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
“What I have said of the attractiveness of certain kinds of dress is
not to be understood in the sense that they attract me in themselves.
This charm only means that the dress may help to strengthen or make
prominent the attraction exerted by the face, when, perhaps, the same
face in itself would not attract me to the same extent. I may say the
same thing, though with a different meaning, of the odor of lighted
cigars. In indifferent persons the odor of cigars is rather repugnant
than pleasing to me, but exciting in those sexually attractive. The
kiss of a prostitute smelling of cigar-smoke, affords greater pleasure
(because, even though in part unconsciously, I am reminded of the kiss
of a man). Therefore, I took pleasure in kissing my lover just after
he had smoked. (It is to be noted that I myself have never smoked a
cigar or cigarette, and have never even tried to smoke.) I am tall and
thin; my face is masculine; my eyes are restless; and in my whole form
I often have something girlish. My health leaves much to be desired.
It is much influenced by my sexual anomaly. As previously mentioned, I
am very nervous, and I often have paroxysms of onomatomania. At times,
I also have terrible depression and melancholia, when I see the
difficulty of gratification corresponding with my male-loving nature;
and when I am greatly excited sexually, and have overcome the desire,
owing to impossibility of male gratification. In such conditions,
often the depression is associated with absolute lack of sexual
desire. In work I am industrious, but often too quick; for I am
inclined to work too rapidly and violently. I have a lively interest
in art and literature. Among poets and writers of fiction, I prefer,
for the most part, those who describe refined feelings, peculiar
passions, and far-fetched impressions; an artificial or
hyper-artificial style pleases me. Likewise in music, it is the
nervous, exciting music of a Chopin, a Schumann, a Schubert, or a
Wagner, etc., that is in most perfect harmony with me. Everything in
art that is not only original, but _bizarre_, attracts me.
“I do not like physical exercise, and do not practice it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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