Part 6 (2/2)
Fortunate, indeed, would it be for humanity if this natural state always existed; but it is a lamentable fact that it is rarely seen in modern homes. Not infrequently, evidences of s.e.xual pa.s.sion are manifested before the child has hardly learned to walk. It has been suggested that this precocity is nothing remarkable or unnatural, since it is often seen in little lambs and other young animals. To this it is only necessary to reply that the development of the s.e.xual instincts perfectly corresponds with the longevity of the animal; if short-lived, like the sheep, only a short period intervenes between birth and the attainment of the s.e.xual appet.i.te and virility. If the animal is intended for long life, as is the case with man, these manifestations are delayed until a much later period, or should be. Certain insects perform the s.e.xual act as soon as they acquire their perfect form; but they perish as soon as the act is completed.
Astonis.h.i.+ng Ignorance.--It is astonis.h.i.+ng how ignorant and indifferent the majority of people are upon this subject. A friend related to us an incident which fairly ill.u.s.trates the terrible apathy which prevails among parents. While teaching a country school, he learned that a large number of children, boys and girls, of ages varying from eight to twelve and fourteen years, were in the habit of collecting together in barns and other secluded places, and in a state of nudity imitating the ”Black Crook” with all possible additional nastiness. Horrified at such a monstrous evil, he hastened to inform the parents of the corruption in their midst. Imagine his astonishment when he was met with an indifferent laugh and the response, ”Pooh! it's only natural; perfectly harmless; _just like little pigs!_” As though pigs were models for human beings!
It is not pleasant to consider what must have been the moral status of parents who could hold such views; and it is no wonder that they should produce such children. Doubtless they learned, too late, that those ”natural” manifestations were the outgrowth of incipient vices, planted and fostered by themselves, which in later years destroyed shame and gave loose rein to l.u.s.t.
Often the manifestation of s.e.xual precocity is less gross, but almost equally fraught with danger, nevertheless. Dr. Acton, a distinguished English surgeon whom we shall frequently quote, makes the following excellent remarks upon this subject:--
”Slight signs are sufficient to indicate when a boy has this unfortunate tendency. He shows marked preferences. You will see him single out one girl, and evidently derive an unusual pleasure (for a boy) in her society. His _penchant_ does not take the ordinary form of a boy's good nature, but little attentions that are generally reserved for a later period prove that his feeling is different, and sadly premature. He may be apparently healthy, and fond of playing with other boys; still there are slight, but ominous, indications of propensities fraught with danger to himself. His play with the girl is different from his play with his brothers. His kindness to her is a little too ardent. He follows her, he does not know why. He fondles her with a tenderness painfully suggestive of a vague dawning of pa.s.sion. No one can find fault with him. He does nothing wrong. Parents and friends are delighted at his gentleness and politeness, and not a little amused at the early flirtation. If they were wise, they would rather feel profound anxiety; and he would be an unfaithful or unwise medical friend who did not, if an opportunity occurred, warn them that such a boy, unsuspicious and innocent as he is, ought to be carefully watched and removed from every influence calculated to foster his abnormal propensities.
”The premature development of the s.e.xual inclination is not alone repugnant to all we a.s.sociate with the term childhood, but is also fraught with danger to dawning manhood. On the judicious treatment of a case such as has been sketched, it probably depends whether the dangerous propensity shall be so kept in check as to preserve the boy's health and innocence, or whether one more shattered const.i.tution and wounded conscience shall be added to the victims of s.e.xual precocity and careless training. It ought not to be forgotten that in such cases a quasi-s.e.xual power often accompanies these premature s.e.xual inclinations. Few, perhaps, except medical men, know how early in life a mere infant may experience erections. Frequently it may be noticed that a little child, on being taken out of bed in the morning, cannot make water at once. It would be well if it were recognized by parents and nurses that this often depends upon a more or less complete erection.”
We have been not more disgusted than shocked to see parents, whose intelligence ought to teach them better, not only winking at, but actually encouraging, these premature manifestations of pa.s.sion in their children. They may yet learn, by bitter experience, the folly of their course, unless they make the discovery in time to avert the calamitous results which threaten the future of their children, by careful reformatory training.
