A practical treatise on the diseases and abuses of the sexual system ...

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DOTTED STATES OF AMERICA.

PBACTICAL TREATISE.

A.

Chap. XVIII. — On Venereal in the Bones, Nose, Palate, fyc. Its Treatment

Chap. XIX. — On Venereal Taint in the Constitution. The effects of Venereal Diseases upon Posterity, The eradication of the Poison from the System. The Treatment of Syphilisin Infants.

Chap. XX. — On certain Complaints which resembles Venereal Disease, and sometimes arise from Sexual Intercourse, but which, nevertheless, are not Venereal, nor can be treated as such without the greatest disadvantage. Persons affected with these are often cruelly imposed upon by advertising people.

SHOULD BE CAREFULLY READ BY ALL MARRIED, OR CONTEMPLATING MARRIAGE.

Having been frequently asked by patients if certain results could not be produced by either medical or mechanical means, or a combination of both : — after a series of experiments and the severest tests in a number of cases, the author is happy in stating emphatically that those results can be brought about by a mild and pleasant treatment, permanent in it3 effects, and attended certainly, with the most happy consequences to those who may be unfortunately united for life to one of a temperament the opposite of their own, and render married life one of happiness instead of misery* a blessing in lieu of a curse.

Unfortunately for society, many are under the impression that all women are warm and passionate — that their bosoms swell more with soft desire than purer emotions. Fie upon you ! — harbor no such ungenerous thought !

Why do not men study female character, and appreciate her deservingly 1 She is g«ntle and confiding — often yielding without desire, because husbands wish and claim their privileges.

Is there a husband who possesses one spark of affection for a devoted wife, who does not really wish that she may share all the joys of wedlock in the highest degree 1 1 think not ; and yet how many who, not from want of will or ordinary capacities* but from want of self-controlling power, cannot bring about the extatic pleasures 1

In prescribing treatment for diseases or derangements of the'sexual organs, there are many points of singular and peculiar interest, which should be kept in view. In many cases there may be no disease, deficiency or malformation ; yet, the precipitancy or quickness of the male in the sexual embrace is often a source of mortification and disgust to the female. In married life there is indeed much suffering and vexation. A most tantalizing source of annoyance is when there is so great a difference in natures, passions, &c , that there is no real enjoyment in the copulative act, the male being too quick in almost all cases. It is to this important point that I would call your special attention.

There are certain means by which the activity of certain organs, and their auxiliaries, can be equalized, and only during the act can sufficient of the active principle be secreted to consummate the act, consequently the pleasures must be more enduring, and much greater. This treatment is offered only to those married, or contemplating marriage, and is calculated to bring opposite sexes (ro matter how great the difference m natures,) to a mutual reciprocation of thoughts, feelings, desires, &c, and without which, there is little, if an}% real enjoyment in married life.

During this treatment there is little medicine used, few if any restrictions required* the general health improved, the tone and vigor of the organs fully restored, no matter how weak or sensitive they may have become from excesses, or a total abstinence from sexual commerce ; will also enable either and both parties to prolong the act and increase the extatic pleasures.

Puritans may scoff, the bigotted sneer, and fools laugh, but the Author begs to state emphatically, tbat in the event of a reflecting commuuity's allowing him to practically demonstrate his views, the result must be that every wife will have the best husband, and every husband the best wife in the world, because they will be mutually satisfied and pleased.

The moral influence which must result is quite clear to every intelligent and reflecting mind. No satisfied and happy husband or wife will ever give the substance for the shadow ; — they will never seek and risk finding pleasures abroad which they are certain of having at home. #

All deficiencies, malformations, weaknesses, &c, treated carefully and successfully. All letters to receive attention, should state case fully, and enclose the usual consulting fee.

Address, W. H. MORRIS, M. D., Box 869, P. O., N. V. City.

