APPENDIX II. (Page 32)

The following sound advice on sexual physiology from theLancetshould be widely known:

‘Young men in their conflict with temptation to sexual advice often suffer under the disadvantage of receiving but little help from those to whom they ought to look for it with confidence. Few parents have the knowledge and the wisdom to tell their sons the most important truths about the sexual passion just at the time when it is becoming developed in them, and the latter are therefore left an easy prey to their strange desires, and to those “lewd fellows of the baser sort” who are always at hand to corrupt innocent youth.‘If it is true that to a very large extent parents are unmindful of one of their gravest responsibilities, it is no less true that the medical profession has often failed in its duty in connection with this subject. Medical writers and medical men generally are too often silent on this matter, and unfortunately, when the silence has been broken, it has not alwaysbeen with words of truth and soberness. We are constantly hearing and saying that “knowledge is power,” yet we find that little effort is made to impart the knowledge which would largely aid in preserving the virtue of the young, and the most pernicious teaching of those who for the lowest of reasons propagate error is left unnoticed.‘Knowledge alone will never make a people virtuous, but it is an invaluable aid to those who are striving to control their passions. Seeing, on all sides, the terrible physical, mental, and social havoc wrought by sexual vice, we feel that the medical profession should do its utmost to stem the evil, and, at any rate, should give utterance to the truth with no uncertain sound. What are the physiological facts that ought to be proclaimed by the medical profession? Mainly these. In the first place, that occasional involuntary emissions of semen during sleep, and often in association with libidinous dreams, are natural occurrences in unmarried continent men, and are neither the cause nor the consequence of disease. The emissions are most frequent between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five; they vary in frequency in different men, but are favoured by sedentary occupations and by lewd thoughts. The subjects of these emissions sometimes complain of various sensations of malaise, which they attribute to the depressing influence of these losses; but it is a striking fact that such symptoms are only met with in those who have an exaggerated or erroneous conception of the significance of the discharge, and that they quickly disappear whentheir real meaning and causation are understood. To regard such a physiological occurrence as a disease and name it “spermatorrhœa” is a very serious error.‘The second fact we wish to insist upon is that sexual continence does not beget impotence, and that the all-prevailing cause of impotence is prolonged sexual excess. In support of the opposite conclusion appeal has been made to analogy. It has been pointed out that unused muscles and bones waste, and therefore, it is urged, it must be true that continence will lead to impotence. Such argument is utterly fallacious, as are most arguments from analogy. Facts in abundance prove the contrary. Common as is sexual vice, continence is not unknown among us, and the truth of our statement is not difficult to verify. The real argument from analogy is drawn from the breast. This gland is generally inactive for many years after puberty, and yet, whenever the call for its activity arrives, it is more or less perfectly responded to. As a matter of fact, impotence does not depend upon the testicle, but upon the spinal cord; the sexual act is a physiological nerve-storm, and not simply an act of secretion. Loss of sexual potency is due to some fault in the nerves of the parts, or more commonly in the centre, in the spinal cord, which presides over this function. It is often a solitary nervous phenomenon, and by itself is not of grave import.‘The third physiological fact we ought to teach is that no function of the body is so influenced and controlled by the higher nerve-centres as the sexual.It is excited by lewd imaginings, loose talk, and sensuous scenes. It is set in motion by even accidental stimulus of any part of the nervous system affected by the sexual organism. Hence the difficulty of continence. On all sides are sights and sounds that may become the stimulus of sexual excitement. The other side of the picture is equally true. By the exercise of watchfulness and self-control the occasions of such excitement may be reduced to a minimum, and the passion may be subdued.‘Medical men are sometimes asked to formulate rules of diet and exercise—hygienic rules—by which immorality is to be banished. The task is altogether impracticable. Vice is voluntary, and it is only by the exercise of a resolute self-will that virtue is maintained.‘We cannot but believe that were these three very elementary but fundamental physiological truths properly presented and enforced upon young men very much misery would be avoided. Ignorance of them drives men into the clutches of ruthless charlatans, leaves them a prey to groundless fears, and often leads them into vicious habits from which they are unable to free themselves. To withhold such knowledge is in many cases to leave youths in ignorance of the one power by which they can successfully contend against the evil. We feel strongly the urgent importance of this matter, and hence we speak plainly, and hope that others, as they have opportunity, will do their best to help young men in their struggle against vice.’

