A SHORT TREATISE ON ONANISM.

MASTUPRATIO, or Ma⯑nuſtupratio; Manual Stupration, or Self-Pollution, is a vice hardly to be named, much leſs to be practiſed in a country, where virtue, decency, or politeneſs, have the leaſt re⯑gard [12]paid to them; and this abominable and unmanly practice is productive of the moſt deplorable, and generally incurable diſor⯑ders.

Providence has implanted in human na⯑ture what is by ſome called, the Paſſion of Love, and by others, the Appetite of Luſt, for very wiſe purpoſes; but has given us reaſon to reſtrain this neceſſary inclination, and keep it within due limits. Every day, however, furniſhes us with caſes which evince, that reaſon is not always a ballance againſt the appetites; for boys regardleſs, or perhaps ignorant of the conſequences, too frequently indulge themſelves in this prepoſterous method of venery; and it is beyond a doubt, that many, more ad⯑vanced in years, who are long immured in colleges and cloiſters, and at laſt elope from their cells, utterly deſtitute of ſcience, and equally unacquainted with the world and books, are not leſs guilty of this enor⯑mous vice.

Theſe by a moſt deteſtable kind of magic, conjure up at pleaſure an ideal Ve⯑nus, and thus never want an opportunity of enjoying an imaginary miſtreſs. The frequent repetition of theſe execrable plea⯑ſures induce an infinitude of the worſt diſ⯑orders; ſuch as Lethargies, Vertigo's, Atrophys, Apoplexies, Palſies, Lowneſs of Spirits, Hypochondriacal Diſorders, Amauroſes, a Tabes Dorſalis, and the worſt ſpecies of a Gonorrhaea, moſt commonly attended with an utter impotence as to real enjoyments; beſides an innumerable train of various nervous complaints, ſuch as are the frequent attendants upon a de⯑clining age, when the vigour of youth be⯑gins to wear off.

Theſe diſorders chiefly derive their ori⯑gin from thoſe univerſal convulſions, that always attend the emiſſion of the Semen; and if we conſider the human body, as made up of flexible pipes, and yielding fluids, we ſhall readily underſtand how Convul⯑ſions [14]wear out the conſtitution, and pro⯑duce theſe effects, viz. by deſtroying the ſtrength and elaſticity of the ſolid parts. And that the extacy which accompanies venereal enjoyments is of the nature of a convulſion, is not hard to be conceived. Quincy, in his explanation of Sanctorius's Aphoriſms expreſſly ſays, that ‘"At the time of coition, the fibres are intenſely drawn up; that too frequent uſe of this exerciſe, cannot but be very prejudicial to health by overſtraining and deſtroying the force of the fibres"^*’; the natural conſe⯑quence of which muſt be a ſpringyneſs and action upon their contents. Hence per⯑ſpiration is leſſened,^† the fluids run into preternatural coheſions, and obſtructions are generated. And this morbid condition is ſtill augmented by an exceſſive loſs of the [15] Semen itſelf, ſince the blood is thereby robbed of its moſt pure, balſamic, and in⯑vigorating particles.

Beſides, it is worthy of remark, that people who are accuſtomed to ſuch filthi⯑neſs, are not ſo eaſily cured of any chro⯑nical diſtemper as thoſe who are free from it; for as Celſus, ſpeaking about venereal intercourſes, prudently remarks, Caven⯑dumne in ſecunda valetudine adverſae preſidia conſumantur: that is, ‘"We ſhould take care of conſuming wantonly in a ſtate of health, what would be our ſupport during ſickneſs."’

The Semen verile, is a fluid of the moſt elaborate and noble production in the whole body, except that of the nerves, if ſuch there be; and it is this vital feed which makes men hot, robuſt, hairy, of a ſtrong and deep voice, bold and courageous, and fit to contrive, or exe⯑cute [16]any enterprize. Men are a proof of this; whereas they who are deſtitute of vi⯑tal Seed, are wrinkled, pale, weak, of a ſhrill voice, without hair, beardleſs and ef⯑feminate; ſuch are eunuchs. For we know from experience, when the ſecretory or⯑gans of this juice are deſtroyed by caſ⯑tration before the time of puberty, as is frequently done in Italy to preſerve the voice; or if by any accident a man is de⯑prived of his teſticles after this age, the deſtruction of theſe marks of verility alſo follow, in confirmation of this Boerhaave has given us an inſtance of fact. ‘"There was, ſays he, an intrepid ſoldier, who, aſpiring after the reward propoſed by the general, to him who would firſt fix the ſtandard in the enemies fort, climbed through the thick battery of the enemy, but unfortunately the fire of a cannon took off both his teſticles; yet he reco⯑vered, and became at length effemi⯑nate, not in mind but in body. The ſtrength of the ſeveral muſcles of the genital parts ſtill continued, and no⯑thing [17]towards his virility but his teſticles, and yet his voice ſoon altered, and beard fell off, &c."’ But the man who is re⯑tentive of the ſeminal juices, becomes bold, hardy and ſtrong, like the beaſts of the foreſt; witneſs the Athletae of old, who led chaſte lives.

