had so many cases from among the latter, nor does it prevent them from indulging in a spiritless union with the opposite sex.

Impotency in either sex, does not necessarily produce barrenness, If the testicles of the male secrete semen, containing healthy spermatozoa, and the ovaries of the female produce completely formed ova or eggs, then they are not in the strict signification of the term barren. In fact, impotent women do in many cases conceive by the Fig. 143.

spermatozoa being injected into the mouth of I the womb, and there finding a matured egg, which, if not taken up by the fimbria of the fallopian tubes during coition, may have entered and descended one of the tubes a short time before.

FRONT VIEW OF THE PENIS.

▲, the glans-penis, the corrugated lines indicating the appearance of the

The organ of philoprogenitiveness is often active when the organ of amativeness is powerless, and the difficulty in the way of the impotent man, if he has healthy spermatozoa, lies in his inability to penetrate the female organs. Still, under a local excitation of the parts, if taken advantage of, the act may be accomplished. In some cases, amativeness may even be active, and the person may have the strongest desire for sexual intercourse without the ability to perform the act satisfactorily. When this is the case, amativeness is sufficiently stimulated by the nervous forces in the brain, but either the nervous communication between it and the sexual organs, or else the nerves in the sexual organs themselves, are paralyzed or partly so.

The causes of impotency are as numerous as erectile tissue under the those which produce nervous inharmony of any microscope; B, orifice of the urethra; c, the fore- kind. Perhaps the most common are, intemperskin; D, the great vein;

EK, nerves; FF, arteries; ance in the use of stimulating food and drinks, masturbation, and sexual excess. Among 11, the erector muscles. women, sedentary habits may be the most frequent cause. Their muscular systems become relaxed, and their nervous systems disordered, for want of pure air and out-of-door exercise.

Impotency often causes matrimonial dissatisfaction, and in nearly all communities, this infirmity is deemed sufficient cause for divorce. A case made prominent by the high position of the parties thereto, was decided in the English divorce court, a few years ago. According to the newspaper report published at the time, "Mademoiselle Victoria Balfe, a daughter of the great composer, was plaintiff for divorce against her husband, Sir Henry Crampton, formerly Minister of Great Britain in the United States and afterward in Russia. Sir Henry was married to Miss Balfe at St. Petersburg, in 1861, and now the lady claims divorce on the ground of unconsuminated marriage and the inability of Sir Henry to complete his part of the contract. The case was one of unusual interest, and the celebrated accoucheur to the Queen, Dr. Locock, was called upon to make a medical examination; but Sir Henry declined to submit. During the trial a question was raised as to the right or power of the court to order such examination; but it was shown that the ecclesiastical court has often done so in the case of clergymen, and so it was established. Counsel for Sir Henry then declined to offer any defence, and the court declared the marriage null and void-and so Miss Balfe is still Miss Balfe and Sir Henry is a free man."

Various medical devices of a topical or local character have been resorted to by physicians to cure the disease, and it seems to me that no argument is required to prove their inefficiency. The seat of the disease, as I have already shown, is not in the genital organs, except in occasional cases. In a great majority of them the disease is the result of a want of proper communication between the cerebellum and the organs of procreation. What is wanted, then, is some remedy or remedies calculated to re-establish that connection. Electrical medication, as explained on page 299, affords one means of readily effecting this result. Unless the communication has been interrupted by the destruction of some portion of the nerves connecting the upper organs with the lower ones, by a knife, rifle-ball, or other missile penetrating the body, of course the lines or nerves for such communication are there the same as before impotency. All that is necessary is to stimulate them into activity, and render them once more conductors of the telegraphic messages which amativeness desires to send. If the impotency results from inactivity or partial paralysis of amativeness itself, then that must be awakened to new life. In all other forms of paralysis, or want of nervous action in

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any part or parts, it is universally conceded that electricity is the true remedy. Then why not in this? All these arguments, however, are only necessary for such persons as are afflicted with impotency who have never stopped to consider the pathology of the I will close disease, and the most rational mode of effecting a cure. this essay by inviting all who are laboring under this mortifying disease to call ou me in person or consult me by letter. (See page 583.)

CHAPTER XII.

CONCLUDING ESSAYS ON DISEASE.

AVING already occupied a greater amount of space than was originally assigned for Part II., to save all fractions of blank pages which are liable to occur at the conclusion of each chapter, I propose to present under the above heading a few brief essays on diseases of too important a character to pass over in silence. It may be thought by some that I have given undue prominence and unnecessary length to my treatises on the procreative systems of each sex, and that a portion of the space occupied by them might have been more profitably used in the consideration of the pathology and treatment of diseases of other organs. If so, from this hypothesis I must dissent, for the reason that the affections alluded to are found to exist as troublesome complications in nearly every case of chronic malady which comes under the care of a physician. It is pleasant to know that this rule, like most others, has its exceptions; and all those who are fortunate enough to belong to this class must bring their observation, rather than their experience, to bear in judging of the correctness of my statement. All physicians having a large practice will certainly agree with me. With this brief introductory paragraph I will proceed at once to perform the promised labor.

Paralysis.

This common disease has been robbed of half its terrors by recent discoveries in therapeutic electricity. Not many years ago, a person attacked with it felt that he was a doomed cripple for life, unless nature could prove itself sufficient to overcome the disease and re

store to the affected or obstructed nerves harmony of action. The remedies of allopathic practitioners never have and cannot now cure paralysis, but in the hands of a skillful electrician and physician, this disease becomes as yielding as most other forms of chronic complaints. Nor is it for want of a proper knowledge of its pathology that the "regulars" are so uniformly unsuccessful in its treatment. Dr. Hooper very correctly defines it as follows: "It may arise in consequence of an attack of apoplexy. It may likewise be occasioned by any thing that prevents the flow of the nervous power from the brain into the organs of motion; hence tumors, over-distention, and effusion often give rise to it. It may also be occasioned by translations of morbid matter to the head, by the suppression of usual evacuations, and by the pressure made on the nerves by luxations, fractures, wounds, or other external injuries. The long-continued application of sedatives will likewise produce palsy, as we find those whose occupations subject them to the constant handling of whitelead, and those who are much exposed to the poisonous fumes of metals or minerals, are very apt to be attacked with it. Whatever tends to relax and enervate the system, may likewise prove an occasional cause of this disease."

The same writer also correctly describes the symptoms preceding and occurring with an attack. "Palsy usually comes on with a sudden and immediate loss of the motion and sensibility of the parts; but, in a few instances, it is preceded by a numbness, coldness, and paleness, and sometimes by slight convulsive twitches. When the head is much affected, the eye and mouth are drawn on one side, the memory and judgment are much impaired, and the speech is indistinct and incoherent. If the disease affects the extremities, and has been of long duration, it not only produces a loss of motion and sensibility, but likewise a considerable flaccidity and wasting away in the muscles of the parts affected."

Notwithstanding the pathology of the disease is generally understood by all experienced practitioners, only those who have deeply investigated the science of electricity in its application to diseases of the human system, are at all successful in curing it. Many of the prescriptions of old-school practitioners tend to perpetuate and produce rather than relieve it. Cupping, blistering, and the administration of nux vomica, opium, etc., are often attended with injurious results.