit_, the operation was suggested with a view of relieving the
pressure on the glans, which was looked upon as the probable cause, in
his broken-down condition, of the advent of the nocturnal emissions. He
gladly submitted, and, to the surprise of both physician and patient,
_all_ his troubles disappeared, and he at once became a changed man. So
impressed was he with the result, that, on his return to his home, he
examined his younger brother, and, finding him with a like long, narrow
prepuce, he immediately brought him in and had him circumcised, as a
prophylactic against his being subjected to the risk of lost health as
he himself had suffered.

Another case, a man of forty-five, also a farmer, was afflicted with
dyspepsia, palpitation of the heart, general debility, constipation,
constant headache, etc. He could not cut up an armful of wood without
bringing on palpitations and gaseous eructations, or being upset for the
day; and after having connection with his wife he generally had a
terrific headache, lasting for two or three days;[106] he could stand no
protracted mental effort, even such as is requir