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
Three years after the death of her second husband, the patient
discovered the fact that her nine-year-old daughter, by her first
husband, was given to masturbation, and that she was failing in
physical health. The patient read of this vice, and could not overcome
the impulse to indulge in the practice, becoming, in consequence, an
onanist. She is unable to bring herself to give the details of this
period of her life. She says that she was frightfully excited
sexually, and had to send her daughters from home to save them from
terrible consequences; but the two boys she was able to keep at home.
Patient became neurasthenic ex masturbatione (spinal irritation,
feeling of pressure in head, weariness, lack of mental control), and,
at times, had dysthymia and painful tædium vitæ. Her sexual feeling
would be directed at one time to women, at another to men. She was
able to restrain herself, and suffered much from abstinence,
especially because, on account of her neurasthenic troubles, she
sought to obtain relief in masturbation, though only in case of great
necessity. At the present time, though forty-four years old, and
menstruating regularly, she suffers intensely with a passion for a
young man whose presence she cannot avoid on account of the exigencies
of occupation.
Patient presents nothing remarkable in external appearance. She is
gracefully formed, but the muscular system is not strongly developed.
Pelvis is, in all respects, that of a female, but the arms and legs
are decidedly large and of masculine form. Ladies’ shoes do not fit
her, but, being opposed to exciting attention, she forces her feet
into female shoes, and they are, therefore, much deformed. Genitals
normally developed, and present no other abnormality than descent of
the uterus, with hypertrophy of the vaginal portion. On thorough
examination it is seen that the patient is essentially homo-sexual,
and that the desire for the opposite sex is but episodical and
sensual. Thus, at present, she suffers intensely with sexual desires
for every man with whom she comes in contact, but it is a more refined
and higher pleasure for her to imprint a kiss on the soft, round cheek
of a maiden. This pleasure is one she often enjoys, because she is
much beloved as the “dear aunt” by all the “sweet creatures”; for she
voluntarily does them the most various chivalrous favors, always
feeling herself at such times as a man.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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