CHRONIC AND CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES,

In order t>? correct an erroneous notion that many entertain since he relinquished a general or family practice, Dr. Ralph would here observe that he has for some years past confined himself to an Office-practice, for the treatment of all Chronic Affections, as well as those referred to in his " Practical Treatise ;" and that, associated with him in this practice is Dr. Wm. H. Morris, late of Nashville, Tenn., who for several years has had an extensive and successful practice there in Chronic and Female Complaints, fyc. By thus restricting the practice to this important and too generally ill-treated class of diseases, we are enabled to give them that attention they demand, and for the want of which their treatment (in the hands of Physicians generally) so often proves unsatisfactory and useless, if not even worse.

Drs. Ralph and Morris, therefore beg to call the attention of those laboring under Chronic complaints to the following remarks :

These affections require a judicious and careful treatment, varied according to the stage of the disease, as well as the age, sex, habits, &c, of the patient ; unless this be observed strictly, little if any good can result from any treatment, even though followed for half a lifetime. "We wish it understood that we do not use specifics, but treat all patients in a scientific and thorough manner ; and where directions are strictly followed, will warrant safe and permanent cures.

Dyspepsia and Liver Disease, and all the consequences attending derangement of the Organs of Digestion, Irregular Bowels, Flatulency, Nervousness and Hypochondria, fyc.

Piles — a disease closely connected with the above, is cured without an operation in a few days. Those who apply early will find relief in a few hours.

Rheumatism, Scofula and Skin Diseases, Fistula, Dropsy — will find a thorough treatment and pleasant cure.

Diseases of the Bladder and Kidnies, Gravel, Enlargement of Prostate Gland, and all Urinary complaints; Stricture of the urethra; also, all derangements and weakness of the sexual organs in either sex, admit of positive and radical cure without the use of mercurials, or any offensive medicines or tiresome restrictions.

Asthma — and all chronic Affections of the Lungs ; in the worst cases of Asthma, relief may be obtained in a few days, and a permanent cure can be effected in a short time.

Female Complaints — than which no class of diseases require a more careful arid judicious treatment to produce a permanent good, are treated in a safe and skillful manner, pointed out by a long course of successful practice. Ladies who desire a safe and easy time should make application a few weeks before the time of accouchment. It should, however, be distinctly understood that the subject of prevention or abortion is not here included — time and trouble will be saved by neither calling nor writing on this subject. Safe, pleasant and positive treatment for the removal or Worms, Eruptions of the Skin, and all Chronic complaints peculiar to infants and children.

Diarrhcea, Dysentery, Bowel Complaints, &c, speedily and effectually cured. In time of Cholera a remedy is kept constantly prepared, a single dose of which will arrest the premonitory symptoms, and a very few doses will cure it when fully set in. This medicine is pleasant to the taste, perfectly safe, (containing neither opium, lead or any dangerous ingredient), and has been fully tested in several Epidemics. We should, at such time, always be pleased to give a dose to any one having the premonitory symptoms, who will call at our office.

JOSEPH RALPH, M. D., WM. H. MORRIS, M. D.,

(Author of the "Practical Treatise" fyc.) {Formerly of Nashville, Tenn.)

Offices, ^MM teew -St reet, near Webster, N. Y. City.

At Home till One and alter Six O'clock, (Sunday excepted.) Patients visited at their Hotel if necessary.

Treatment by Letter. — Patients at a distance, by stating their symptoms, &c. will meet with prompt attention.

All Letters must enclose a fee, and may be diricted to Box 869, P. O., New York City.

Medtcines — are securely enveloped and safely sent to all parts of the United States, Canadas, South America, West Indies, &c.

P. S — For some important remarks and suggestions to the married, or those contemplating marriage, enclose two U. S. postage stamps, addressed, " Box 869 P O."

The following remarks upon a most common but least understood disease, viz. : Stricture, its Symptoms, Effects, fyc, will, it is believed, prove interesting to many : —

1st. — That Stricture is a very common malady, and frequently exists in those who are not the least aware of it.

2d. — That a very erroneous notion prevails with regard to Stricture.

