Aphrodisiacs and Anti-aphrodisiacs: Three Essays on the Powers of ReproductionDavenport, John
Philosophy
Aphrodisiacs and Anti-aphrodisiacs: Three Essays on the Powers of Reproduction
Davenport, John
Phallicism; Sex; Sex customs -- France -- History -- 17th century
1. In all debilitated persons; as they do not possess
sufficient vital spirits, and their strength after this
venerating emission is consequently much exhausted. Their
digestion necessarily suffers, perspiration is checked, and
the body becomes languid and heavy.
2. In the aged; whose vital heat is diminished, whose frame
is enfeebled by the most moderate enjoyment, and whose
vigour, already reduced, suffers a still greater diminution
from every loss that is accompanied with a violent
convulsion of the whole body.
3. In persons not arrived at the age of maturity; by an easy
intercourse with the other sex, they become enervated and
emaciated, and inevitably shorten their lives.
4. In dry, choleric and thin persons; these, even at a
mature age, should seldom indulge in this passion, as their
bodies are already in want of moisture and pliability, both
of which are much diminished by the sexual intercourse,
while the bile is violently agitated, to the great injury of
the whole animal frame. Lean persons generally are of a hot
temperament; and the more heat there is in the body the
greater will be the subsequent dryness. Hence, likewise, to
persons in a state of intoxication, this intercourse is
extremely pernicious; because in such a state the increased
circulation of the blood towards the head may be attended
with dangerous consequences, such as bursting of
blood-vessels, apoplexy, etc. The plethoric are particularly
exposed to these dangers.
5. Immediately after meals; as the powers requisite to the
digestion of food are thus diverted, consequently the
aliment remains too long unassimilated, and becomes
burdensome to the stomach.
6. After violent exercise; in which case it is still more
hurtful than in the preceding, where muscular strength was
not consumed, but only required to the aid of another
function. After bodily fatigue, on the contrary, the
necessary energy is in a manner exhausted, so that every
additional exertion of the body must be peculiarly
injurious.
7. In the best of summer it is less to be indulged in than
in spring and autumn; because the process of concoction and
assimilation is effected less vigorously in summer than in
the other seasons, and consequently the losses sustained are
not so easily recovered. For a similar reason the sexual
commerce is more debilitating, and the capacity for it
sooner extinguished in hot than in temperate climates. The
same remark is applicable to very warm temperature combined
with moisture, which is extremely apt to debilitate the
solid part. Hence hatters, dyers, bakers, brewers, and all
those exposed to steam, generally have relaxed fibres.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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