The History of Prostitution: Its Extent, Causes, and Effects throughout the WorldSanger, William W.
History
The History of Prostitution: Its Extent, Causes, and Effects throughout the World
Sanger, William W.
Prostitution
"The sufferance of brothels is necessary,
"1. For the repression of profligacy, of private prostitution as well
as of its kindred crimes, adultery, rape, abortion, infanticide, and
all kinds of illicit gratification of sexual passion. The latter cases
occur very rarely with us. Of Pæderasty or Sodomy we find but few
instances; and of that unnatural intercourse of women with each other,
referred to by Parent-Duchatelet as common among the Parisian girls,
we find no trace."
"The sufferance of brothels operates to the suppression of private
prostitution, in so far as brothel-keepers and the 'inscribed' women
are, for their own interest, opposed to it, and are serviceable to the
police in its detection. Unquestionably, private prostitution is an
incalculably greater evil than public vice."
"2. On grounds of public policy in regard to health. It is quite
erroneous to suppose that these legalized brothels contribute to the
spread of syphilitic maladies. This should rather be imputed to the
private prostitution which would ensue on the breaking up of the
brothels, and from which that medical police supervision that now
limits the spread of infection would, of course, be withdrawn. The
experience of all time proves that, by means of secret prostitution,
the intensity and virulence of venereal disorders have been
aggravated, to the multiplication of those appalling examples familiar
to every medical reader, and which cause one to shudder with horror;
while numerically, disease and its consequences have been carried into
every class of society. It is precisely our knowledge of these very
facts which has induced the sufferance, or, rather, the regulation of
these brothels."
"3. _Suppression is_ ABSOLUTELY IMPRACTICABLE, inasmuch as the evil is
rooted in an unconquerable physical requirement. It would seem as if
the zeal against public brothels implied that by their extinction a
limitation of sexual intercourse, except in marriage, would be
effected. This is erroneous, for reliable details prove that for every
hundred brothel women there would be two hundred private prostitutes,
and no human power could prevent this. In a great city and frequented
sea-port like Hamburg, the hope of amending this would be purely
chimerical."
Thus much for Hamburg legislation, and the sound arguments in its favor.
We will now give some facts illustrative of the vice as it exists at the
present time, using a pamphlet by Dr. LIPPERT, entitled "Prostitution in
Hamburg. 1848."
It must be premised that, for the purpose, Hamburg is divided into two
parts: the city proper, and the suburb of St. Paul. The latter is under a
distinct municipal authority, and is the ordinary residence of seamen and
those depending on a seafaring life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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