Functional Sexual Diseases.
After briefly reviewing the problem of Gonorrhea in its different aspects, we shall discuss certain conditions which stand in very near relation to Gonorrhea. There are: Impotence, known under the common name of loss of manhood; sterility, loss of procreative power; and sexual neurasthenia, nervous debility developed on sexual ground. While these conditions may also develop independently without any Gonorrhea in the history, from other abuses and irregularities in the sexual sphere, yet in a very large number of cases they do develop, if not because of Gonorrhea, at least after it; in other words, Gonorrhea, by weakening general and specially sexual nervous apparatus, creates a certain predisposition for their development.
These diseases are worthy of serious consideration, as they are very widespread and are the cause of many unhappy homes, of untold family tragedies, and of much individual and moral suffering. These diseases do not cause physical pains, neither are they dangerous to life, but men afflicted with them feel so miserable, suffer such agonies of moral anguish, are so depressed in spirit and so despaired of life that they would prefer any acute pain or welcome any operation to relieve their misery.