XII

There is some variance of opinion as to the proper mode and frequency of the indulgence or use of the orgasm; especially as it pertains to different ages, sexes and conditions. Without discussing the different ideas held, we will give, what is believe to be the consensus of opinions of the latest and most widely experienced investigators.

It is evident that the proper, most natural, and beneficial mode of effecting the orgasm is by the sexual union; but this mode is only permissible in marriage. This fact serves as an imperative reason for so strongly advocating that boys and girls should marry early, and that all persons who are not frigid or impotent, should live in the married state. It is even recommended that two persons who out not to propagate, for eugenic reasons, should also marry after one of them has been rendered sterile. Sterility may be accomplished simply by exposure (from time to time) to Radium or to the X-ray, and it is claimed that these methods do not in any way impair the sex powers and copulative capabilities. Monogamous marriage has proved to be the most expedient provision for living the sex life, that has so far been devised. It is a democratic ideal designed to provide for every person an exclusive sex partner, and to provide that every man may know his own children. But because the ideal of marriage is not always reached in practice, we have those with us who are not in the married state.

Masturbation. While most sex specialists assert that masturbation, if only used to the extent of preventing pollutions is not injurious, all agree that there is a great latent danger in the practice; for the reason that, due to the ease of its accomplishment, it is likely to run into excesses and dissipation. Much greater dissipation is possible in masturbation than in natural copulation, due to the fact that in the latter, erection of the male is always positively necessary; whereas in the former, failure in erection usually constitutes no barrier in producing the orgasm.

As regards masturbation among children and adolescents, sex educators have changed their views considerably from what they formerly were. A generation ago, small girls were told that their fingers would be cut off, and boys that their privates would be amputated, if they were caught again. When older, they were told it was a great sin and a crime, that they would become insane, paralyzed, etc. They were made to feel that they were utterly lost and ruined. All these things set up a continual mental conflict, a severe clashing between their training and the instinctive, natural prick of the flosh; causing most injurious results, such as loss of ambition and self-respect, melancholia, nervous affections, and other ailments generally attributed to masturbation. It is claimed by recent writers that much more damage has been caused by this mental conflict and depression of spirit than was ever caused by masturbation itself.

It is known that nearly all children who are well-sexed, especially between the ages of ten and twenty, will, from time to time incite artificial orgasms; and while such practice is admittedly unnatural, it must be remembered that the present denial from coition (due to late marriage, etc.) which civilization has forced upon the youth is also unnatural, and that masturbation as a substitute is one of the results of this suppression. Therefore, unless the occurrence is frequent, one need not deal harshly with the matter; for there is no cause for any alarm or concern.

When it is found that small children have acquired the habit, it is recommended by Dr. A. Moll, that when put to bed, they be required to keep their hands out from under the cover and be watched by a responsible person until the habit is broken. It has also been recommended that the sleeves of their night gowns be made long and sewed up at the ends. When they become older it is thought best to tell them strictly the truth—that injury results from excess. The injurious physiological effects of frequent masturbation should be impressed upon them emphatically; but when the indulgence is moderate, they need not feel that they are vicious criminals, nor that they are injuring themselves. For adult persons, marriage and the ensuing normal sexual relations are naturally the best remedies for masturbation.

In regard to the frequence of the orgasm, this subject was treated in the foregoing chapter, but only in so far as it applies to the married state.

The idea that the orgasm should only be used for propagation, is quite absurd. To endorse the unrestrained and excessive indulgence of the orgasm would be almost equally absurd. Continence is the word used to indicate a suppression of the orgasm. In general, the word does not mean strict abstinence of all sexual gratification, but only a relative suppression of the orgasm. For instance, methods of sex intercourse, where the acts are greatly prolonged and terminated without the orgasm are termed “continence methods,” “male continence,” etc.

Complete abstinence from all sexual gratification, especially at certain ages, for the majority of persons is very injurious to health and happiness.

Dr. Wickard, a European writer, says:

Prolonged abstinence makes men sad, unbridled, and wild... Among the inconveniences one may mention pollutions, spermatorrhoea, swelling and inflammation of the seminal ducts, thickening and final destruction of the accumulated semen, priapism, spasm, melancholy, and at the last the violent passion itself.