Therefore as the Semen is, as it were, the flower and choiceſt part of the blood and nervous fluid, ſo venery ought to be only moderately uſed; leſt too great an evacuation of this ſubſtance prove preju⯑dicial to health. A frequent ejection of the Semen requires a ſound and vigorous habit of body, becauſe it exhauſts the ſtrength, and weakens the perſon; hence Pythagoras when aſked, when coition was to be uſed, wiſely anſwered, ‘"When you have an inclination to render your⯑ſelf weaker."’

As venery then only agrees with perſons of robuſt and vigorous conſtitutions, ſo [18]the uſe of it is principally beneficial to health, after the ſtomach is empty, and perſpiration duly performed, eſpecially if the perſon has ſlept well, and taken ali⯑ments of a nutritive quality, and eaſy di⯑geſtion. All theſe things are of ſuch a nature, as to increaſe the ſtrength and vi⯑gour of the body, and conſequently to favour venery, or at leaſt prevent the bad effects it would otherwiſe have. It is alſo to be obſerved, that it is more ſalutary in Spring than at any other ſeaſon of the year.

The perſon who would often engage in venery, ought to guard againſt all ſurfeits, hunger, labours, exceſſive ſtudies, vene⯑ſections, watchings, purges, and every thing which can in the leaſt impair and deſtroy the ſtrength.

Celſus obſerves,

But as moderation in every thing con⯑tributes to health, ſo likewiſe does tempe⯑rate venery, and every one ought carefully to conſider what his conſtitution can bear. For a very robuſt perſon may ſafely indulge himſelf in a degree of venery, which would remarkably weaken one of a worſe con⯑ſtitution.

Perſons of a tender and delicate habit of body, and weak Craſis of blood and ſpi⯑rits, ſhould by no means indulge them⯑ſelves in venereal engagements, without great moderation and caution; thoſe who are either too young, or too old, and thoſe who are lately recovered from a diſeaſe, ought alſo to abſtain from venery, leſt they bring on too great a relaxation of the nerves, and by overſtraining the fibres that compoſe all the parts of their bodies, in⯑jure and weaken their ſeveral functions in the animal ſyſtem, and become liable to all thoſe diſorders that have been already men⯑tioned.

Thus they, who by nature were ſtronger than others, have, by intemperance, ren⯑dered themſelves much weaker than thoſe who were naturally weak; and thoſe who were much weaker by nature, have, by their temperance, become ſuperior in ſtrength, to thoſe who were ſtronger; for nothing renders an animal robuſt, but the ſeminal juice, which is therefore of great efficacy and importance towards health, ſtrength and magnanimity, as well as pro⯑creation.

But as there are too many, who do not attend to the rules here laid down, ſo much as would be convenient for them, perhaps the following caſe may be of ſome importance, to ſuch as have not yet utter⯑ly deſtroyed their conſtitutions, by an im⯑moderate purſuit after pleaſures.

From this account, we learn, that Venery uſed either too ſoon or too often, not only impairs the ſtrength of the body in gene⯑ral, but alſo debilitates the noble functions of the brain and eyes, to ſuch a de⯑gree, that the loſs becomes almoſt irre⯑parable.

I have had an opportunity of ſeeing a great many caſes, where perſons well ad⯑vanced [27]in years, have by immoderate ve⯑nery, not only brought upon their eyes redneſs, darting pains, accompanied with tenſion, a heavy ſenſation, as if a weight was laid upon them, and a frequent ſhed⯑ding of tears, but likewiſe ſuch a weak⯑neſs of ſight, that they were rendered in⯑capable either to read or write; and I have found that in theſe very caſes, the pupils were always dilated, as they are in a Gutta Serena, by reaſon of the weakened, or loſt tone of the muſcular and nervous ſibres which ſurround them. But why need I ſtop here? ſince I myſelf knew two caſes, in which a Gutta Serena itſelf was brought on by exceſſive venery, and a long ſeries of grief.

Hence it appears how great and ſur⯑prizing a conſent there is between the ſe⯑minal parts, or rather the ſpirituous ſe⯑minal fluid itſelf, and the fabric of the eye, which is compoſed of the fineſt mem⯑branes, [28]nerves and muſcular fibres, as well as the moſt clear and tranſparent fluids.