3d — That although a Stricture may long remain so dormant, as not to be suspected, it is always tending to other forms of sexual disorder.

4th. — That there are three circumstances in particular, by which a Stricture may always be known.

5th — That the cure of Stricture, especially in its early stage, is certain, free from pain or inconvenience, and generally accomplished in a very little time.

1 — With regard to the frequency of Stricture, this will not surprise if it is considered that this complaint proceeds from a badly treated Gonorrhoea. If for instance this disease has been suffered to continue on from month to month, it slides into a Gleet. Now, there is no pain or inconvenience in Gleet, and on this account it is often suffered to remain for any length of time. But it should be known that Gleet is generally connected with Chronic Inflammation, which naturally terminates in thickening, and this thickening in one part or other of the urinary passage is Stricture ; and further with regard to its obscurity, this thickening may exist without a Gleet, and in that case there is nothing whatever to call the attention to it, so that the gufferer must remain in perfect darkness as to the real nature of his malady.

2 — Another thing that leads the attention off from this disorder, is the erroneous notion that stricture cannot exist so long as no impediment to the flow of urine is observed. But this is quite wrong. A stricture may exist for years without producing any striking change in this respect. Indeed this effect upon the urine, is observed only in advanced and older cases, while the visible effect of early stricture is not on the part itself, but on the mind, causing lowness of spirits and want of resolution.

3 — But, although a mild or early stricture is seemingly inactive, and of no account, it is far from being really so. It is scarcely possible for those not acquainted with minute anatomy, to imagine the delicate and peculiar structure of the part which is the seat of this disease, and how little is sufficient to derange it. Now, this morbid condition of the passage whether connected with stricture, or induced by other and pernicious causes, is ever tending to destroy those delicate organs, laying the foundation of some of the most distressing maladies of human nature. It is in this way that melancholy and even suicidal feelings, dyspepsia, local debility, too great quickness* in the sexual act, impotence, an irritable bladder, and other like diseases, proceed from a mild and unsuspected stricture.

4 — Nothing therefore, can be more desirable than to have some plain and ready means of detecting stricture in its mild and early stage ; and, fortunately , there are three particular circumstances, which for many years, the author has found to suit this purpose. They are the following. The first relates to —

The Manner of Urinating. — It has been said already that the stream need not be much diminished or impeded, and that is true ; but observe what happens after this is finished, and the clothes are readjusted, and if it should be found that a drop or two will afterwards steal away, so as to wet a little, this, trifling as it may seem will afford a ground of strong suspicion. The next regards.

The Time a Former Disease may have Remained Uncured. — It is not so much how long ago it may have occurred, as how long the gleety stage may have continued. Neither is it possible in every case to state the length of time a gleet may run without producing stricture, for one is naturally more disposed to stricture than another. Asa general rule, however, if a Gonorrhoea has been suffered to continue

* This quicknkss or precipitate discharge in the sexual act. is s» cau e of no little annoyance to the married on hoth s de — in the o e causing shame aid mortification as well as deprivation of due pleasure— on the other, a dissati fied feeln g, often resulting in di gust of the ac altogether, and oftener tha» is supposed, being th<? first and real— though misunderst. od bv either party, cause of infidelity and all its miseries. Now. this fault may be the result of former disease, or have had no such cau^e ; in either case however it 1- gratifying to be able to assure all so afflicted that it is REMEDIA- BLE ; and that «ith very little medicine, and nothing troublesome, inconvenient or disagreeable. The necessary instructors and remedies (occupying but little space) are sent by mail to any pa-t of the country o' elsewhere, with perlect safet\ and certainty. Addressing on this sul ject, be particular to state whether there has been previous disease, abuse, or excess— also age, temperament, &c, for a period of from si* to eight weeks, this would stregthen any ■»«»»! *■>» fumstance. Also the praetice of Masturbation, or self-abuse >n youth, m a common cause. The third is

The Effect a Stftcturk has upos the Miw.-This, in the early stage, is to depress theTpirit" and to lessen mental energy. It is also one of its most mvanable tffe NoWhat this is seen in the same degree in every individual but .t ,s so com-

t Id, writer scarcely sees a case of stricture in which ,he PaUeutdoesnoUom. plain that he is less active, and less capable of business than formerly Much ^gh be advanced to show the natural connection of the m.nd and genera .veogans but for this the reader is referred to the Author's " Practical Treatise," whde the fact itself is proved by the return of mental energy as the cure proceeds.

