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This formidable disease may be properly reckoned as one of the disorders of the external parts, since its principal seat is in the vulva, nymphæ and clitoris, -- although these organs may only be thus affected in consequence of some morbid condition of those more interior. Nymphomania consists in an uncontrollable passion for sexual intercourse, which overcomes
all the restraints of modesty, propriety and decency, and amounts to an actual insanity or monomania on this single subject of sexual intercourse. Taking its rise in functional disorders of the sexual system, or in more general morbid constitutional influences, which are thus ultimated upon the external generative organs, this disease changes the entire moral character from the most attractive modesty to the most shameless and repulsive profligacy; and it may lead to paroxysms whose violence rapidly exhausts the vital energies, and which terminate only in death.
Nymphomania is to be distinguished from erotomania. The former is a purely sensual passion, alike physical in its origin, in its local influence, in its development and in its much desired forms of gratification. The latter, although still to be considered sensual in a strictly moral point of view; from a physical point of view would seem rather spiritual, --as neither requiring sensual means of gratification nor dependent upon physical ability. Erotomania is a physical state, which may find its highest if not its only gratification in the reveries and dreams of amorous imagination and fancy, by day or by night. Nymphomania is a physical disease whose progress may be traced through a period of internal incubation, of external, reluctant and partially restrained development, to a final condition of open, unrestrained manifestation; characterized by a most intense, all-controlling sexual desire, and by an equal unconsciousness of shame and of decency.
Without directly mentioning nymphomania, Hahnemann seems to have had it in his mind, when he says:
"It is not until the whole of the organism is infected that psora discloses its huge internal chronic miasm, by a cutaneous eruption (sometimes consisting only in a few pimples) that is wholly peculiar to it, accompanied by insupportable tickling, voluptuous itching, and a specific odor."
This disease has repeatedly appeared in strongly marked cases where there was one constant characteristic of the temperament of constitution; and that was "an unusual susceptibility of the skin to tettery affections." In these cases the disorder is so profoundly connected with the entire system, that it induces paroxysms of convulsions, which indicate that the entire cerebro-spinal nervous center is involved. The actual monomania, with entire obliteration of all feeling of modesty or sense of shame, and unconsciousness of all the duties and proprieties arising from the domestic relation, indicates also an equally complete subjection of the purely cerebral functions and moral feelings to the same morbid influence. While the spasmodic closure of the œsophagus, and impossibility of deglutition and consequent destruction of organic life, show also that the same disease has possessed itself of the organic nervous center—and so completely invested "the whole of the organism." The "insupportable tickling and voluptuous itching" can be no more violently manifested than in the pruritus so frequently seen in cases of nymphomania; and the same may be said also of "the specific odor," which, like that of goats, often emanates from the genitals or from the entire person in such cases.
True nymphomania may be considered, therefore, as a most remarkable illustration of the psoric diathesis,-- as a most astonishing proof of the truth of the psoric principle. For if we observe this malady to arise from the more immediate influence of ascarides or onanism, these latter are but intermediate steps in the chain of causation,--being themselves the results of the same psoric influence in the system. The same may be said of the enlarged, hypertrophic condition of the clitoris so often seen in connection with this disease. The nymphomania is more apt to make its appearance at either one or the other of those two epochs of the female life, in which the constitution is stirred up as it were in its profoundest depths,-- that is, at the accession of puberty, or on the cessation of the menses,-- but more particularly at the former of these two periods. And in addition to the influences already mentioned as constitutional or provoking causes,-- and which will thus exert an important influence in determining the choice of the remedy,-- we may mention: suppression or great disturbance of the menstrual function, and organic diseases of the uterus.
But in both of these, as in the other causative influences, the psoric diathesis is still predominant. For it is from the presence of such deep-seated, morbid influence, hereditarily implanted in the organic nervous system,-- the source and support of all organic or vegetative life,--that the menses fail to make their appearance in due proportion and at the proper time. So the outset of any organic disease must be attributed to the same ultimate cause.
But in prescribing for this truly distress in complaint, the various attendant symptoms, as well as the peculiar constitutional indications must be carefully considered;--it will not be necessary to enumerate here all the varied symptoms, and morbid moral, mental and physical conditions which may accompany a case of nymphomania. As in hysteria,--and in fact what is this disease itself but a most violently aggravated hysterical affection, or morbid excitement of the entire sexual system of the female,--so in nymphomania, an endless succession and variety of symptoms may present. There may be leucorrhœa of more or less peculiar kind; pruritus of the external organs; intense lasciviousness, both spiritual and physical; inflammation and excitation of the sexual parts; fever, with fetid breath; nocturnal restlessness; sleep, with dreams which renew the sexual excitement; paroxysms, with spasmodic closure of the œsophagus; general and exhaustive convulsions; diarrhœa, etc. And these attacks and symptoms of the disease may appear in consequence of onanism, or be attended with irresistible disposition to it; they may accompany menstruation; or appear in its absence; and finally, may be relieved or brought on by pregnancy. We have devoted considerable space to this not very frequent form of disease, because the homœopathic remedies,--as in the somewhat analogous case of delirium tremens,-- have been found capable of producing the most salutary results and thus of saving from destruction and of restoring to society some of its most valuable and important members. And the indications given for the remedies may be useful also, in the milder and more common forms of amorousness and erotomania, for the relief of which the physician is often consulted. |
