Works on phrenology, physiology, and kindred subjects

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Med

<sr\riPTY (inoor

THEM'TISH P^a^KbS J (^p0R,TED ««■ tounoed 1»- 'Ma"> pop»t»4)

Preface

Every human function is perfect when exercised in harmony with its primitive constitution ; but when perverted, occasions suffering proportionate to the happiness its right exercise confers.

Pre-eminently is this true of the sexual function. It was instituted to perpetuate our race, but has been perverted to a depraved use, more, probably, than any other faculty, and occasioned more misery.

It is high time its ravages were staid ; but who is there to come up to the * help of the Lord’ and of humanity against this blighting curse ? The pulpit — that ordained watch-tower of morality and exponent of sin, is comparatively mute concerning it, at least, touching its worst forms — an omission utterly unjustifiable. The medical profession, whose duty it is to sound the alarm, and diffuse knowledge, is almost silent ; yet pockets the wages of sins and sufferings which it should obviate. Lawyers live on the fees rendered by this propensity, more, probably, than from any other crime perpetrated by our fallen nature ; besides being infinitely above (? below) attempting its remedy. The moralist is silent, and the philanthrophist is dumb. Most of the self- constituted watchmen on the walls of the public safety, are ‘ dead dogs,’ seeming afraid to touch this vile thing. A mere moiety attempt to arrest this mighty current, yet the aggregate effort is utterly insignificant compared with the evil. Nor can more be said of the mode. But .not for this alone. None beard the lion in his den. Of the few recent productions on this subject, none have effectually probed this festering bile to its core, or anointed it with an effectual remedy. Nor can this be done but by understanding the primitive constitution of this element,, and thereby the consequences of its perversion.

Phrenology mounts the breach. It descries the evil. It weeps over its ravages. It points out the remedy ; and the Author claims to be its humble expositor. Long has he seen and sighed over this monster disease and wretchedness. He hoped to have escaped both the woe of silence and the odium of utterance by its effectual exposition from some other quarter. But he has seen nothing which did full justice to this subject. Not that he would disparage the earlier efforts of that noble apostle in this cause, Dr. Woodward, from whom he so often quotes. He was almost the first among distinguished men to open the battery of facts upon this enemy of all good. Above all praise are his noble efforts in this forlorn cause. But his ‘ Hints to the Young,’ have not sufficiently explained the rationale of the injury sensuality inflicts or attempted to reach more than a single form of ‘lust. Nor, even if it had would this work be uncalled tor ; because our thoughtless youth need ‘ line uPon Due,’ and the man-ied require ‘ precept upon precept.’ This work may find its way where his has not gone. * Facts, &<•., to Young

* INTRODUCTION.

Men,’ we cordially recommend. They have done rood • ground less comprehensive and scientific than they occupy

Mrs. Gove has awakened attention to this sin and shame of Toyman her own sex ; yet we endeavour lo grapple this goSm”-.^ i-bv^. horns, and expose the why and iiow of this frightful evil ' V „ *V 1 INATE KNOWLEDGE is OUV object. INFORMATION is the ^ five. Our misguided youth dream not that they are simiin^n^r'611' pect the direful consequences that impend tilftheir „ S-US.'

complete till their 4 k of iife U sKed »„

ete dS” l!*S led aloms ^ lh« Wllow. of lust in one or

t°°’-,ieed yarning. Tliinking themselves entitled to a pei feet glut of indulgence in wedlock, they little suspect it as the cause of their physical diseases or mental alienations. Nor has the warning voice probably ever before been raised in their ears. ^

Let not the erring think that we come to scorn or deride. We proffer pity for your felly, and ointment for your self-inflicted wounds. So tm from casting reproaches, we would put you again on the feet of selflespect, and the road of restoration.

Those who objeet to the presentation of this subject, or think it uncalled for, err m judgment. They may sit supinely if they will, and

T,Tffnaik’ibUirS la 1 neltlie,r hlnder us fl'om snatching from the fires of lust those half consumed brands within our reach, nor wrest from us the joys of doing good, or the thanks of suffering humanity.

