The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-03-30
Mankaf0, Tues, April 10, Saulpa1gh Hotel,
LECTURE TO MEN.
NERVOUS DEBILITY.
A plain talk on a vital subject.

NERVOUS Debility and Neurasthenia
IN are terms used to define a physical
condition characterized by lack of vitality,
energy and nerve strength. In fact, the
condition may well be defined as nervous
exhaustion or decay. Thus understood
there is something tangible for medical
skill to consider from an intelligent stand
point. The causes of the trouble are many,
including intemperance or excess of any
kind, whether in drink, overwork, mental
application, anxieties or unnatural indul
gences. BY far the most common cause
OF this destructive malady is sexual exhaus-
ton brought on by abusing and overtaxing
the generative organs. Nature hassno for
giveness for the sins committed against her
noblest gift, the faculty of procreation,
which should be mans most pleasurable
as well as his highest physical endowment
Ignorance of Natures laws excuses no
one, and dire and terrible is the vengeance
she exacts in later life for the self abuse or
excess committed in the rash hours of
youthful vigor. Few persons are aware of
the extent to which the vicious habits of
self indulgence, thoughtlessly contracted
in youth, prevails among the young of
both sexes. The observation of compe
tent physicians leads to the inference that
abuses of the organs of generation is ac-
countable for the vast majority of cases of
Nervous Debility and the long train of dis
orders incident to that disease of error. 1t
has been well said by DR.. Adams Clark
that sit is one of the most destructive vices
practiced by fallen man." Mind as well
as body In time becomes affected and in
deed large number of the cases of disease
of the heart, lungs, stomach, kidneys and
nervous system, including the brain, have
their origin in the general debilated condi-
ton and consequent lack of resistance to
disease, incident to the unnatural drain up
on the system. In extreme cases Nervous
Debility is frequently the cause of Imbecili-
ty and Insanity, and it is asserted that over
.one-half of the inmates of the hospitals for
the insane are victims of improper sexual
indulgence. Another cause of Nervous De-
bility, which may not be lost sight of, is
the excessive indulgence of the generative
function. This is not unusual among men
who otherwise lead blameless lives and
who are sober, discreet, loyal husbands,
free from the contamination of dissolute
people; exulting in their own virility they
do not stop to think that their indulgence
is excessive, that this excess is burden
under which the nervous system breaks
down. The sexual passion may do mis-
chief by repression as we'll as inordinate
indulgence; just as steel blade will cor
rode by inactivity more quickly than it
wears out by legitimate use. The result
in either case is decay and destruction, for
in the case of the physical life it is just as
natural that the sexes should unite in mar
rage at maturity as the trees should bear
fruit or flowers exhale their fragrance, and
total denial of the pleasures of procre-
alton may tend to the same evil effects as a
course of downright debauchery in the I'M
married or the abuse of the generative or
gans In youth or by excuses in the marital
state, all alike being in contravention of
the purposes of nature and the will of
mans Creator.
Another disease which is closely allied
to Nervous Debility is Spermatorrhea or
involuntary losses of vital fluid. The los
ses occur because of weakened condition
of the muscles whose duty it is to contract
firmly upon the glands which secrete the
fluid and which should hold it firmly until
in response to physiological relief. The
secretion consists of most vital fluids of
the human body. Its waste is wanton
expenditure which robs the blood of its
richness and exhausts the body of its ami
mating powers. No wonder that its loss
enfeebles the constitution and results in
premature decline. st. Vitus' dance. par
alysis, epilepsy, consumption, softening of
the brain, insanity or impotency.
"Secret vice and secret folly,
Rule and mind with Stubborn sway,
Fill the soul with melancholy
And terminate quick decay"
The practices and habits which cause
these unfortunate conditions are generally
commenced about the age of puberty be-
fore the unfortunate victim has learned to
distinguish between the use and abuse of
the generative organs. 1t is most unfor-
tunate that parents do not inform their
children of the proper use and to avoid the