S^-With respect to the cure of strieture-this may now be accomplished in very

Tear's To those who cannot leave their homes, his own peculiar means o ur , with Z tmrZus adapted to each particular case, can he ^^^^ "f t0 any part of the United States, Canadas, South America, or West Indies, &c.

A LL Lkttkhs must enclose a fee, and are addressed to JOSEPH RALPH, M.D. Box 869 P. 0., N. Y. City. (The name may be omitted if preferred.)

Offices, 6*3 Houston -Street, near Wooster, N. Y. City.

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At Home till One and after Sit O'clock, (Sunday excepted.) Patients Tisited at their Hotel if necessary.

PRACTICAL TREATISE.

Chapter I

On Gonorrhcea. — Its Nature, Symptoms, Progress and Consequences.

The first thing to know on this subject, is, that Gonorrhoea and Venereal Disease are two distinct and very different disorders. A person having Gonorrhoea, for instance, cannot give another the Venereal disease ; nor can one having Venereal Disease give to another the Gonorrhcea. Neither, again, can a Gonorrhoea change into the Venereal, nor Venereal into the Gonorrhoea Both diseases, however, may perchance exist in one and the same person, and then, both may be communicated at the same time, or one alone, just as it may happen. Hut the thing to be remembered is, that they are two di i :~ find diseases, and this is the more important, because, as I shall presently have to show, they require very different remedies and modes of cure.

I will now proceed to give a description of the first of these complaints — the Gonorrhoea — the one upon which we are now engaged, and this shall be done in words as few and as plain as possible, so that, by comparing it with the description of the Venereal, which shall imme diately follow, any one may see the difference between these two diseases in a moment.

Gonorrhoea, then, is an infectious disease ; it is seated in the urinary passage, from the orifice of which there issues a discharge of matter, attended, more or less, with pain and heat in making water. There is no outward sore or ulcer in Gonorrhoea; neither indeed is there any within the passage. If it were possible to take an inside view of the urinary passage, nothing would be seen there but redness and a little swelling, and the discharge, whether much or little, would be seen issuing from the red and swollen state of the membrane which lines it just as matter is sometimes seen issuing from an inflamed eye

Venereal Disease, on the contrary, is not seated in the urinary passage, but externally, on some part or other of the penis or genital organs, and consists in one or more little ulcers or sores, which do not heal like others, but continue unhealed, and, at length assume a peculiar character.

Gonorrhoea, then, consists in a discharge from the urinary passage, attended, more or less, with pain and heat in making water, without ulceration or sores ; whereas Venereal Disease consists in external ulceration or sores, without discharge from the urinary passage, and without pain or heat in making water. No one, it is presumed, after this can possibly mistake these two diseases, and it will therefore now be proper to describe particularly how a Gonorrhoea commences and proceeds.

But before entering upon a particular history of this disease, it is desirable to say a word or two respecting the time when a Gonorrhoea first appears after an exposure to it; for many persons wrong themselves with dread and apprehension long after there is the least occasion for it ; To the question then so often put, — When may 1 consider I am safe? I reply, after the seventh day, if none of the symptoms presently to be mentioned should appear, you may consider you have escaped, — that you are safe. It is true there is some difference in the time of its appearing in different individuals. Some have said, for instance, they have known it to appear in twenty-four hours, and others that it has ! ^een delayed for ten or even fourteen days. I very r^uch doubt, however, whether it ever appears at this early period. Instances of this kind which have occurred to me, have always proved to be cases of Stricture, not of Gonorrhoea, the discharge being the immediate consequences of an irritation of the pre-existing disease ; while those delayed for fourteen days are very rare. I never met with one myself, though such are occasionally related to me. By far the most common period is the third day. The seventh is the longest I have ever met with, and it is on the ground of this experience I venture now to say that, whoever has passed the seventh day without any of the symptoms presently to be mentioned, may consider he is safe — that he has escaped — however suspicious the party may have been. This much then as to the time when a Gonorrhoea begins, and now as to its manner of beginning.