Introduction

‘The crying sin of our race,’ says our author, ‘in every age, and in almost every nation under heaven, has been excessive or unlawful indulgence in sexual pleasures.’ He gives a melancholy account of the prevalence of this form of evil in his own country. It would appear from Ins statements, that in some cities in America, this evil prevails to an alarming extent. Even public prostitution is now no longer unknown in the cities of the United States : while private or select prostitution is exceedingly common. He tells us, that even pretended widows, who profess to live by industry, and who are members of churches, visit places of worship only to mark and entrap men by their looks and smiles, and other wily arts. He speaks of solitary sexual crime, or self-abus’e, as still more prevalent : as pervading, in fact, every nook and corner of the land. He assures us, that the remarks which he makes on the prevalence of this form of crime, are grounded on facts which have come to his own knowledge. His professional practice and extensive observation, lie says, give him access to sources of information, and to individual histories, which extort the reluctant declaration, that people in general have not the faintest conception of the fearful extent to which this vice is practised.

It would seem from some of our author’s statements, that certain forms of sexual vice prevail to a greater extent in the United States, than in our own country, especially self-abuse. The facts lie gives on this subject appear almost incredible. He assures us, that if we were to catechise every boy we met on this subject, we should find, that nine in every ten, from eleven years old and upwards, and that one-half of those from seven to eleven, are guilty of this unnatural crime : and that of those still older, the proportion is still greater. He assures us, that lie himself has known hundreds ruined by this crime before they were thirteen years of age. He says that the schools are especially nurseries of this vice : and that it is often practised by scholars in companies. He assures us, that in making th^e statements, he speaks only what he knows, arid testifies what he lias seen.

In reply to those that think that nothing should bo published on this subject, for fear of corrupting the minds of youth, lie quotes the words

INTRODUCTION.

of Dr. Woodward, who says. 4 1 have never conversed with a lad twelve \ears of age who did not know all about the practice, and understand the language commonly used to describe it.* Our author assures us, that this Dr. Woodward is a cautious and discreet man, and one of the best authorities that he could quote. Dr. Woodward lias published a work on the subject, entitled, Hints to the Young. W. C. Woodbridge the celebrated advocate of education in the United States, speaks’of this solitary vice as ‘ spreading desolation throughout our schools and families, unnoticed and unknown.’ Mr. E. M. R. Wells, a distinguished teacher in Boston, gives similar testimony to the prevalence and mischievous influence of this vice. The higher schools and colleges Mr howler says, are more afflicted with this vice, than even the lower schools.

'idle following letter ivas written by Mr. Fowler in 1841, to the author of 1'acts and important Information for Young Men.

, ,, n -p, ‘ Philadelphia, Sept. 8, 1841.

Mr. G.— Dear Sir : Your letter and book are received. I am ri-ht glad you have taken hold of this subject. Much as reform is needed" in other matters, no reform— no, not even that in reference to alcoholic drinks is demanded half so much as reform in reference to this solitary vice. To this conclusion my practice, which, you know, has not been limited, and my means of information, which have been varied and extensm have led me reluctantly but inevitably. And what is most deplorable, unlike otner iorms of vice which prey upon the coarse and the vulgar, this is even more likely to attack those of line feelings and ardent temperaments, and otherwise unblemished morals. They are not aware that this is one of the greatest sins they can commit. *

. ^a,Ye ‘f ata seen *lus evil to be so alarming, and its ravages on the intellect, and morals, and health, so fearful, that I have contem

Phr.en?Io£ical organ of Amativeness, to consist mainly oi the physiological, intellectual, and moral effects of this vice ; but I rejoice that you are before me in this matter

ledge C0UAfewdy0U B VaSt nUmber °f facts that have come to my knowledge. A few days ago, a young man, who had been a qentleman called

tite destroyed, and the tones of his voice the vo™ ngty.’Jus aPPe-

lagips

p..?11, \n^ilhnS of one of the physicians in Brocklev Alma it Philadelphia, as to the number of its inmates who t'f’ , 8 ,House>

the insane department by its instrumentality, he started*3 of" into his feet, and spoke with great energy and emnhas s of if • T® Up?n mducing derangement, and narrated several ferv affL lnfluence m my visit to that institution, a few davs ago r an *V affe^ing cases. In who were brought there iy * S SU4 patiM*5

prevent self-pollution. ice, and yy hose hands were tied, to

in every iIlZ vT„ rT <'S'St j"

■ts victim, fall n prey to it i3mnnllj/. & £

INTRODUCTION.

our institutions of learning ; because there, the absence of exercise, the seclusion from ‘female society, and the character of their studies, especially those that cultivate (vitiate) the imagination, all tend to induce and increase the evil.’

