If the sleep be very profound, pollution may take place without the consciousness of the patient, or, at any rate, without his remembrance of it. When he wakes, the loss of semen is then discovered only by its stain, and the state of fatigue, weakness, and malaise attending it. A lascivious dream, however, generally attends a pollution. These dreams are not, as is generally thought, the cause of the pollution: if they exist, it is because the venereal sense, which is excited, speaks for itself, even as hunger, thirst, or any internal sensation may do. These dreams have a peculiar character, which has been pointed out by many writers. The individual is rarely placed in voluptuous circumstances, where his imagination places him during his waking hours; but he is surrounded by females who are hideous and repelling, and whom he is as it were compelled to enjoy.
In fact, these pollutions fatigue more than those which are excited voluntarily. On rising, the patient experiences a general and more or less distinct feeling of feebleness and of suffering. His loins and limbs seem as if he had taken a long walk, or as if they had been bruised; the countenance is pale; the eyelids are swelled and bluish; the patient is sad and stupid. Finally, he presents physically and morally the consequences of an abuse of venery. It may readily be imagined, that the periods of spermatorrhœa render the exhaustion more rapid than the voluntary excesses already commenced. If, contrary to custom, the onanist remains one night without pollution, the organs which he permits to rest supply the unaccustomed activity. Happy is he, when these symptoms do not seem to him an evidence that this flow of semen is necessary. Every thing which specially excites the genital organs, as lascivious thoughts, voluptuous sights, riding, a soft and warm bed, &c., and also every thing which produces a more general excitement, in which these organs participate, as wine, liquors, coffee, spices, &c.; are so many causes which combine with the direct provocations of the patient, to multiply the causes by which he is excited.
The nocturnal pollutions, however, are not formidable to those onanists who are reformed. Inspired by the sentiment of self-preservation, warned by the sufferings, counsels, and by reading, they have resolved to abandon for ever the manœuvres which they know to be dangerous. This resolution they will be able to keep: they, however, anxiously demand if they are not too late. The genital organs rebel against the decision. How melancholy must be the state of the patient! He sees, in perspective, sufferings, even a death, which seems to be inevitable. To avoid it, he had made a sacrifice; he has abandoned those tastes which exercised such absolute control over him: but his organs, which have been irritated, continue the work which he wished to interrupt. He is irritated--he despairs. Let him be of good cheer; when the will perseveres, it generally triumphs. I attended an onanist, who was suddenly converted by reading the work of Tissot, and who experienced all the troubles to which we have alluded. He was constantly tormented by the remembrance of the past night, and the fear of that which was to come. He slept on a coarse bed; and always enveloped the privy parts with linen, wet with vinegar and water, before going to sleep; promising himself to awake, as soon as he was assailed by dreams. By his will, however, he finally succeeded; and he had the power of watching himself during sleep. His pollutions gradually became less frequent, and finally disappeared entirely. This is generally the case where all bad habits cease.