A Solemn Appeal - James White

"The sufferer from this vice becomes listless,
inattentive, indifferent. There is an inability to
concentrate the mind, or apply it with any degree
of vigor; want of interest in friends; loss of
selfcontrol; failure of memory, and difficulty of
conducting conversation. The reasoning is
disconnected, and oftentimes the mental powers
entirely fail; the victim becomes diffident, bashful,
and ashamed, and seldom looks people in the face.
His love of books is lost, history becomes a blank,
the glowing pages of romance charm no more, the
poet's spell hath lost its power, music's witchery is
dead, the beauties of art are passed unheeded by,
the loveliest landscape is but an arid desert, and
nature's most sublime endeavors fail to arouse the
soul of him who has long been contaminated by
this loathsome vice."
Effects of self-abuse upon children
"The habit of self-abuse is practiced amongst
girls, as well as boys. Previous to the age of
puberty, the effects are very similar in both sexes,
momentary excitement, followed by depression of
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