_Treatment._――The treatment of spermatorrhœa, with its associate phenomena, demands careful investigation of the lesions and conditions of every case. The results and character of lesions are so varied that often a diagnosis as to condition is not an easy task. To know that spermatorrhœa exists is but a small part of the diagnosis necessary to arrange a treatment that may rationally result in benefit. As has been shown, seminal losses may exist when opposite conditions are present; and only can benefit be rationally expected from equally opposite methods of treatment. Any physician of experience has, and always will have, much difficulty in treating and controlling these cases, as they are hard to manage when even doing well, and only an intelligent and positive course can succeed in managing them during any great length of time.
A positive code of government, rigidly followed, is indispensable; as well as perfect confidence in the managing physician.
The nasty drugs of our old-fashioned materia medica will not cure these cases The bringing about so-called tonicity, by tonics and nervines, only needs to be tested for a short period to convince any practical physician how useless is such a procedure, and how soon his patient will find another attendant. Drugs are often useful but bad ones, selected for a tonic principle _only_, will as often do harm. Only with a definite object in view, should we expect to accomplish such changes as can result in positive relief. The list of nasty tonics for indefinite purposes, or such as “have been used in such cases,” the author has resolved not to, in any manner, refer to, and at no time will he direct an agent or combination of drugs on so-called “general principles,” but with definite expectations only.
_Spinal Congestion._――The group of manifestations pointing to spinal congestion will first receive attention. The remedies are bromide potassium, bromide ammonium, ergot and belladonna, with electricity.
These are selected also with reference to conditions only; yet the reader can evidently see that their ultimate effects are aimed at, as all of this list of agents affect the calibres of capillary blood-vessels; therefore, the engorged spinal vessels are unloaded by contraction, perhaps, of capillary _parietes_.