That most practical of philosophers, Franklin, interprets chastity to mean, the regulated and strictly temperate satisfaction, without injury to others, of those desires which are natural to all healthy adult beings. In this sense, chastity is the first of virtues, and one most rarely practised, either by young men or by married persons, even when the latter most scrupulously conform to the letter of the law.
It is all important for the welfare of our race, that the re-productive instinct should never be selfishly indulged; never gratified at the expense of the well-being of our companions. A man who, in this matter, will not consult, with scrupulous deference, the slightest wishes of the other sex; a man who will ever put his desires in competition with theirs, and who will prize more highly the pleasure he receives than that he may be capable of bestowing—such a man appears to me, in the essentials of character, a brute. The brutes commonly seek the satisfaction of their propensities with straight-forward selfishness, and never calculate whether their companions are gratified or teased by their importunities. Man cannot assimilate his nature more closely to theirs, than by imitating them in this.
Again. There is no instinct in regard to which strict temperance is more essential. All our animal desires have hitherto occupied an undue share of human thoughts; but none more generally than this. The imaginations of the young and the passions of the adult are inflamed by mystery or excited by restraint, and a full half of all the thoughts and intrigues of the world has a direct reference to this single instinct. Even those, who like the Shakers, ‘crucify the flesh,’ are not the less occupied by it in their secret thoughts; as the Shaker writings themselves may afford proof. Neither human institutions nor human prejudices can destroy the instinct. Strange it is, that men should not be content rationally to control, and wisely to regulate it.
SEXUAL WEAKNESS
This complaint, commonly called fluor albus, or whites, to which women are peculiarly subject, must form an important object of attention, since it is always attended with disagreeable symptoms; and, when aggravated, soon spoils the beauty of a fine face, weakens the digestive powers, produces a general bad habit, and occasions sterility.
Symptoms.
An irregular discharge from the passage leading to the womb, of a fluid, which, in different women, varies much in colour, being of a white, green, yellow, or brown hue. In the beginning it is, however, most usually white and pellucid, and, in progress of the complaint, acquires the various discolourations and different degrees of acrimony, whence proceed a slight smarting on making water. Besides the discharge, the patient is frequently afflicted with severe and constant pains in the back and loins, indigestion, paleness of the face, chilliness, and languor. In process of time, every symptom becomes highly aggravated, the feet and ankles swell, palpitations, and a difficulty of respiration are experienced, the menstrual discharge is rendered irregular, the urine is turbid, the mind is dejected, and either consumption or dropsy supervenes, and terminates a miserable existence.
In some languid habits, the fluor albus returns periodically, instead of the proper menstrual evacuation, until the patient’s constitution is duly invigorated.
Causes.
It may be produced by any cause which either weakens or irritates the womb and its appendages. It may arise from general debility of the constitution, but it is especially caused by circumstances impairing the power of the womb itself, as, for instance, a severe labour, a miscarriage, or profuse menstruation.