A Treatise on the Diseases Produced By Onanism, Masturbation, Self-Pollution, and Other Excesses.Deslandes, L. (Léopold)
Science
A Treatise on the Diseases Produced By Onanism, Masturbation, Self-Pollution, and Other Excesses.
Deslandes, L. (Léopold)
Masturbation
We have attempted to find the origin of this opinion in regard to
fish but without success. In fact it has not the support of popular
notoriety which arises insensibly from daily observation. Thus
Benoislon has proved directly by statistical facts that fecundity
is not greater among the inhabitants of maritime coasts than among
those who live in other places. (_Bulletin de Férussac_, Jan., 1827.)
Villermé has noticed that in Greenland and among the Esquimaux, who
live principally on fish, on sea-calves, that is, aliments, containing
these oily parts, which are regarded as so prolific, women have rarely
more than two or three children during their life. Besides if fish has
the property ascribed to it, why is it that during Lent, that period
of the year when this form of food is most used, the procreative
power should be most inactive; a fact which is proved from documents
collected in almost every country by the laborious investigations of
Villermé. (_Annales d’hygiene publ._, Jan. 1831.) Hence it is extremely
improbable that fish possesses this property, which it is important to
establish in order not to discard from the regimen of youth, an article
of diet which being both nutritious and slightly stimulating, is well
adapted to prevent genital excitement or to subdue it.
Many other articles of food beside fish have been regarded as
aphrodisiac. Many insect eating reptiles, a bird called torcol and
numerous insects of which it is useless to speak. Eggs have also been
regarded as having the same property, and also truffles, mushrooms,
artichokes, celery, cocoa and all its preparations, onions and
condiments as ginger, pepper, and vanilla, and finally certain fruits
as strawberries, apricots, peaches, pineapples, &c.
Among the articles which we have named there are certainly some which
being heating and exciting, may cause desire although containing
nothing more specific than a great many substances which are esteemed
as antiaphrodisiac, because being cooling and soothing they may
produce the opposite effect. Among these latter, we find milk, which,
according to Ste. Marie, generally contributes less to form the semen
than most other articles of food. Among these also we may mention fresh
vegetables and particularly the sorrel, purslain, lettuce, endive,
cucumber, mushroom, melons, &c. To these may be added the flesh of
young animals, chicken, lamb, veal, &c., and also cooling drinks,
as orgeat, lemonade, &c. The regimen best adapted for appeasing all
carnal desires consists as we have seen in an antiphlogistic diet which
is composed of those fluids or solids which when introduced into the
stomach are digested and assimilated with the slightest possible degree
of excitement and heat. This regimen is that which should be prescribed
to those patients who possess a certain degree of vigor and wish to
protect themselves against urgent and dangerous desires.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account