Dr. Nystrom, a Swedish authority, says:

The most usual consequences of abstinence in man are heaviness of extremities, pains and pressure of the head, especially the back of it, which is congested, backache, anxiety, depression, weakness, general malaise, want of appetite, flatulence and diarrhoea, pains in the testicles, which are swollen and tender, bad dreams and sleep, which give no recreation, aversion to, and distaste for work, etc.... Abstinence has often the same effect upon women..The most common diseases caused by abstinence (in women) are chlorosis, female diseases, nervousness, cramps, hysterics with tendency to alternate crying and laughing, hilarity and sadness, insomnia, epilepsy, hallucinations, mental disorders, etc.

The above evils and disorders apply to adults who are normal or well sexed, and who follow abstinence for many weeks, months, or ever years. Among frigid persons and those very poorly sexed, abstinence apparently has no injurious effect.

For boys under the age of twenty, it is believed that continence causes no injury to health and may be an advantage both to the physical and to the mental development of the youth. It is certain that dissipation through excess of orgasms (such as from masturbation) is very disastrous at this age—more so than at any other in life. For men over the age of twenty, the married state is recommended. Among average men, however, continence followed up to the age of twenty-five, may not result in any great or permanent injury; but when it is persisted in until the ages between twenty-five and thirty-five it is very sure to result in impotence.

For girls, continence is likewise believed to be free from injurious effects until the age of twenty; but marriage is advised a little earlier than at this age. Early marriage for girls tends to prevent frigidity; and if sexual excesses should occur at this age, they are not so dissipating for the female as for the male. Because night pollutions are not nearly so frequent among girls as among boys, seems to be a natural reason why masturbation is much less urgent, and therefore less prevalent, among girls than among boys.

It is believed that the girl's natural and unrestrained thoughts on sex subjects, and her natural desire for the opposite sex, will direct the blood to the genitals sufficiently to prevent serious degeneracy of these organs up to the age of about twenty-five; but if such natural thoughts, desires and feelings towards sex matters are persistently suppressed, and the girl is train to believe that these things are improper, degrading, sinful, indecent, or vile, then she runs great risk of acquiring a sexually cold nature. Her sex organs become more or less atrophied; and due to this fact, marriage becomes unsatisfactory and subsequent childbirth is more difficult.

It is of course true that, where practicable normal coitus, for both sexes of all ages above puberty, is greatly preferable to either abstinence or masturbation and other perverse practices.

Many men, because they have practiced masturbation in their youth, are afraid they have injured their sex powers and rendered themselves unfit for marriage. Women for the same reason sometimes think they are unfit to marry a good man, and believe some terrible retribution is awaiting them in marriage. All such persons should at once rid themselves of these absurd notions. Nearly all men, and a large percentage of women, have at some period of their lives practiced masturbation; yet, with very rare exceptions, they do not carry with them any injurious after effects other than this fear, remorse and worry; and they are invariably freed from this mental disturbance as soon as they have once learned the truth.

From what has been said it is apparent that whether masturbation is injurious or beneficial depends upon what we compare it with. Compared with natural living, i.e., regular normal coitus with love, it is decidedly detrimental. Compared with starvation from sexual abstinence, enough masturbation to prevent night pollutions is certainly beneficial; and for adults more than this may be wholesome. In the case of boys and men, it is the too frequent orgasm that injures, rather than the masturbatory practice itself. Here reservatus may be practiced, as well as in normal coitus. Girls and women who practice masturbation of the clitoris and nymphae gradually become frigid to normal coitus, and thus hold a very poor chance of attaining happiness in marriage. Where it is performed within the vagina, and without too frequent orgasms, very little objection to it can be made.

From the physiological standpoint (according to Bloch, Malchow, Stone, Robinson, Stekel, Robie, Nystrom, Erb and others) compensatory masturbation is more natural, and results in a lesser exhaustion to the nervous system than pollutions. Yet all those who are wasting their sexual possibilities in masturbation are indeed accepting a very poor substitute for marriage. That marriage has become so uninviting that great numbers of people will masturbate in preference to it, is one of the greatest tragedies of our time. Too much emphasis has been placed upon forcing people to stay married to existing partners against their wills—thus making of marriage a prison to be feared. Living in the married state, even if the individuals marry several different times, is far better for society than either masturbation or promiscuity.

Sundry perverse and unnatural sexual practices are often referred to as “crime against nature”. It is a tragedy that we live under such a mock system of morals that such revolting substitutes must be resorted to. The greatest crime against nature is the present sexual privation and starvation which large numbers of people of both sexes must endure, even though they exhaust their energies and wreck their nerves in the effort. If we should likewise starve our bodies for food, and would eat dry leaves and straw as a desperate substitute for real food, especially when there were plenty of good food free at hand, the whole world would be horrified at our stupidity.

We are sorely in need of some sex reform that will meet the demands of nature.