Psychopathia sexualis: With especial reference to contrary sexual instinct: A medico-legal studyKrafft-Ebing, R. von (Richard)
Science
Psychopathia sexualis: With especial reference to contrary sexual instinct: A medico-legal study
Krafft-Ebing, R. von (Richard)
Paraphilias
Case 90. N. N., aged 37; of a neuropathic family; neuropathic
constitution. He makes the following statement: “From my earliest
youth I have always had a deeply-rooted partiality for furs and
velvet, in that these materials cause me sexual excitement, and the
sight and touch of them give me lustful pleasure. I can recall no
event that caused this peculiarity (such as the simultaneous
occurrence of the first sexual excitation and an impression of these
materials,—_i.e._, first excitation by a woman dressed in them); in
fact, I cannot remember when this enthusiasm began. However, by this I
would not exclude the possibility of such an event,—of an accidental
connection in a first impression and consequent association; but I
think it very improbable that such a thing took place, because I
believe such an occurrence would have deeply impressed me. All I know
is, that even when a small child I had a lively desire to see and
stroke furs, and thus had an obscure sensual pleasure. With the first
occurrence of definite sexual ideas,—_i.e._, the direction of sexual
thoughts to woman,—the peculiar preference for women dressed in such
materials was present. Since then, up to mature manhood, it has
remained unchanged. A woman wearing furs or velvet, or, better, both,
excites me much more quickly and intensely than one devoid of these
auxiliaries. To be sure, these materials are not a _conditio sine qua
non_ of excitation; the desire occurs also without them, in response
to the usual stimuli; but the sight and, particularly, the touch of
these fetich-materials form for me a powerful aid to other normal
stimuli, and intensify erotic pleasure. Often merely the sight of only
a passably pretty girl, dressed in these materials, causes me lively
excitement, and overcomes me completely. Even the sight of my
fetich-materials gives me pleasure, but the touch of them much more.
(To the penetrating odor of furs I am indifferent—rather, it is
unpleasant—and it is endurable only by reason of the association with
pleasing visual and tactile impressions.) I have an intense longing to
touch these materials while on a woman’s person, to stroke and kiss
them, and bury my face in them. My greatest pleasure is, _inter
actum_, to see and feel my fetich on the woman’s shoulder.
“Fur, or velvet alone, exerts on me the effect described, the former
much more intensely than the latter. The combination of the two has
the most intense effect. Too, female garments of velvet and fur, seen
and touched without the wearer, cause me sexual excitement; indeed,
though to a less extent, the same effect is exerted by furs or robes
having no relation to female attire, and also by the velvet and plush
of furniture and drapery. Merely pictures of costumes of furs and
velvet are objects of erotic interest to me; indeed, simply the word
“fur” has a magic charm for me, and immediately calls up erotic ideas.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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