THE SEXUAL QUESTION
A Scientific, Psychological, Hygienic and Sociological Study for the Cultured Classes. By August Forel, M.D., Ph.D., LL.D., Formerly Professor of Psychiatry at and Director of the Insane Asylum in Zürich (Switzerland). English Adaptation by C. F. Marshall, M.D., F.R.C.S., Late Assistant-Surgeon to the Hospital for Diseases of the Skin, London. Royal 8vo. With 23 Illustrations, 17 of which are printed in colours. Cloth, 550 pages, price 21s. net.
Extract from Author’s Preface to the First German Edition.
This book is the fruit of long experience and reflection. It has two fundamental ideas—the study of nature, and the study of the psychology of man in health and in disease.
To harmonize the aspirations of human nature and the data of the sociology of the different human races and the different epochs of history, with the results of natural science and the laws of mental and sexual evolution which these have revealed to us, is a task which has become more and more necessary at the present day. It is our duty to our descendants to contribute as far as is in our power to its accomplishment. In recognition of the immense progress of education which we owe to the sweat, the blood, and often to the martyrdom of our predecessors, it behoves us to prepare for our children a life more happy than ours.
Translator’s Preface.
Professor Forel is well known to English readers through the medium of English translations of his other works on Psychiatry and kindred subjects. The present work has already been translated into several European languages. Whether we agree with all Professor Forel’s conclusions or not, we must admit that he has dealt with a difficult and delicate subject in a masterly and scientific manner.
Contents: I. — The Reproduction of Living Beings — History of the Germ — Cell-Division — Parthenogenesis — Conjugation — Mneme — Embryonic Development — Differences of Sexes — Castration — Hermaphrodism — Heredity — Blastophthoria. II. — The Evolution or Descent of Living Beings. III. — Natural Conditions of Mechanism of Human Coitus — Pregnancy — Correlative Sexual Characters. IV. — The Sexual Appetite in Man and Woman — Flirtation. V. — Love and other Irradiations of the Sexual Appetite in the Human Mind — Psychic Irradiations of Love in Man: Procreative Instinct, Jealousy, Sexual Braggardism, Pornographic Spirit, Sexual Hypocrisy, Prudery and Modesty, Old Bachelors — Psychic Irradiations of Love in Woman: Old Maids, Passiveness and Desire, Abandon and Exaltation, Desire for Domination, Petticoat Government, Desire of Maternity and Maternal Love, Routine and Infatuation, Jealousy, Dissimulation, Coquetry, Prudery and Modesty — Fetichism and Anti-Fetichism — Psychological Relations of Love to Religion. VI. — Ethnology and History of the Sexual Life of Man and of Marriage — Origin of Marriage — Antiquity of Matrimonial Institutions — Criticism of the Doctrine of Promiscuity — Marriage and Celibacy — Sexual Advances and Demands of Marriage — Methods of Attraction — Liberty of Choice — Sexual Selection — Law of Resemblance — Hybrids — Prohibition of Consanguineous Marriages — Rôle of Sentiment and Calculation in Sexual Selection — Marriage by Purchase — Decadence of Marriage by Purchase — Dowry — Nuptial Ceremonies — Forms of Marriage — Duration of Marriage — History of Extra-Nuptial Sexual Intercourse. VII. — Sexual Evolution — Phylogeny and Ontogeny of Sexual Life. VIII. — Sexual Pathology — Pathology of the Sexual Organs — Venereal Disease — Sexual Psychology — Reflex Anomalies — Psychic Impotence — Sexual Paradoxy — Sexual Anæsthesia — Sexual Hyperæsthesia — Masturbation and Onanism — Perversions of the Sexual Appetite: Sadism, Masochism, Fetichism, Exhibitionism, Homosexual Love, Sexual Inversion, Pederosis, Sodomy — Sexual Anomalies in the Insane and Psychopathic — Effects of Alcohol on the Sexual Appetite — Sexual Anomalies by Suggestion and Auto-Suggestion — Sexual Perversions due to Habit. IX. — The Rôle of Suggestion in Sexual Life — Amorous Intoxication. X. — The Relations of the Sexual Question to Money and Property — Prostitution, Proxenetism and Venal Concubinage. XI. — The Influence of Environment on Sexual Life — Influence of Climate — Town and Country Life — Vagabondage — Americanism — Saloons and Alcohol — Riches and Poverty — Rank and Social Position — Individual Life — Boarding Schools. XII. — Religion and Sexual Life. XIII. — Rights in Sexual Life — Civil Law — Penal Law — A Medico-Legal Case. XIV. — Medicine and Sexual Life — Prostitution — Sexual Hygiene — Extra-Nuptial Intercourse — Medical Advice — Means of Regulating or Preventing Conception — Hygiene of Marriage — Hygiene of Pregnancy — Medical Advice as to Marriage — Medical Secrecy — Artificial Abortion — Treatment of Sexual Disorders. XV. — Sexual Morality. XVI. — The Sexual Question in Politics and in Political Economy. XVII. — The Sexual Question in Pedagogy. XVIII. — The Sexual Question in Art. XIX. — Conclusions — Utopian Ideas on the Ideal Marriage of the Future — Bibliographical Remarks.