‘The third physiological fact we ought to teach is that no function of the body is so influenced and controlled by the higher nerve-centres as the sexual. It is excited by lewd imaginings, loose talk, and sensuous scenes. It is set in motion by even accidental stimulus of any part of the nervous system affected by the sexual organism. Hence the difficulty of continence. On all sides are sights and sounds that may become the stimulus of sexual excitement. The other side of the picture is equally true. By the exercise of watchfulness and self-control the occasions of such excitement may be reduced to a minimum, and the passion may be subdued. ‘Medical men are sometimes asked to formulate rules of diet and exercise--hygienic rules--by which immorality is to be banished. The task is altogether impracticable. Vice is voluntary, and it is only by the exercise of a resolute self-will that virtue is maintained. ‘We cannot but believe that were these three very elementary but fundamental physiological truths properly presented and enforced upon young men very much misery would be avoided. Ignorance of them drives men into the clutches of ruthless charlatans, leaves them a prey to groundless fears, and often leads them into vicious habits from which they are unable to free themselves. To withhold such knowledge is in many cases to leave youths in ignorance of the one power by which they can successfully contend against the evil. We feel strongly the urgent importance of this matter, and hence we speak plainly, and hope that others, as they have opportunity, will do their best to help young men in their struggle against vice.’ FOOTNOTES: [1] See Appendix I., p. 75. [2] See Acton’s _Functions and Disorders of the Reproductive Organs_, sixth edition, p. 17. [3] See Appendix II., p. 79. [4] See Michel Lévy, _Traité d’Hygiène_ 5th ed., vol. i., pp. 294-299. [5] _Ante_, p. 53. See also pp. 128, 129. [6] See Cazeaux, _Des Accouchements_. MEDICAL RESPONSIBILITY IN RELATION TO THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ACT _An Address given to a Meeting of Medical Women in London, April 27th, 1897._ ADDRESS TO MEDICAL WOMEN Having been invited to speak to you on ‘The Responsibility of Women Physicians in relation to the Contagious Diseases Act,’ I have considered it a duty to accept this invitation for several reasons. It is twenty-seven years since my attention was first imperatively called by our philanthropist, Miss Mary Carpenter, to the subject of regulating or organizing the immorality of women. Since that time I have necessarily given much thought to this subject.