§ 2. CIRCUMSTANCES INDEPENDENT OF THE ACT OF VENERY, WHICH RENDER IT MORE OR LESS INJURIOUS.
The economy is not equally affected by venereal excesses in all individuals at all periods of life. There are some circumstances which make it necessary for masturbation or coition to be more or less frequently repeated in order to be injurious. Hence if we wish to know the real influence of these acts, these circumstances must be considered. These are numerous but they are not all known. Two individuals indulge in onanism: one becomes ill in a few weeks: but the other resists the pernicious habit longer. These two individuals were certainly in different states, as the event proves. This fact however was indicated previously by no circumstance: their age, constitution and manner of living before this were similar: in fact the reason why they were affected so differently cannot be told. The difference here presented by two individuals may be observed in the same person, when considered at different epochs and periods of life. He will resist the excess of masturbation and coition to a greater degree at some times than at others, although the circumstances on which these differences depend are not known. There are then unknown circumstances which have an effect on the consequences arising from onanism. These remarks are highly important and seem to be well understood; and it is clear that there is no possible security for the onanist: in vain does he look for encouragement by comparing himself to others, or by remarking of a comrade: “if he had been as healthy as I am, his health would still be good, he would not have died:” or by saying “why should I fear what I have indulged in so long with impunity.” This mode of reasoning is out of the question when the truth of the preceding remark is admitted, and it is then impossible for a person to deceive himself; and the reason that so many abuse themselves is because they think themselves stronger than others.
Besides these circumstances, there are some which are well known and which contribute more or less to render the act of venery more detrimental. These circumstances consist first, in the general state of the functions at different ages and in the peculiar state of some of them at different periods of life; second, in a coincidence of action between the act of venery, and other causes of disease; third, in the alterations which the constitution may have already suffered, and in the disposition existing to contract certain diseases; fourth, finally in the state of the diseases with which the patient is afflicted, when he indulges in the act of venery.