Where the complaint is of longer continuance, exercise in the open air and the use of cold baths is to be recommended, which latter _Celsus_[324] it appears prefers to see resorted to, as well as cold aspersions, almost at the very commencement; a mode of treatment that is even now coming into fashion again among ourselves, as the water-cure mania makes further and further progress. _Galen_[325] recommended, besides diet and medicine, that with a view to retarding the preparation of semen, gymnastic exercises, particularly such as bring the upper part of the body into activity, e. g. ball-playing both with great and little balls and the casting of leaden disks, be resorted to. After bathing, patients must rub and wash over the hips with desiccative ointments, oil expressed from red, coarse olives, roses or quinces, wax-salves with the juices of _sempervivum_ (evergreen house-leek), _solanum_ (nightshade), _umbilicus Veneris_ (navelwort), _portulaca_ (purslain), linseed boiled in water, etc. I once saw, he says, the Intendant of a Gymnasium Athletes lay a leaden disk on the lumbar region of an athlete as a measure against nocturnal pollution,—a means _Caelius Aurelianus_ prescribed _also_ for gonorrhœal patients,—and afterwards recommended the same treatment to another sufferer from these, who was thankful for the advice. Others again found lying on the _agnus castus_ beneficial to them, as well as the taking of its juice along with rue. Violently active refrigerants in the form of ointments, prepared from poppy and _atropa mandragora_ should not be employed, and this equally applies to sleeping on these plants when they are in bloom, for they act injuriously on the kidneys. On the other hand sleeping on roses was advantageous,—Caelius Aurelianus added to the list the leaves and flowers of _vitex_ (agnus castus, Abraham’s balm). “Besides these I have excogitated many other specifics for patients of the sort, and found their utility confirmed in practice. For instance those afflicted with such a condition of body should pay particular attention to this. When the accumulation of semen that has to be ejaculated is at its greatest, they should during the day take a nourishing yet moderate meal, and then when they lie down to sleep accomplish sexual intercourse.[326] But on the following day, after taking their fill of sleep, they should on rising chafe themselves till the skin is reddened. Next they should rub the body all over with oil; then soon after take some well-leavened, pure bread, baked in the baking-pan, and mixed with wine, after which they may then go about their customary business. Between the rubbing with oil and the meal of bread patients may go for a walk, if there is a spot convenient for the purpose in the neighbourhood, _except in the colder time of the year, for at that season it is better for them to stay indoors_.”