15.  COFFEE.—­Coffee drank excessively causes a debilitating effect upon the sexual organs.  The moderate use of coffee can be recommended, yet an excessive habit of drinking very strong coffee will sometimes wholly destroy vitality.

16.  TOBACCO.—­It is a hygienic and physiological fact that tobacco produces sexual debility and those who suffer any weakness on that source should carefully avoid the weed in all its forms.

17.  DRUGS WHICH STIMULATE DESIRE.—­There are certain medicines which act locally on the membranes and organs of the male, and the papers are full of advertisements of “Lost Manhood Restored”, etc., but in every case they are worthless or dangerous drugs and certain to lead to some painful malady or death.  All these patent medicines should be carefully avoided.  People who are troubled with any of these ailments should not attempt to doctor themselves by taking drugs, but a competent physician should be consulted.  Eating rye, corn, or graham bread, oatmeal, cracked wheat, plenty of fruit, etc. is a splendid medicine.  If that is not sufficient, then a physician should be consulted.

18.  DRUGS WHICH MODERATE DESIRE.—­Among one of the most common domestic remedies is camphor.  This has stood the test for ages.  Small doses or half a grain in most instances diminishes the sensibility of the organs of sex.  In some cases it produces irritation of the bladder.  In that case it should be at once discontinued.  On the whole a physician had better be consulted.  The safest drug among domestic remedies is a strong tea made out of hops.  Saltpeter, or nitrate of potash, taken in moderate quantities are very good remedies.

[Illustration]

19.  STRICTLY SPEAKING there is a distinction made between; impotence and sterility. Impotence is a loss of power to engage in the sexual act and is common to men.  It may be imperfection in the male organ or a lack of sufficient sexual vigor to produce and maintain erection. Sterility is a total loss of capacity in the reproduction of the species, and is common to women.

There are, however, very few causes of barrenness that cannot be removed when the patient is perfectly developed.  Sterility, in a female, most frequently depends upon a weakness or irritability either in the ovaries or the womb, and anything having a strengthening effect upon either organ will remove the disability. (See page 249.)

20.  “OVER-INDULGENCE in intercourse,” says Dr. Hoff, “is sometimes the cause of barrenness; this is usually puzzling to the interested parties, inasmuch as the practices which, in their opinion, should be the source of a numerous progeny, have the very opposite effect.  By greatly moderating their ardor, this defect may be remedied.”