A person having been exposed to this infectious malady, at some period within seven days, if he should have taken the disorder (which we will suppose to be the first attack) will feel a little pain and heat in making water. This leads him to make an examination, when he will find the orifice of the urinary passage looks a little redder than usual, its lips rather pouting or swollen, and on squeezing it, an uncommon dampness or thin mucus will be seen. In the course of a few hours, or by the next day, the pain and heat in making water will have increased, the discharge also increased and of a purulent or white creamy appearance. For some days these symptoms go on increasing in severity, the matter becoming of a yellowish color. Sometimes the pain and heat in making water will be exceedingly great, amounting to a sensation of absolute scalding: at this time the discharge generally turns to a greenish color, and instead of being about as thick as cream, is thin and watery. Under these circumstances there is also a painful sensation along the whole length of the urinary passage, and the penis swells and is subject to attacks of frequent and very painful erection.

A Gonorrhoea always begins with pain and inflammation, more or less, which, after a little while, abates or subsides entirely. In speaking of a Gonorrhoea, therefore, we call the beginning of it, its Inflammatory Stage. But the degree of pain and inflammation at the beginning of Gonorrhoea, differs exceedingly in different persons; some will have so little as scarcely to complain at all, while others suffer most severely ; as a general rule, however, the oftener it is had, the less inflammatory is its attack, so that, those who have had Gonorrhoea several times may experience actually no pain at all, the only notice of its existence being the appearance of the matter on the clothes; but, in every case, after a time, this inflammation subsides, whether anything is done for it or not. Persons (coming from some of the advertising quacks) will often say, "but the stuff they gave me removed the burning pain," when, in fact it has nothing at all to do with it ; for unless the heating things they generally give increase the burning pain, it subsides itself, spontaneously This then is the first or Inflammatory Stage.

The seat of Gonorrhoea, at its commencement, is just within the orifice of the urinary passage, this necessarily being the part that first comes in contact with the infectious matter — that first receives the inoculation. But the disease is not long confined to this spot, its tendency is to progress further and further along the urinary canal until it reaches to very near its other end, and there it settles down. How long a time it may occupy in its progress through the urinary canal, is uncertain, and differs in different individuals and under different circumstances of constitution, mode of life, &c. The painful inflammatory symptoms however, seem principally to attend the invasion of the disease, and, most of all, its effect upon the first portion of the passage ; when these are subsided, at any rate, we may consider it has advanced to its ordinary distance.

After a long time then, or, if there has been much pam, after this has subsided, another stage of the disease commences. This stage consists simply of an infectious discharge issuing from the orifice of the penis, with little or no pain. This discharge is more or less in quantity in different persons, and is much increased by whatever may excite, or by irregularities of any kind. This, especially when the discharge is slight and quite unattended with pain, is what is properly called " Gleet," (see Chapter vi.), and, when once suffered to commence, there is no exactly telling how long it may continue, or how it is to terminate ; but let it ever be remembered, that, as long as this discharge continues, the disease may be communicated by infection. This, then, is the Second or Chronic Stage of Gonorrhoea.