‘If it is true that to a very large extent parents are unmindful of one of their gravest responsibilities, it is no less true that the medical profession has often failed in its duty in connection with this subject. Medical writers and medical men generally are too often silent on this matter, and unfortunately, when the silence has been broken, it has not alwaysbeen with words of truth and soberness. We are constantly hearing and saying that “knowledge is power,” yet we find that little effort is made to impart the knowledge which would largely aid in preserving the virtue of the young, and the most pernicious teaching of those who for the lowest of reasons propagate error is left unnoticed.

‘Knowledge alone will never make a people virtuous, but it is an invaluable aid to those who are striving to control their passions. Seeing, on all sides, the terrible physical, mental, and social havoc wrought by sexual vice, we feel that the medical profession should do its utmost to stem the evil, and, at any rate, should give utterance to the truth with no uncertain sound. What are the physiological facts that ought to be proclaimed by the medical profession? Mainly these. In the first place, that occasional involuntary emissions of semen during sleep, and often in association with libidinous dreams, are natural occurrences in unmarried continent men, and are neither the cause nor the consequence of disease. The emissions are most frequent between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five; they vary in frequency in different men, but are favoured by sedentary occupations and by lewd thoughts. The subjects of these emissions sometimes complain of various sensations of malaise, which they attribute to the depressing influence of these losses; but it is a striking fact that such symptoms are only met with in those who have an exaggerated or erroneous conception of the significance of the discharge, and that they quickly disappear whentheir real meaning and causation are understood. To regard such a physiological occurrence as a disease and name it “spermatorrhœa” is a very serious error.

‘The second fact we wish to insist upon is that sexual continence does not beget impotence, and that the all-prevailing cause of impotence is prolonged sexual excess. In support of the opposite conclusion appeal has been made to analogy. It has been pointed out that unused muscles and bones waste, and therefore, it is urged, it must be true that continence will lead to impotence. Such argument is utterly fallacious, as are most arguments from analogy. Facts in abundance prove the contrary. Common as is sexual vice, continence is not unknown among us, and the truth of our statement is not difficult to verify. The real argument from analogy is drawn from the breast. This gland is generally inactive for many years after puberty, and yet, whenever the call for its activity arrives, it is more or less perfectly responded to. As a matter of fact, impotence does not depend upon the testicle, but upon the spinal cord; the sexual act is a physiological nerve-storm, and not simply an act of secretion. Loss of sexual potency is due to some fault in the nerves of the parts, or more commonly in the centre, in the spinal cord, which presides over this function. It is often a solitary nervous phenomenon, and by itself is not of grave import.

‘The third physiological fact we ought to teach is that no function of the body is so influenced and controlled by the higher nerve-centres as the sexual.It is excited by lewd imaginings, loose talk, and sensuous scenes. It is set in motion by even accidental stimulus of any part of the nervous system affected by the sexual organism. Hence the difficulty of continence. On all sides are sights and sounds that may become the stimulus of sexual excitement. The other side of the picture is equally true. By the exercise of watchfulness and self-control the occasions of such excitement may be reduced to a minimum, and the passion may be subdued.

‘Medical men are sometimes asked to formulate rules of diet and exercise—hygienic rules—by which immorality is to be banished. The task is altogether impracticable. Vice is voluntary, and it is only by the exercise of a resolute self-will that virtue is maintained.

‘We cannot but believe that were these three very elementary but fundamental physiological truths properly presented and enforced upon young men very much misery would be avoided. Ignorance of them drives men into the clutches of ruthless charlatans, leaves them a prey to groundless fears, and often leads them into vicious habits from which they are unable to free themselves. To withhold such knowledge is in many cases to leave youths in ignorance of the one power by which they can successfully contend against the evil. We feel strongly the urgent importance of this matter, and hence we speak plainly, and hope that others, as they have opportunity, will do their best to help young men in their struggle against vice.’

FOOTNOTES:[1]See Appendix I.,p. 75.[2]See Acton’sFunctions and Disorders of the Reproductive Organs, sixth edition, p. 17.[3]See Appendix II.,p. 79.[4]See Michel Lévy,Traité d’Hygiène5th ed., vol. i., pp. 294-299.[5]Ante, p. 53. See also pp. 128, 129.[6]See Cazeaux,Des Accouchements.

[1]See Appendix I.,p. 75.

[2]See Acton’sFunctions and Disorders of the Reproductive Organs, sixth edition, p. 17.

[3]See Appendix II.,p. 79.

[4]See Michel Lévy,Traité d’Hygiène5th ed., vol. i., pp. 294-299.

[5]Ante, p. 53. See also pp. 128, 129.

[6]See Cazeaux,Des Accouchements.

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