The following is from Dr. Alcott : —

‘ We believe that there is not a town in New England, whose bills of mortality, from year to year, are not greatly increased by this fearful and wide wasting scourge. We believe that a majority of our diseases and infirmities— our aches, our pains, and our deformities too— after tlia age of puberty, are either induced or aggravated in this way.

The following is from Dr. Snow, of Boston :

‘Self-pollution is undoubtedly one of the most common causes of ill health that can be found among the young men of this country. From the observations that I have been able to make, I am satisfied that the practice is almost universal. Boys commence it at an early age ; and the habit once formed, like that of intemperance, becomes almost unconquerable. In boarding schools and colleges, it obtains oftentimes without an exception. Hence the many sickly students, and the many young men of' the most brilliant and promising talents, who have broken their constitutions and ruined their health, as it is saul, by hard study ! ’

Mr.’ Fowler adds, that even females do not escape the infection of tins

horrible vice. He says, — , . • _

‘ They may be less infected, yet women, young and modest, are dying by thousands of consumption, of female complaints, of nervous or spina) affections, of general debility, and of other ostensible complaints innumerable, and some of insanity, caused solely by this practice. On this noint. Dr. Woodward again thus speaks out :

" St two years ago, a young woman, aged twenty-two years, came under my care, in a state of the worst form of insanity. She was furious, noisy, filthy, and, apparently, nearly reduced to idiocy. She had been in this condition many months, and continued so for some time while with me. She was pale and bloodless, had but hit e • ejppetite frequently rejected her food, and was reduced in flesh and strength. Find in oilier one day more calm than usual, I hinted to her the subject of masturbation Lself-pollution], and informed her that, lf P^ctised it she could not get well— if she abandoned it, she might. She did not de y the charge, and promised to follow my advice strictly. In two or three weeks from this time, she was perceptibly better ; W mind miproved as her health gained ; and both were much better in the course of a few ‘ a, The recovery was very rapid in this case. At the end o six month's she had excellent health, was quite fleshy, and became perfect ly sane * and has continued so, so far as we have known, to this t,me- “Not long since, a case of periodical insanity came under my obser-

§ SS'sSSSi

which individuals of the same sex have been reduced to t e same de graded state. They ate now, and w c.u .tatghto

a melancholy spectacle of human misery ;hr, o“finmovernable passion, cacv or modesty, constantly harassed by tne most ungov« t ’

iaY V x r’fl nonce of nronensities excited to morbid activity oy a and under the influence ot prop , d a large proportion c

will be found to have originated in tins cause.

INTRODUCTION.

Mi-s. Gove, In her Lectures to Ladies on Anatomy and Physiology — subjects which every woman should understand — thus discourses concerning its prevalence among her bex : —

‘ About eight years since, my mind was awakened to examine this subject by the perusal of a medical work that described the effects of this vice when practised by females. This was the first intimation I had that the vice existed among our sex. Since that time I have had much evidence that it is fearfully common among them.

‘ There is reason to believe that, in nine cases out of ten, those unhappy females who are tenants of houses of ill-fame, have been victims of this vice in the first place. Were this the peculiar vice of the low and vulgar, there might be more excuse for the apathy and false delicacy that pervade the community respecting it. But it invades all ranks. Professed Christians are among its victims.

‘ Our boarding and day schools are sources of untold mischief. A short time since, two sisters, ladies of the first respectability, informed me that, when very young, they were put to a female boarding-school where this vice prevailed, and the practice was explained to them! -they were blessed with parents who were willing to converse with and warn their children, and they escaped the contamination.’