Inherited Pa.s.sion.--It is important to inquire the cause of this precocity. Said a father of our acquaintance, when remonstrated with for encouraging his infant son in a ridiculous flirtation, ”I did just so when I was of his age.” In this case the cause was evident. The child was only acting out the disposition bequeathed him by his parent. How often do the secret follies of parents stand out in bold relief in their children. Such a legacy is nothing to be proud of.
We again quote from Dr. Acton some observations on the causes of this disorder,--for a grave disorder it is,--as follows:--
”I should specify _hereditary_ predisposition as by no means the least common.... I believe that, as in body and mind, so also in the pa.s.sions, the sins of the father are frequently visited on the children. No man or woman, I am sure, can have habitually indulged the s.e.xual pa.s.sions ...
without, at least, running the risk of finding that a disposition to follow a similar career has been inherited by the offspring. It is in this way only that we can explain the early and apparently almost irresistible propensity in generation after generation indulging similar habits and feelings.”
Various Causes of s.e.xual Precocity.--Another very powerful predisposing cause of s.e.xual precocity will be alluded to under the head of ”Marital Excesses.” The irritation caused by worms in the r.e.c.t.u.m, by local irritation or uncleanliness, or by irritation of the bladder, are exciting causes which are not infrequent. The latter cause is indicated by another symptom, the frequent wetting of the bed at night.
Such a symptom doubly demands immediate attention.
The juvenile parties so common now-a-days, at which little ones of both s.e.xes, of ages varying from four or five years to ten or twelve, with wonderful precocity and truthfulness imitate the conduct of their elders at fas.h.i.+onable dinners, cannot be too much deprecated. Such a.s.sociations of the s.e.xes have a strong tendency to develop prematurely the distinctive peculiarities of the s.e.xes. This is well evidenced by the fact that on such occasions one of the most common and popular entertainments is sham marriages. Parents greatly err in encouraging or allowing their children to engage in amus.e.m.e.nts of so dangerous a character. They are productive of no good, and are almost without exception productive of positive and serious injury.
Modern modes of life, improper clothing, the forcing system of cramming in schools, the immodest example of older persons, and especially the irritating, stimulating articles of diet which are daily set before children, as well as older people, undoubtedly have a powerful influence in stimulating the development of the s.e.xual pa.s.sions. This subject is again referred to under the heading, ”Chast.i.ty.”
Obscene books and papers, lewd pictures, and evil communications are telling causes which will be further noticed elsewhere.
Senile s.e.xuality.--As with childhood, old age is a period in which the reproductive functions are quiescent unless unnaturally stimulated.
s.e.xual life begins with p.u.b.erty, and, in the female, ends at about the age of forty-five years, the period known as the _menopause_, or _turn of life_. At this period, according to the plainest indications of nature, all functional activity should cease. If this law is disregarded, disease, premature decay, possibly local degenerations, will be sure to result. Nature cannot be abused with impunity.
The generative power of the male is retained somewhat longer than that of the female, and by stimulation may be indulged at quite an advanced age, but only at the expense of shortening life, and running the risk of sudden death. Says Parise, ”One of the most important pieces of information which a man in years can attain is 'to learn to become old betimes,' if he wishes to attain old age. Cicero, we are told, was asked if he still indulged in the pleasures of love. 'Heaven forbid,' replied he, 'I have forsworn it as I would a savage and a furious master.'”
Some learned physicians place the proper limit of man's functional activity at fifty years, if he would not render himself guilty of shortening his days by sensuality. Other reasons for this course will appear hereafter.
When the pa.s.sions have been indulged, and their diminis.h.i.+ng vigor stimulated, a horrid disease, _satyriasis_, not infrequently seizes upon the imprudent individual, and drives him to the perpetration of the most loathsome crimes and excesses. Pa.s.sions cultivated and encouraged by gratification through life will thus sometimes a.s.sert a total supremacy in old age.
Marriage.--The scope and plan of this work will allow of but the briefest possible consideration of this subject upon which volumes have been written, much to no purpose other than the multiplication of books.
We shall devote no s.p.a.ce to consideration of the origin of the inst.i.tution, its expediency, or varied relations, as these topics are foreign to the character of this work.
The primary object of marriage was, undoubtedly, the preservation of the race, though there are other objects which, under special circ.u.mstances, may become paramount even to this. These latter we cannot consider, as only the relations of the reproductive functions in marriage come properly within our province.
The first physiological question to be considered is concerning the proper age for marriage.
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