Onanism is executed with the hand and thighs on the sexual parts or by rubbing these parts against external bodies. Different modes have been proposed to obviate and prevent these. The most simple of all is to oblige the children to keep their hands out of bed. This plan when it can be observed is often sufficient, particularly in boys. Besides this we knew of only one remedy, the purpose of what can be concealed, viz., the application of a cold cataplasm to the sexual parts, a plan we have recommended several times. Pavet de Courtielle proposes the use of a chemise reaching below the feet and which is drawn together at the bottom: this remedy may be efficacious. The remedies which remain to be treated of are essentially coercive: hence the chance of success is smaller the older and stronger the patients are.
The hands may be tied to keep them from the sexual organs, and the feet also may be tied so as to keep the thighs separated. The child too may be placed in a straight waistcoat fastened behind, which may force the arms to rest on the chest. Different apparatus has been contrived also to keep the thighs asunder. One is composed of thick pieces of cork which are attached to the inside of the thighs. Drawers opening behind are sometimes used: these serve to imprison the lower part of the trunk.
A kind of truss is sometimes used to preserve the sexual parts from external contact. The principal piece of this is of metal, either silver or tin: for females its form is triangular, and for boys it represents a sort of mould, in which the penis and scrotum may be placed: the bandage is kept in place by springs, like those of herniary bandages. To add to the security of this apparatus it is sometimes applied to a dress which opens only behind. In young and feeble children these means are exceedingly efficacious, as experience has proved. The art of the onanist has even sometimes evaded these bandages. The following case occurred in the practice of Reveille Pariset; a little girl 7 years old, whose health failed every day having been detected in onanism, her mother instead of reproaching her, gave her to understand that it was the custom to apply a bandage to girls of her age. This bandage was fitted very accurately and attained the purpose desired; the health of the child being rapidly established. Soon however the symptoms reappeared and more violently than before. The bandage was examined and it was found to be undisturbed. She however was watched and it was found that she used a quill for the purposes of onanism, which she slipped in under the bandage. After this, the mother stayed with her daughter all the time, and by her vigilance the child was saved.
These mechanical bandages have other inconveniences which limit their use. First they cannot be employed in boarding schools as they become the subject of remark; and then they keep up in the genital organs a constant heat, irritation and moisture. The edges of the principal piece also may cause deep excoriations. For all this, however they are often useful and ought not to be neglected.
CHAPTER II.
OF THE MODE OF REPAIRING THE INJURIES ARISING FROM VENEREAL EXCESSES.
In therapeutics we proceed in two ways; sometimes tracing the symptoms to their cause, we attempt to destroy this cause in the organ in which it is situated, and sometimes we attend only to symptoms. The same plan is applicable to the abuses of the genital organs, which as we have already seen forms a real disease.
The most efficient way to arrest the evil caused by these abuses, is to stop them. When this is done, order is established very rapidly. Hence the preservative means are in our view better than any remedial measures. Often however, when these excesses have been frequently repeated and long continued, the genital organs continue without provocation the work which was commenced by onanism. Thus involuntary pollutions keep up and increase a degree of exhaustion and other complaints which would otherwise disappear. In this case the treatment to be followed is to arrest the pollutions. These generally result, as we have said, from an inflammation of the seminal passages analogous to that existing in the urethra in blenorrhœa. This fact has lately been demonstrated anatomically by Lallemand and M. Davila. Hence the treatment of involuntary spermatorrhœa resembles in many respects that of chronic catarrh. The following are the principal remedies to be employed.
First must be placed cold applications to the genital organs; of these pure water and ice are more generally and successfully employed. In using these, Coelius Aurelian employed sponges. Wichmann wet cloths, and Ste. Marie, who preferred ice, used a bladder. Cold washes and affusions to the part and cold douches to the perineum, and hipbaths and seabaths have also been used. Lallemand who repudiates enemata too hot or warm thinks that those which are cold may be useful. Sulphurous baths have likewise been employed by Lallemand, in the manner described in his work in diseases of the genito-urinary organs. Davila in his thesis relates instances cured in this mode, and also the case of a young man who was cured of a diurnal pollution by introducing into the urethra a sound, which was retained there as long as the patient could bear it. Lallemand entertains the same opinion, and has also employed acupuncture and he says with success. He has known patients who after the application of needles between the posterior parts of the bursœ and the anus, have passed three or four months without pollutions.
Some practitioners have succeeded by directing their remedies to the cerebellum and the spinal marrow.
Many medicines have been administered internally for losses of semen. Those most in repute are the preparations of iron and quinine, either separately or together. Ferruginous waters, particularly those of Spa, and the oxides of iron, have often been used. Wichmann recommends several glasses of Spa water every morning combined with some preparation of cinchona: Serrurier has related a case showing the efficacy of this treatment. Lallemand thinks that cinchona and generally all remedies which contain tannin, only benefit temporarily. Many authors also disapprove of the use of astringents and tonics in spermatorrhœa, attributing to them among other inconveniences, that of causing constipation.