There was constant and imperious excitement, with the sense of vibration, tension, pressure, dilatation and tickling, accompanied, it may be, by some ovarian congestion, for she felt that on the left side there was a network of sexual nerves, and retroversion of the uterus was detected some years later.  Her life was strenuous with many duties, but no occupation could be pursued without this undercurrent of sexual hyperaesthesia involving perpetual self-control.  This continued more or less acutely for many years, when menstruation suddenly stopped altogether, much before the usual period of the climacteric.  At the same time the sexual excitement ceased, and she became calm, peaceful, and happy.  Diminished menstruation was associated with sexual excitement, but abundant menstruation and its complete absence were both accompanied by the relief of excitement.  This lasted for two years.  Then, for the treatment of a trifling degree of anaemia, she was subjected to a long, and, in her case, injudicious course of hypodermic injections of strychnia.  From that time, five years ago, up to the present, there has been constant sexual excitement, and she has always to be on guard lest she should be overtaken by a sexual spasm.  Her torture is increased by the fact that her traditions make it impossible for her (except under very exceptional circumstances) to allude to the cause of her sufferings.  “A woman is handicapped,” she writes.  “She may never speak to anyone on such a subject.  She must live her tragedy alone, smiling as much as she can under the strain of her terrible burden.”  To add to her trouble, two years ago, she felt impelled to resort to masturbation, and has done so about once a month since; this not only brings no real relief, and leaves irritability, wakefulness, and dark marks under the eyes, but is a cause of remorse to her, for she regards masturbation as entirely abnormal and unnatural.  She has tried to gain benefit, not merely by the usual methods of physical hygiene, but by suggestion, Christian Science, etc., but all in vain.  “I may say,” she writes, “that it is the most passionate desire of my heart to be freed from this bondage, that I may relax the terrible years-long tension of resistance, and be happy in my own way.  If I had this affliction once a month, once a week, even twice a week, to stand against it would be child’s play.  I should scorn to resort to unnatural means, however moderately.  But self-control itself has its revenges, and I sometimes feel as if it is no longer to be borne.”

Thus while it is an immense benefit in physical and psychic development if the eruption of the disturbing sexual emotions can be delayed until puberty or adolescence, and while it is a very great advantage, after that eruption has occurred, to be able to gain control of these emotions, to crush altogether the sexual nature would be a barren, if not, indeed, a perilous victory, bringing with it no satisfaction.  “If I