The lymphatic ſeminal fluid is almoſt of the ſame nature and quality with that fluid which is ſecreted in the brain, and diſtributed through all the nerves of the body; for which reaſon, the more plenti⯑ful the evacuation of the former is, the more ſcanty and defective the ſecretion of the other in the brain muſt of courſe be. Hence alſo a reaſon may be aſſigned why thoſe youths, who begin too early to taſte the forbidden joys of Venus, ſuſtain a con⯑ſiderable loſs of memory, and are render⯑ed unfit for ſtudy; and likewiſe why per⯑ſons farther advanced in years, who are exceſſively addicted to venereal pleaſure, loſe their ſtrength, and bring on a pre⯑mature death.

The reaſon of the nocturnal pollutions in the caſe juſt recited, is very plain; for the more copious and frequent the afflux of the humours, eſpecially of the ſeminal matter, has been to the organs deſtined for generation, either by the force of ima⯑gination or otherwiſe; I ſay the more fre⯑quent and copious ſuch an afflux has been, the more the ſpermatic veſſels are dilated and relaxed, and the ſeminal juice for that very reaſon, flows into them in a greater quantity, and lays a foundation for thoſe wanton ideas, and ſeminal excre⯑tions, which even during ſleep affect peo⯑ple of a warm imagination.

But the moſt formidable ſpecies of this diſeaſe, is when the retaining veſſels are ſo extremely relaxed, as to permit the ſemi⯑nal juices to paſs off upon the ſlighteſt ſtimulus, as a luſcious idea, or converſation with a woman, after ſtraining at the diſ⯑charge of the excrements, or after riding [30]on horſeback in conſequence of a relaxa⯑tion. In the night time the ſame accident happens from venereal dreams, with a ſen⯑ſation of enjoyment; and this is frequent⯑ly attended with a continual weeping, or gleet, which exhauſts the ſtrength of the patient.

The matter of this flux is an humid, thin, cold, colourleſs ſubſtance, called by Hippocrates, a Liquid Semen ^* which is void of foecundity: for how is it poſſible that nature thus refrigerated, ſhould emit a prolific juice? Thoſe afflicted with this diſ⯑order muſt of neceſſity become old in ha⯑bit of body, ſlow, languid, dull, ſpiritleſs, ſilent, feeble, wrinkled, unactive, pale, ef⯑feminate, of a weak appetite, cold, with a heavineſs of the limbs, and a numbneſs of the legs, weak, lazy, and indiſpoſed [31]for all manner of action; in many ſubjects this diſorder is the forerunner of a Palſy; but it oftener terminates in that ſpecies of a Conſumption, called by phyſicians Tabes Dorſalis.

A Tabes Dorſalis is a violent diſorder, little treated of by phyſicians, though ful⯑ly deſcribed by Hippocrates ^†. The ſymp⯑toms which preſage this Conſumption, I have for the moſt part obſerved to be theſe, an hypochondriacal oppreſſion, melancholy, [32]and too much thoughtfulneſs, pain in the back, and often in the head, an aching pain, rolling and hanging down of the teſticles, a weakneſs of memory and ſight, and a decay of ſtrenght; there is a ſenſe of weight and giddineſs of the head, and a ringing in the ears, and as the diſorder proceeds, all the ſymptoms are increaſed, the legs ſwell, as in dropical caſes; in ſome, Ulcers ariſe on the loins, ſome of which are healed, whilſt others riſe in their ſtead. At laſt, a violent Cataract ariſing, the patient is rendered totally blind; theſe are followed by ſome others; as a thirſt, an hectical diſpoſition, an Atrophy, a waſt⯑ing of the fleſh, &c. &c. till at laſt the body is brought to the higheſt degree of a Conſumption; and that very often with⯑out any cough, or any other remarkable ſign of a Conſumption of the Lungs.

Theſe are the moſt common diſorders that enſue from the exceſſive uſe of Venery, and the prepoſterous practice of Self-Pol⯑lution, for the cure of which I have two [33]medicines which I ſhall recommend; the firſt, which anſwers the firſt intention of cure, viz. the ſtopping of the Gonorrhaea, is my STRENGTHENING ELECTUARY, which braces up and ſtrengthens the weakened and relaxed ſolids, warms and invigorates the habit, promotes digeſtion, and thereby furniſhes the diſpirited and impoveriſhed blood, with laudable and benign chyle.

