Plain facts about sexual life

Front matter

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Preface

The publishers of this work offer no apology for presenting it to the reading public, since the wide prevalence of the evils which it exposes is sufficient warrant for its publication. The subjects with which it deals are of vital consequence to the human race ; and it is of the utmost importance that every effort should be made to dispel the gross ignorance which almost universally prevails, by the wide diffusion of information of the character contained in this volume.

This book has been written not for the young only, nor for any single class of persons, but for all who are old enough to be capable of understanding and appreciating it. The prime object of its preparation has been to call attention to the great prevalence of sexual excesses of all kinds and the heinous crimes resulting from some forms of sexual transgression, and to point out the terrible results which inevitably follow the violation of sexual law. In order to make more clear and comprehensible the teachings of nature respecting the laws regulating the sexual function, and the evils resulting from their violation, it has seemed necessary to preface the practical part of the subject by a concise description of the anatomy of reproduction. In this portion of the work especial pains has been taken to avoid anything like indelicacy of expression, yet it has not been deemed advisable to sacrifice perspicuity of ideas to any prudish

IV PREFACE.

notions of modesty. It is hoped that the reader will bear in mind that the language of science is always chaste in itself, and that it is only by the aid of a corrupt imagination that it becomes invested with impurity. The author has constantly endeavored to impart information in the most straight-forward, simple, and concise manner.

This work should be judiciously circulated; and to secure this, the publishers will take care to place it in the hands of agents competent to circulate it with discretion. Yet it may be read without injury by any one who is sufficiently mature to understand it. Great care has been taken to exclude from its pages those numerous accounts of the habits of vicious persons, and descriptions of the mechanical accessories of vice, with which many works upon sexual subjects abound, but which are exceedingly pernicious in their influence.

In conclusion, the author would beg the candid consideration of the reader for the subject-matter here presented. If some of the ideas advanced should at first seem ultra and unnecessarily extreme, do not discard them without a second consideration. Ponder them carefully and prayerfully, and with the mind free from all personal bias. This is the only method of arriving at truth, and any investigation pursued in this manner can never lead an individual into grave error.

Battle Creek, Mich., March, 1877.

Contents

PAGE.

Simplest Form of Generation 23

Sex. 24