To prevent the development of the habit, and, when it is developed, to arrest it, are the two indications prescribed by hygeia. These two indications may be embraced in one--that of _preventing_ the occurrence of onanism. If, for instance, you have before you the case of two individuals, one of whom is not addicted to onanism, while the other may be, you should _prevent_ one from continuing, and the other from commencing it. In the two cases, the means used have the same tendency; only when you wish to prevent the habit commenced, you have need of more efforts than in the first case, where it does not exist. These means are, then, preventive--essentially preventive; for, whatever may be their mode of action, they all tend to prevent the act. Although the prevention of onanism, and the arrest of the habit, are apparently different, yet we shall state the mode of attaining this double result, to avoid repetitions. In masturbation, we must consider three things--the desire, the will, and the power. Onanism is not possible, where these three conditions do not exist: there is no wish without desire; and the latter is often completely mastered by the former, and both present no result, if there be no possibility of indulging. Hence, to prevent masturbation, and to arrest it, the desire, the wish, the power to indulge, must not exist. These are, as it has been seen, three distinct indications. It is sufficient to attain one of them. It is easily seen, that by appeasing the desire, the will is aided; and the obstacles opposed would be more efficacious, the less vivid the desire, and the weaker the will. It is, therefore, sufficiently understood, that the three indications we have mentioned, although very distinct, require each of them special means, the attainment of one of which renders that of the others useless, while they all can and may be pursued conjointly. § 1. FIRST INDICATION. TO PREVENT THE OCCURRENCE OF THE DESIRE TO MASTURBATE, TO PREVENT ITS RETURN, AND TO ABRIDGE ITS POWER. The desire of masturbation is very distinct from venereal desires, which may be felt without experiencing the other. This desire is special: it is that of onanism, and no other. The influences, also--the result of which is more or less proximate, and which is to excite the genital sense--are only the _indirect_ and _predisposing_ causes of onanism. The direct and efficient causes are those which lead to the indulgence of it, and the preferring of it to coition. Consequently, two indications relate to the desire of masturbation: one consists in preventing the exaltation of the venereal sense, or in appeasing it; and the second, in preventing or destroying the special causes of the desire of onanism. We proceed to study these two indications in succession.