Oneof her correspondents writes that she ‘ became addicted to solitary vice about the age of nine years.’ « Facts and important Information to Young Women, &c., a work which we recommend cordially details many instances illustrative of the prevalence of this vice. ’

‘My own practice and observation,’ says Fowler, ‘as to its prevalence confirm and considerably exceed these statements. I have one infallible

b I ? 1 °ften ?Pfcvlthout the knowledge of its subjects, and thereby deteci many who little suspect me of knowing their secret practices. Lalfed to prescribe for a young woman, and knowing from this sign what caused her complaint, I sought an interview with her mother, to whom I disclosed my suspicions. She said she thought her dan ghter innocent

I W l rt m”Ch "-ith a° elder S'1'1 "h» .dieted tot

1 asked her what she knew concerning its prevalence. She said a girl in her neighbourhood had just died from its effects, and that the female operatives in a neighbouring factory practised it almost universally • as v6, bai'nd ifr°m °ne ,°f them' She -named other factories inwiichi *ae ha.r% If3 Prevalent. I know little girls below their teens who thus abuse themselves, and, from my application of the test named ’ am c?nstrained to believe the practice alarmingly extensive

woman ‘ h"? °f creation ! 1 »cken at the thought. Oh '

voman, who hath thus bewitched you that ve should’ fi,na a 1 from t e paths <rf delicacy, .nd health^ h"S deP>n

•morl, te Z&t let"S tl,at *hB P‘»eM is *n and all

among us. IS one of our daughters or sons are safe, however careful lv

aroo^anpgUAdd tlU We cast out ‘this accursed’ plague from cS„S'of effoHe |-a Ci°T°a enem?’ U Can he extirpated only by

Safes

enemy from our midst.’ ’ 6 ( ,lve this common

. We have reason to believe, that this form of

siderable extent, in our own ’country. We sh a 1 1 no t J! T > ' !’ a C°n' ticnlars on which our painful belief is grounded • w wo i ° 10 pa',' to satisfy us that instruction on this subject is exceed m V enou&h ^phavel.ttie or no apprehension that the work we aveUxiLl*?* "V'

c

EFFECT'S. IT INJURES nEALTU, — IT EXHAUSTS THE BODY.

least idea of the injury they are doing themselves, either in body or in mind ; and we see no way by which they can be instructed but through the press. Preachers will not meddle with such matters ; and parents are unwilling to speak on the subject to their children ; and even the public lecturer is afraid to notice it, The press alone remains, and great indeed would be our guilt, should we refuse to employ the press in such a work, while so many are suffering so grievously for want of the instruction which we are able to impart.

We expect to be abused by some for laying this work before the public : but we are justified in our own mind ; and we have no doubt, that if our readers will give the subject due consideration, they will see, in the end, that we rather deserve their thanks for what we are doing, than their rebukes.

Chapter I. Effects

Happiness is the one constitutional object and product of every function of our being. Yet every function is capable of a painful action. Nor are these two forms or products of the action of our respective functions, chance comers and goers, but all are governed by inflexible law. I hatfunction is necessarily pleasureable which harmonizes with the primitive constitution, and fulfils the legitimate design, of the faculty exercised, and is normal or natural, lhat action of any function is painful which violates or departs from its normal, primitive institution or end, and is called abnormal which means unnatural.

Of course, these natural axioms apply with significant emphasis to the element before us. To fulfil the legitimate ends for which this was ordained, is to be happy in its exercise ; not to fulfil it, and especially to depart from it, is to suffer in and by. its exercise. Now.excessive indulgence, promiscuous, and matrimonial, and solitary, violate this function and cause pain. We come now to consider the evils consequent on these its perversions. .

To enumerate the tithe of the evils consequent on excessive sexual whether promiscuous, or matrimonial, or solitary indulgence, all one in substance, would fill a world with volumes, as it already has with woes, and keep it full. We shall develope, first, some of its destruction ot health, and generation of physical evils and sufferings ; next, its destruction of the moral tone or stamina, and its production of propensity and depravity in forms without number, and aggravating beyond description. To enumerate a few.

IT INJURES HEALTH.

To dwell here on the importance of health as a means of enjoyment, and its essentiality to every form and degree of happiness, would take us too far from our subject. Suffice it to say, that, whatei er impairs the health, or engenders disease, is proportionally fatal to happiness, pre-eminent degree, appears from the following, among its other effects.

