It is important to recognise the parallelism which exists throughout the physical organization of the two sexes, making them equal parts of complete human nature--a parallelism which is too often lost sight of, at this period of a young man’s life. In each of the two halves of humanity, the sexual functions are adapted to the higher nature of the human being. Provision is made in each sex for their control by reason, this provision being made with greater or lesser elaborate preparation in proportion to the relative importance of these functions in each sex. This provision secures their conversion into a human social force, instead of allowing them to remain a blind instinct, as in the lower animals; for everything in humanity is subject to the law of progress and higher growth. The generative function in both sexes must be kept in a state of readiness for use. It has, therefore, its special activity of production, maintaining its tissues in healthy vigour throughout adult life. It is also marked with a certain periodicity, which is stamped on all the more important vital functions. It must, however, at the same time be subjected to reason and converted into a human faculty. To secure this end, it contains within itself natural provisions for its own independent well-being, Nature having established the power of physical self-balance in this important function by the natural, gradual, and healthy removal of unemployed secretions in each individual. It thus becomes the subject of reason, adapted to the higher aims of life, instead of a blind force enslaving the human being. An important illustration of this subjection of these functions to reason, is referred to by the experienced surgeon, Mr. Acton, who writes: ‘There exists no _greater error_, or one more opposed to physiological truth, than the fear that atrophy or impotence might be the result of chastity. I have never, after many years’ experience, seen a single instance of atrophy from this cause. It is not a fact that power is annihilated in well-formed adults leading a healthy life and yet remaining continent. The function goes on to old age, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, but very frequently only under the influence of the will. No person need be deterred by this apocryphal fear from living a chaste life. It is a device of the unchaste--a lame excuse for their own incontinence, not founded on any physiological law. The organs will take care that their action is not interfered with.’[35]