We have seen this affection, more frequently than any other, resulting from onanism. Among other instances, we would mention that of a young man, who died in 1833. This young man sustained himself so well in public debate, that he was placed, at the expense of government, in a public school. He was then sixteen years old; and his health, which had previously been good, now failed. He became pale, languished, and grew thin; and this, too, although his appetite was keen, and his digestion excellent. Having my suspicions, and having communicated them to the patient, and also to other persons who could enlighten me, we were led to believe, from the answers made to me, that the too rapid growth of the body was the only cause of the state presented by the patient; and his state varied so little from that of health, that the young man assured me that he was very well. I therefore simply directed him to take more exercise, and to be more free in his diet. His loss of flesh, however, and paleness continuing, his parents felt anxious about him. I examined his organs separately: I could find none presenting any marks of disease, or which could explain the general state of the patient. My first suspicions then returned; but on questioning him, the same answers were given. The patient, who had already seen an instance of the bad effects of onanism, in the person of his younger brother, seemed deeply impressed with the danger of his habit. He, however, continued to lose strength. One day, after taking more violent exercise than usual, he fainted away. At the same time, a dry cough supervened, to which the patient at first did not attend. This was the first symptom indicating an affection of any particular organ. This cough soon became more frequent; and, by means of auscultation, we found that the respiration, at the summit of one of the lungs, was imperfect. At this time, the patient avowed to his father his deplorable habit. This had been contracted at school; it had been indulged in for two years; and of late, much more frequently than before. His danger was fully pointed out to him; parents, friends, physicians, all conjured him to abandon this secret vice. Treatises on onanism were placed in his hands; and every attempt was made to arouse in him the feeling of self-preservation. He was terrified; but the power of the habit was so great, that he did not leave it off till consumption had progressed very far. Deep abscesses successively formed in his lungs; the expectoration soon became purulent and excessive. Night sweats and diarrhœa followed; and the patient died in a terrible state of marasmus and exhaustion.