IT EXHAUSTS THE BODY.

Those at all acquainted, experimentally, with the nature of this function, need not he told that few things are equally exhausting , and readerH 0f ‘Love and Parentage’ will remember our exposition of the ^ -mely it was instituted to transmit the

nhvsioloEV of parents to offspring ; and since the latter take on tne n tne exiting conditioifs of the forme? and these only, it becomes absolutely necessary that this function should call forth, in a S tho

action, all the mental, all the physical, functions of parents, as tho means of their transmission to offspring. Now this rntense and simnl-

IT ENFEEBLE3 THE MIND.

taneous action of all the functions of our nature in this indulgence, of course proportionally exhausts. A hard day’s work does not equally prostrate and fatigue. The Fallow buck, after this passion has subsided, is so tamed down by exhaustion, that he can be approached and almost caught by hand.

IT ENFEEBLES TnE MIND.

Frequent indulgence in any of its forms, will run down, and run out, any one, of either sex. Those who would write, or speak, or study, must either forego excessive indulgence, or intellectual exertion, or else die. Powerful constitutions will stand an immense drain before they finally break, but terrible indeed is the result.

Mere animal temperaments are less injured, because, by supposition, their vitality is abundant, and its drain by other functions is slight ; nor do they enjoy this function as do those more highly organized, and hence are proportionally less exhausted. Such live, to be sure ; so do brutes. Carnal, grovelling, sensual, low-lived animals, living mainly on a single pleasure, when their nature serves up so many ! Let such revel in lust, because capable of little else. But those highly organized must partake rarely, else it will excite to destruction, and proportionally exhaust. Besides, they can expend their less abundant, perhaps deficient, vitality to better advantage. Frequent indulgence must necessarily be lustful, and therefore debasing to their higher feelings. Those -whose intellectuality and morality are feeble, may spend their surplus vitality on this passion with less injury, yet cannot cultivate their higher faculties while they thus revel in lust. Let sucji remain all animal and revel on. But for those who have already too little vitality to sustain their higher faculties — for such to rob all their nobler, god-like elements of vitality, just to spend it on a sensual, debasing passion, is physical, mental, and moral suicide. Red-faced, bloated, coarse-grained, gouty subjects— it matters little what becomes of them. About as well go to Texas and be shot as any way, or stay and kill themselves, because worth little any how. But for light-built, fine-skinned, fine-haired, spare-built, sharp-featured, light-eyed persons of either sex, to indulge, even in wedlock, as often as the moon quarters, is gradual but effectual destruction of both soul and body ; because they already work off vitality faster than their feeble vital apparatus manufactures it. This excess of expenditure over supply, occasions their sharpness. A surplus vitality would render them fleshy. Now to add the most powerful drain of all to their already spare supply, must sooner or later, according to their vigour of constitution, render them bankrupts of life.

It will not kill you outright. It will first weaken the garrison of life, and thus open the door for disease to come in and attack the weakest part, and complete the work of death in the name of other diseases. As bees, by swarming too freely leave portions of their hive unprotected, and thus allow the deposit of those destructive worms which a full supply of bees would have prevented, so this indulgence drains the system of vitality, and of course leaves the weaker organs especially debilitated, till disease, thus invited, sets in, destroys the feebler organs and ends in death ; attributed, however, to consumption, dyspepsia* gravel, nervous, heart, and other affections, according as this or that organ is naturally most feeble, but rarely to its true cause. Ask anv medical man, conversant with diseases having this origin and he will tell you that no other cause of disease equals this, either as to number or aggravation, or difficulty of cure. Hear Dr. Woodward on this point.

‘ 1 hat the evil is wide-spread and exceedingly injurious, cannot be denied or doubted. A great number of the ills which come upon the young, at and after the age of puberty, arise from this habit, persisted m, so as to waste the vital energies and enervate the physical and mental powers of man. r J

‘ Nature designs that this drain upon the system should be reserved

IT INFLAMES THE WHOLE BT3TSM.

to mature age, and even then that it be made but sparingly. Sturdy manhood, in all its vigour, loses its energy and bends under the too frequent expenditure of tills important secretion ; and no age or condition will protect a man from the danger of unlimited indulgence, though legally and naturally exercised.