But thus far I have spoken of a Gonorrhoea in its simple form, and have mentioned those symptoms only which are essential to it, and which are never absent from it; there are however other symptoms which are only sometimes present, which may or may not exist, but which, when they do occur (and some of them generally do) form the severest part of the complaint and call for immediate and peculiar remedies. In fact, it is for the want of knowing something of the nature of these accidental symptoms, that Gonorrhoea assumes its most distressing character, and leads to the worst consequences. Those circumstances which may or may not occur in Gonorrhoea, and are called accidental symptoms, are the following : a swelling of the prepuce or foreskin ; — swelling of t&e glands in the groin ; — very painful erections of the penis ; — and swelling of the testicles. The nature of these therefore is now to be explained, but the particular mode of treating them will be given in another Chapter, (in). First, then of

Swelling of the Prepuce or Foreskin.

This is the effect of inflammation, which a full and irritable disposition or irregularity of habits gives rise to. The structure of the skin which covers the head of the penis (the prepuce) is very loose and cellular, so that when the inflammation happens to be high, this structure fills with the thin and colorless part of the blood which causes it to swell.

Sometimes the skin is swollen amazingly, and looks of a bluish white color, being half transparent, and is very apt to create alarm. Indeed, there is sometimes reason for alarm, for when this swelling is considerable, the skin cannot be pushed back over the penis, or, if pushed back it cannot be brought forward again, so as to cover it Now, there is not so much danger in this swelling itself, as in the consequences of it; for if the skin cannot be pushed back, the matter under it accumulates and becomes acrid and irritating, and you cannot avail yourself of cleanlinesss, which is always of importance. And, on the other hand, if you cannot bring the prepuce forward, it produces danger by acting as though a string were tied around the head of the penis, preventing the return of the blood, so that it swells prodigiously, looks blackish, and sometimes even mortifies and comes away. This, however, can always be prevented by proper management, which will be shown as I have already said, in a following chapter. It is called a Phymosis when the skin cannot be drawn back from over the gland, or head of the penis, as in the former instance ; and a Paraphymosis when, being back, it cannot be brought forward again over the gland.

Swelling of the Glands in the Groin.

This also is the result of inflammation, spreading to the glandular bodies situated in the groin. In every part of the body there are certain little vessels called absorbents; and these, in their course, run through absorbent glands, of which there are several in each groin. Now it happens that inflammation in the urinary passage is communicated through the medium of these vessels to the glands in the groin, which become painful and enlarged in consequence. It is however worthy of remark, that in Gonorrhoea, glandular swellings seldom go on to form an actual bubo (which is an abscess in the groin) as they are apt to do in Venereal Disease, so that they are comparatively innocent; after a little time they generally subside and disappear, (see plate 3). Another of these occasional symptoms is

Frequent and very painful Erections of the Penis. This is a distressing and tedious symptom, the nature of which I will endeavor to explain ; — in fact it is nothing more than inflammation extending from the lining membrane of the urinary passage into the substance and body of the penis ; and it seldom occurs unless the inflammation runs high. The structure of the penis is remarkable, (see plate 1). It is made up of large cells, into w r hich the blood is determined under certain circumstances of excitement, and when these are filled, the penis is erect. Now the effect of the inflammation having passed into the walls or substance of the urinary passage, and into this cellular tissue, is to deprive these parts of their natural elastic, yielding nature ; they become thickened, tense, unyielding, so that when the blood rushes in, as we know it does under sexual and other kind of excitement, producing enlargement and elongation of the penis, these

EXPLANATION OF PLATE I.

Figure 1. A transverse section of the penis, exposing its internal Cellular or Spongy Structure, and the bloodvessels ramifying through it ; this is called an Erectile tissue. Erection of the penis takes place by the filling up of this spongy texture with blood which for a time is retained in it. It is seen that the spongy structure is in two separate masses, and forms the bulk of the body of the penis. The three or four small holes above are the blood-vessels running along the back of the penis ; — the larger hole underneath is the urinary passage — which is observed to have another spongy texture surrounding itse 1 separately. The inner lining skin of the passage (th, seat of Gonorrhoea, &c.) is seen thrown into longitudinal folds, which enables it to expand or open when the urine passes, or when its spongy tissue is expanded during erection. This is generally the seat of pain in Chordee.