in bed in this restless state,
she accidentally found, on passing her hand over her body, that,
by playing with "a round thing" [clitoris] a pleasurable feeling
was produced. She found herself greatly relieved and quieted by
these manipulations, though there remained a feeling of tiredness
afterward. She has sometimes masturbated six times in a night,
especially before and after the menstrual period, until she was
unable to produce the orgasm or any feeling of pleasure.

OBSERVATION II.--Unmarried, aged 45, of rather nervous
temperament. She has for many years been accustomed, usually
about a week before the appearance of the menses, to obtain
sexual relief by kicking out her legs when lying down. In this
way, she says, she obtains complete satisfaction. She never
touches herself. On the following day she frequently has pains
over the lower part of the abdomen, such pains being apparently
muscular and due to the exertion.

OBSERVATION III.--Aged 29, recently married, belonging to a
neurotic and morbid family, herself healthy, and living usually
in the country; vivacious, passionate, enthusiastic,
intellectual, and taking a prominent part in philanthropic
schemes and municipal affairs; at the same time, fond of society,
and very attractive to men. For many years she had been
accustomed to excite herself, though she felt it was not good for
her. The habit was merely practiced _faute de mieux_. "I used to
sit on the edge of the bed sometimes," she said, "and it came
over me so strongly that I simply couldn't resist it. I felt that
I should go mad, and I thought it was better to touch myself than
be insane.... I used to press my clitoris in.... It made me very
tired afterward--not like being with my husband." The confession
was made from a conviction of the importance of the subject, and
with the hope that some way might be found out of the
difficulties which so often beset women.

OBSERVATION IV.--Unmarried, aged 27; possesses much force of
character and high intelligence; is actively engaged in a
professional career. As a child of seven or eight she began to
experience what she describes as lightning-like sensations,
"mere, vague, uneasy feelings or momentary twitches, which took
place alike in the vulva or the vagina or the uterus, not
amounting to an orgasm and nothi