‘ In the young, however, its influence is much more seriously felt ; and even those who have indulged so cautiously as not to break down the health or the mind, cannot know how much their physical energy, mental vigour, and moral purity', have been affected by the indulgence.

‘ No cause is more influential in producing insanity'. The records of the institutions give an appalling catalogue of cases attributed to it.’

A doctor in Brooklyn thus writes to the author of ‘Facts, <kc., to Young Men.’

Brooklyn, Dec. 10, 1840.

‘ In my' own practice, I think I have 'seen the following results of masturbation* — involuntary emissions, prostration of strength, paralysis of the limbs, hysteria, epilepsy, strange nervous affections, dyspepsia, hypochondria, spinal disease, pain and weakness in the back and limbs, costiveness — and, in fine, the long and dismal array of gastric, enteric, nervous and spinal affections, that are so complicated and difficult to manage.’ .

Dr. J. A. Brown, of Providence, writes to the same author as follows : —

‘ That it is an evil of vast magnitude, no physician who has been in the habit of tracing effects to causes, can for a moment doubt. I. sir, could tell of hundreds who labour under incurable maladies, produce ! by this practice ; and I do not believe that I have a better faculty for obtaining such information than many others, who are, and will be, dumb on this subj'eSt.’

Another physician writes that ‘ seven-eights of all the bodily ills and diseases of tiie people, are caused, or greatly aggravated, by self-abuse, or excessive legal indulgence.’

Nor is this all, nor the worst. The loss of this secretion is the loss of vitality itself. We saw, iu Love and Parentage, that it embodied the very quintessence of parentage, in order thereby to impart this quintes- . sense of parents to offspring. To dwell on this point, however important, is unnecessary, because so evident. Now it is a well known principle of physiology, that when any organ is especially over- taxed, it robs the other parts of the system ‘of vitality to supply its own taxation. Thus, overloading the stomach causes mental lassitude and muscular debility, because the stomach withdraws energy from the brain, the muscles, and wherever it can find it, to enable it to discharge its burden. Now overtax this secretion, and it withdraws energy from all the other parts to re-supply the draft. Doing this frequently, diverts the energies permanently from the other organs to this. As those who get into the habit of being bled frequently, soon get full of blood, because they overtax the blood manufacturing energies by this dram, so that an undue amount of vitality goes to blood; so. the frequent withdrawal of this condensed vital secretion, causes a drain from all the other parts and organs to re-supply it, and thus frequent indulgence causes the very life’s blood tq/run out thereat. Well has Wisdom said, * Give not thy strength unto women.' And he who does, must expect to be weak every where else.

IT INFLAMES THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

But, great as is the evil, especially to growing youth, consequent on this drain of vitality, that inflammation, always and necessarily consequent on excessive indulgence in all its forms, is much more prolific of

Self-aim se.

IT peteuiouates the skxdal characteristic*.

both disease and suffering. "Whoever indulges often, and weekly i* often, in wedlock or out of it, will experience an unnatural heat, ten* sion, tenderness, irritation, swelling, perhaps soreness, in these organs, of course resulting from their inflammation.

The immediate cause of this inflammation is two-fold. First, intensa action, in its very nature, engenders inflammation, and what action more intense and inflammatory than this? Secondly, in order to ensure intense action in this function, so as thereby highly to endow its product,. a larger amount of nervous tissue is found ramified upon those parts of this apparatus more immediately brought into action, than upon almost any other portion of the body. This contrivance is indispensable to pleasure, and this to the endowment of offspring. Nerve alone gives pleasure, but inflamed nerve gives pain, and pain proportionate to its quantity, and the degree of inflammation. Now, frequent action necessarily inflames, and thus both weakens these organs, and engenders disease in them, and throughout the system. It fills the whole being, mental and physical, full of wild, excited, preternatural, irregular’ abnormal, painful action. And inflammation thus caused, is harder to be reached, and more difficult to be subdued, than disease of any other portion of the body ; because, while inflammation of the lungs, of the heart, of the stomach,, of the bowels, muscles, head, &c., can easily be reached through the intestinal canal, or else by external application diseases of these organs, especially in women, can be reached or cured only with great difficulty.