In a nutshell, this lesson reads: Keep your mind busy and your body working; do not overeat; avoid alcoholic and stimulating liquors; be a moderate smoker; avoid vulgar and vicious company; keep away from degrading and low temptations that you know will drag you down into the abyss of vice and shame, and you will find that it is not so hard to keep in the straight path, if only you do not take any chances from the very start. There is no better antidote for a young man against the annoyance of sexual excitement than athletic work and an athletic mode of life. Any and all physical sports and games, particularly outdoor in the fresh air, moderate eating and sleeping in a hard bed in a cool room, active and busy life and avoidance of narcotic, stimulating or body-weakening habits and drinks will make you physically strong and will render the problem of sexual continence an easy and natural task for a long period of time.
Such is in brief words the structure and function of the sexual system of a man, and such are the practical conclusions and advices based on these theoretical facts. It is the writer’s hope that his words of enlightenment and counsel may keep some of the boys away from the “danger zone.” Yet it is natural to expect that in spite of the best warnings and the best intentions of the boys themselves, there will always be such, who, thru lack of will power, light-mindedness, or vicious influences of the older companions, will succumb to the impulse of the moment and will trespass the forbidden territory of “sowing wild oats.”
Mainly for these victims of their own indiscretions the writer devotes the second part of this book—“The Pathology of the Sexual System.” Let them know the dangers they are courting, let them know the possible influence it may have on their own health and the health and happiness of their future family. Should they be unfortunate enough to contract a venereal disease, it is to their own interest to know all the possible complications and developments of these diseases; to prevent, thru intelligent handling of their cases, all the evil consequences and to protect themselves from a damage that so often follows ignorance, neglect, and indifference to the sickness.
Pathology (Diseases) of the Sexual System
Before entering into detailed consideration of the pathology, i. e., diseases of the sexual organs, it should be stated that while the bulk of these diseases is of venereal character—that is, acquired thru some abuse of the sexual function or thru unclean intercourse—there is a large number of diseases that may develop on and affect the sexual organs without any fault or indiscretion on the part of the patient. First, the sexual organs, like any other part of the body, can be the seat of different inflammations, tumors, accidental injuries, etc., and in the case of any grave general sickness the sexual system is naturally involved and suffers to a greater or smaller degree. Second, the sexual organs present very often congenital (inborn) defects of development, varying to an enormous degree in individual cases. There are also several non-venereal acquired diseases. Most of these conditions are practically unknown to the public, and quite often the afflicted victims are terror-stricken and driven to despair thru ignorance of the true nature of their case, laboring under the idea that their condition is due to a venereal infection or some indiscretion on their part. For this reason, we shall briefly consider these conditions.
Congenital (Inborn) Non-Venereal Diseases of Sexual Organs.
Among congenital non-venereal abnormal conditions possibly the most common is the long and tight prepuce, which in a good many cases gives rise to many nervous complaints and minor disorders. It is relieved usually by operation or circumcision, which has been adopted by the Jews and Mohammedans as a religious procedure. As to the sanitary advantages of circumcision, discussed so often, it must be admitted that while it is not necessary in all cases, in general it is undoubtedly a useful procedure. It does not lessen any chances of venereal infection, which can be seen from the fact that the Jews proportionately contract Gonorrhea as often as the Gentiles; but it does undoubtedly lessen the chances of infection with Chancre, soft or hard, and in cases where Chancre is contracted, the treatment in a circumcised case is a good deal easier than in the non-circumcised.
Another congenital abnormality of practical interest is an “undescended testicle.” It is not known commonly that the testicles are not formed in the scrotum, that they descend there before the birth of the child from the abdominal cavity. But in some cases the testicle does not descend until later years of childhood, or does not descend at all. In these cases the retention of the testicle takes place either in the abdominal cavity or in the groin (inguinal canal). In this location particularly it is likely to cause pain and distress, and it can even atrophy and dry up from pressure of the tissues, if not relieved by operation.
Non-Venereal Acquired Diseases.
There are a number of non-venereal acquired diseases that may occur on sexual organs. Among these should be mentioned, first, Varicocele.