Such grave facts are brought to the knowledge of the family physician, and he has but to listen to find out all: he has only a few questions to put, and the case is before him. No indecency to be indulged in: such cases must be conducted with the strictest sense of honor and decorum, or the bond of confidence and trust will be immediately forfeited. _Continence_, while in itself not an abuse, in any manner, of the sexual organs, yet is a fruitful source of disease. The erotic male may contract troublesome disease, both local and general, by too close proximity with a voluptuous female; and why not as much a cause of disease in the female? It is the condition so commonly caused by the affectionate and chaste embraces of parties “engaged to be married.” When this condition exists the marriage ceremony had better be consummated as soon as possible, or injury may come to both parties. The case of a young married couple, lately under observation, is instructive. The wife was stricken with paralysis, from which she was eight months in recovering. During her illness she became much reduced in flesh and will. She recovered in flesh, but remained very neurasthenic for many months. I made use of all methods of treatment by drugs and electricity. I could detect no organic trouble. When interrogating the husband, I ascertained that they had, through fear of doing injury to the wife, remained continent, and, being too modest, had not consulted the family physician on this very delicate subject. I immediately advised sexual congress freely, and the neurasthenia gradually disappeared. She has since remained in perfect health. She was afflicted, as she supposed, with all manner of diseases. She was often too feeble to walk, and required assistance or a cane, to walk across the room. She was irritable and fretful, often crying, and no reason could be given for any trouble, as she was provided with everything asked for. It may seem a venturesome advice to render, yet I can but urge the natural use of the sexual organs when there is a strong erotic excitement, following a long period of continence, when this desire is not a morbid one; which is likely to be the case only in the depraved, after long abuses. Were it not for mistakes so commonly made by individuals in selecting such imperfect and inadaptable mates, the very poetical words of the old maids and bachelors, “_single blessedness_,” might better read, “_single cursedness_.” With the chances as they now are, it is an important question, whether it is more advisable for a maiden lady to marry or to remain continent and pine.