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Having often experienced your friendship
I am almost ashamed to put it any more to the trial. I
must however have recourse to it once more, & that too in a
matter which I dont know how to mention, & in which it
is perhaps highly indelicate to request you to appear. But
as there is no other person whom I would choose to intrust with
a circumstance which I would wish to bury in silence, I
hope you will not only forgive me, but, if you think you
can do it with propriety, get me the advice which I want.

Without attempting to excuse myself, which now would be
to little purpose, the matter is shortly this: When I was
about seventeen I was taught by a companion somewhat
older than myself, the practice of self pollution, which
I unfortunately continued with little interruption for
about ten years. It was not till the three last years
that I felt any inconveniency attending it. At this time
I observed one morning my left testicle considerably
swelled, & it was attended with a good deal of pain;
but accidentally taking a ride that on the following

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day the swelling went off & the pain ceased. Continuing the
practice however the pain soon returned, but without the swelling,
& I was still so foolish as to disregard it, till it became so
violent at best, that I found it absolutely necessary to dis¬
continue the practice, which I did at first by degrees;
& in a short time altogether; so that for almost three
years I have never thought of it. In consequence of this
I soon found the pain abate, but I am not quite free
of it. I am very often perfectly easy; but at times it returns
& gives me considerable pain. I feel an kind of burning
heat ↑in it↑ & at the same time the testicle is so sore that I
cannot touch it. I cannot with certainty mention any
thing as a cause of bringing it on. I have sometimes
thought I felt a heat after drinking punch; & sometimes
in consequence of an emission in Sleep. The reason
why the pain is chiefly in the left testicle, I can account
for in no other way, but that the left hand was most
commonly used. In the right testicle there is now & then
a small degree of heat, but not so as to create much
uneasiness. I am very sensible of a great weakness in
the parts of generation, which I suppose it will be im¬
possible, at least very difficult to cure. There is one cir¬
cumstance, which I should wish to have remedied, if

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it can be done; which is a too ready emission without
any provocative. It often happens in consequence of an
erection; & much more [ad leborium contactum?]. My
health in other respects is good. I have no want of appe¬
tite, & I sleep well. It may perhaps be proper to mention
that I never feel any pain in the above mentioned part
when I am in a sweat; at least it greatly abates it.

What I would wish you to do, tho I must again express
my doubts of the propriety of ↑asking↑ it, is to consult one of the
ablest Physicians in Edinburgh & lay my case before him.
His directions I shall implicitly follow. - If I have not
been particular enough in the above account, you may
write me what other information the Physician wants,
& I shall give it you. I remain

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✍

Case of Y.Z
Nocturnal Emissions-
May. 1777
Vol.VII. p.29