Commentary. Aretæus has drawn a lively but disgusting picture of a person affected with this complaint, which it is to be hoped that the “march of improvement” in morals has now rendered of rare occurrence. He calls it a most unseemly disease. According to his account, it will even prove fatal occasionally, and that within the space of seven days. He says the natural cure of it is a diarrhœa coming on with bilious discharges. This venereal mania, he says, is to be cured by bleeding from the arm or ankle to deliquium animi, purging with hiera, and wrapping the genital organs and adjoining parts with wool dipped in rose-oil and wine, or in decoctions of such narcotics as hemlock, nightshade, mandrake or poppy; the applications in either case being frequently changed. When these things do not succeed, the neighbouring parts are to be cupped or leeched; and in case of necessity the afore-mentioned refrigerants are to be changed for calefacients, such as the oil of privet, or the Sicyonian oil. This treatment, he remarks, will prove soothing to the nerves. He also recommends castor and a refrigerant diet, from which wine and flesh are to be excluded. It appears, therefore, that our author’s treatment is mostly taken from him.
Oribasius pronounces satyriasis to be a fatal symptom in acute fevers; and Professor Sprengel confirms the justness of this observation. (Hist. de la Méd. t. ii, 188.)
Cælius Aurelianus gives a very circumstantial account of this disease. His treatment differs from that of Aretæus in this respect—that he disapproves entirely of the refrigerant applications, and, instead of them, recommends soothing ones, namely, emollient oils, a hip-bath of oil and water, and the like. He approves also of bleeding, cupping, and leeching.
Octavius Horatianus treats it upon nearly the same principles, that is to say, he recommends fomentations with the vapours of hypocistis or hemlock, hard friction, exercise, and astringent food.
There is nothing original in the treatment of the Arabians. Haly Abbas recommends calefacient and desiccative medicines internally, such as agnus castus, rue, cumin, &c. He also permits the use of narcotics with desiccants, such as coriander, henbane, lettuce, and opium. To the member he directs us to apply a cataplasm containing the oil of roses, lettuce, coriander, and camphor; and when this fails, some opium is to be added. He enjoins hard exercise.
Alsaharavius recommends much the same treatment as our author, namely, bleeding from the arm or foot, diluent and refrigerant draughts, cooling applications containing vinegar, ceruse, &c.; and, if these do not succeed, leeches.
SECT. LVII.—ON PRIAPISM.
Priapism is a permanent enlargement of the penis, which is swelled both in length and circularly, and there is no venereal appetite attending it. The part is swelled by a flatulent spirit engendered from viscid and gross humours by a moderate heat. It is clear, therefore, that the part is not to be heated but cooled moderately, with rose-cerate beat up with water, and with the cerate of chamomile applied to the penis and loins. The diet and medicines should be of an attenuant nature, without being manifestly heating. We must also apply those things which are found, by experience, to be naturally efficacious. We may, therefore, give them also to drink of the water-lily and the seed of the chaste-tree, and mix green rue with their condiments. Yet this must not be given at the commencement, since it is heating, but after the use of other attenuants. If we practise evacuation, it must be by vomiting; for that by the belly often occasions a defluxion to the neighbouring parts. Exercise and friction are to be had recourse to for dispelling the flatus. In none of the cases which we have been mentioning does coition answer, unless when we have reason to suppose that there is a redundance of semen owing to restraint from enjoyment.
Commentary. Many of the ancient authorities make no distinction between satyriasis and priapism, but, according to Cælius Aurelianus, the former is an acute and the latter a chronic disease. Prosper Alpinus, the modern Methodist, says, there is this difference between satyriasis and priapism—that in the former there is violent venereal desire, whereas, in the latter, there is continued erection, but no desire nor emission of semen. It seems, in short, to be a sort of chronic chordee.
Our author, Oribasius, Aëtius, and Actuarius, follow the principles of treatment laid down by Galen. The latter speaks of the anti-aphrodisiacal medicines mentioned by our author.