Part 19 (2/2)
The mind should be thus fortified against the trifles and follies of fas.h.i.+onable life. It should be elevated into a sphere far above that occupied by those who pa.s.s their time in fas.h.i.+onable drawing-rooms in silly twaddle, with thrumming a piano, with listless day-dreaming, or in the gratification of perverted tastes and depraved instincts in any other of the ways common to fas.h.i.+onable life.
SOLITARY VICE.
If illicit commerce of the s.e.xes is a heinous sin, self-pollution, or masturbation, is a crime doubly abominable. As a sin against nature, it has no parallel except in sodomy (see Gen. 19:5, Judges 19:22). It is the most dangerous of all s.e.xual abuses, because the most extensively practiced. The vice consists in any excitement of the genital organs produced otherwise than in the natural way. It is known by the terms, self-pollution, self-abuse, masturbation, onanism, ma.n.u.stupration, voluntary pollution, solitary or secret vice, and other names sufficiently explanatory. The vice is the more extensive because there are no bounds to its indulgence. Its frequent repet.i.tion fastens it upon the victim with a fascination almost irresistible. It may be begun in earliest infancy, and may continue through life.
Even though no warning may have been given, the transgressor seems to know, instinctively, that he is committing a great wrong, for he carefully hides his practice from observation. In solitude he pollutes himself, and with his own hand blights all his prospects for both this world and the next. Even after being solemnly warned, he will often continue this worse than beastly practice, deliberately forfeiting his right to health and happiness for a moment's mad sensuality.
Alarming Prevalence of the Vice.--The habit is by no means confined to boys; girls also indulge in it, though, it is to be hoped, to a less fearful extent than boys, at least in this country. A Russian physician, quoted by an eminent medical professor in New York, states that the habit is universal among girls in Russia. It seems impossible that such a statement should be credible; and yet we have not seen it contradicted.
It is more than probable that the practice is far more nearly universal everywhere than even medical men are willing to admit. Many young men who have been addicted to the vice, have, in their confessions, declared that they found it universal in the schools in which they learned the practice.
Dr. Gardner speaks of it as ”the secret cause of much that is perverting the energies and demoralizing the minds of many of our fairest and best.” He further says:--
”Much of the worthlessness, la.s.situde, and physical and mental feebleness attributable to the modern woman are to be ascribed to these habits as their initial cause.” ”Foreigners are especially struck with this fact as the cause of much of the physical disease of our young women. They recognize it in the physique, in the sodden, colorless countenance, the lack-l.u.s.ter eye, in the dreamy indolence, the general carriage, the constant demeanor indicative of distrust, mingled boldness and timidity, and a series of anomalous combinations which mark this genus of physical and moral decay.”
The extent to which the vice is practiced by an individual is in some cases appalling. Three or four repet.i.tions of the act daily are not uncommon; and the following from Dr. Copland is evidence of much deeper depravity:--
”There can be no doubt that the individual who has once devoted himself to this moloch of the species becomes but too frequently its slave to an almost incredible degree. A patient who was sent to London for my advice confessed that he had practiced this vice seven or eight times daily from the age of thirteen until twenty-four; and he was then reduced to the lowest state of mental weakness, a.s.sociated with various bodily infirmities; indeed, both mental power and physical existence were nearly extinguished.”
Testimony of Eminent Authors.--Says a medical writer, ”In my opinion, neither the plague, nor war, nor small-pox, nor similar diseases, have produced results so disastrous to humanity as the pernicious habit of onanism; it is the destroying element of civilized societies, which is constantly in action, and gradually undermines the health of a nation.”
”The sin of self-pollution, which is generally considered to be that of Onan, is one of the most destructive evils ever practiced by fallen man. In many respects it is several degrees worse than common wh.o.r.edom, and has in its train more awful consequences, though practiced by numbers who would shudder at the thought of criminal connection with a prost.i.tute.”[46]
[Footnote 46: Dr. Adam Clarke.]
”However revolting to the feelings it may be to enter upon such a subject, it cannot be pa.s.sed over in silence without a great violation of duty.
Unhappily, it has not been hitherto exhibited in the awful light in which it deserves to be shown. _The worst of it is that it is seldom suspected._ There are many pale faces and languid and nervous feelings attributed to other causes, when all the mischief lies here.”[47]
[Footnote 47: Sir W. C. Ellis.]
We scarcely need add further evidence of the fearful extent of this evil, but will conclude with the following:--
”The pernicious and debasing practice of masturbation is a more common and extensive evil with youth of both s.e.xes than is usually supposed.”
”A great number of the evils which come upon the youth at and after the age of p.u.b.erty, arise from masturbation, persisted in, so as to waste the vital energies and enervate the physical and mental powers of man.” ”Many of the weaknesses commonly attributed to growth and the changes in the habit by the important transformation from adolescence to manhood, are justly referable to this practice.”[48]
[Footnote 48: Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.]
Not a Modern Vice.--That this vice is not entirely a modern one is proved by the fact that in many ancient writings directions are given for treating its effects. Even Moses seems to have recognized disorders of this cla.s.s. Hippocrates and others devoted considerable attention to them.
Victims of all Ages.--The ages at which the habit may be practiced include almost the whole extent of human life. We have seen it in infants of only three or four years, and in old men scarcely less than sixty, in both extremes marked by the most unmistakable and lamentable consequences. Cases have been noted in which the practice was begun as early as two years of age. It is common among African boys at nine and ten years of age, according to Dr. Copland.
Unsuspected Rottenness.--Parents who have no suspicion of the evil, who think their children the embodiment of purity, will find by careful observation and inquiry,--though personal testimony cannot be relied upon,--that in numerous instances their supposed virtuous children are old in corruption. Such a revelation has brought dismay into many a family, only too late in some cases.
Not long since a case came under our care which well ill.u.s.trates the apathy and blindness of parents with respect to this subject. The parents of a young man whose mind seemed to be somewhat disordered, sent word to us through a friend respecting his condition, asking advice.
We suspected from the symptoms described the real cause of the disease, and urged prompt attention to the case. In a short time the young man was placed under our immediate care without encouragement of a cure, and we gave the case still closer study. The characteristic symptoms of disease from self-abuse were marked, but the father was positive that no influence of that kind could have been at work. He had watched his son narrowly from infancy, and did not believe it possible for him to have been guilty. In addition, the young man had long been remarkable for his piety, and he did not believe there could be any possibility of his being guilty of so gross a crime.
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