The other medicine is my RESTORATIVE NERVOUS ELIXIR, which is perhaps the moſt ſtimulating Reſtorative that medicine can produce, and in the laſt decays of life, will ſtill ſupply the vital lamp with ſome recruits; it is good in all Languors, Weak⯑neſs, and Decays of the conſtitution, for it ſtrengthens all parts of the body, eſpe⯑cially the ſtomach, when relaxed and diſordered with frequent debauches, and by reſtoring the oſcillation of the fibres, quickens the various motions, and gives freſh vigor to the animal functions. It is [34]an admirable remedy for thoſe who have been in a manner wore out with venereal engagements, eſpecially if their pleaſures have been purchaſed at the expence of a few ſalivations, or a frequent uſe of mer⯑curial medicines, and it will revive any conſtitution that it not quite mouldered into rottenneſs. But they beſt deſerve ſuch a Reſtorative, who by acute diſeaſes, ſuch as malignant Fevers, the Small-Pox, and the like, have been ſo broke and ſhattered in their conſtitutions, as hardly to be with⯑in a poſſibility of recovery. For in ſuch it will to admiration repair the impoveriſhed juices, and fill again the veins with a warm, generous, nutritive blood.

It is excellent in diſeaſes of the head, ariſing from a conſent with the ſtomach, ſuch as the Vertigo, Head-ach, Sleepy Diſeaſes, dread of an Apoplexy, Weak⯑neſs of the memory and ſight, and a noiſe or ringing in the ears. In Scrophulous [35]habits alſo, which are leaning towards Conſumptions, it will be of the utmoſt ſervice. And when young perſons are not ſo early happy in their conjugal embraces as many wiſh to be, and it be ſuſpected from a coldneſs, and inſufficiency upon that account on either ſide, the uſe of this medicine cannot fail to render their inter⯑courſe prolific, as it actually romoves the cauſes of impotency in one ſex, and of ſterility, or barrenneſs, in the other. But the uſe of it is varily to be indulged, leſt with it be kindled a heat that reaſonable coition cannot aſſuage. And let ſuch as indulge themſelves too laviſhly in theſe en⯑joyments, be careful how they ſpur nature, and prompt with ſuch helps, leſt they run off their life and ſtrength too precipi⯑tately, for the beſt conſtitutions in the world, wear out and ſink under the fre⯑quent repetition of ſuch profuſion, as the frequent ſtraining any elaſtic body what⯑ſoever, will weaken more and more it's ſpring, till it is quite loſt, notwithſtanding all the helps of art to preſerve it.

To conclude. The omnipotent Creator has given us Paſſions for very wiſe and good ends; which ſeem to be, that thereby we may be urged with a kind of impetuoſity to ſhun evil, and embrace good; wherefore the paſſions are not bad in themſelves, it is by their exceſs that they become vicious, when they riſe to ſo extravagant a pitch, as not to be governed by the dictates of reaſon. But we ought to uſe our beſt endeavours to keep them within proper bounds, and the more difficult the conflict, the more glorious will be the victory.

We have all a natural propenſity to pleaſures; but theſe are of two very dif⯑ferent ſorts, the ſenſual and the mental. Senſual pleaſures engroſs the greateſt part of mankind, while theſe few only, quos equus amavit Jupiter, are taken with the beauties of the mental. And the reaſon why ſo many run after pleaſures of the firſt ſort, ſeems to be, becauſe they hardly ever allow themſelves an opportunity of [37]taſting the ſweets of an upright conſcience, or of feeling that joy, which ariſes to a good man, from the moderation of his ir⯑regular deſires; and being entirely devoted to the gratification of their ſenſual appe⯑tites, they never give attention to the real charms of virtue. Wherefore whoſoever deſires to enjoy this ſolid happineſs, ought to enure himſelf by degrees to the love of virtue, and ever carefully to avoid adding fuel to the fire of his paſſions.

Appoſite to theſe ſentiments is that ſay⯑ing which Cicero puts into the mouth of Cato, as by him received from the great Archytas of Terentum; that nature never afflicted mankind with a more capital plague, than bodily pleaſure; the eager deſires of which ſpur on to enjoyment with ungovernable raſhneſs. ^*

And the reſt of what that great philoſo⯑pher has written on this ſubject, muſt de⯑light the mind of every wiſe man in the peruſal. Wherefore, Virtue's exclamation in Silius Italicus, is very juſt:

But as the due government of the paſſi⯑ons ſtrengthens the mind, ſo temperance in diet renders the body leſs expoſed to theſe turbulent motions. And this rule holds good, not only in thoſe, who are naturally of a hot conſtitution, but even in thoſe who curb their appetites; be⯑cauſe it keeps them in a ſtate of tranqui⯑lity. And this is the way in general to reſiſt theſe evils, or at leaſt to diminiſh their effects.

As for thoſe who would have us to be entirely devoid of paſſions, and to ſup⯑preſs all the affections of the mind, as if they were ſo many evils; they certainly have a wrong notion of the wiſdom, and goodneſs of the Almighty Creator, who has inſerted, and, as it were, interwoven them into our frame for excellent purpoſes; for they are not only beneficial to indivi⯑duals upon many occaſions, but even ne⯑ceſſary for keeping up ſociety and con⯑nexions between mankind.