[Copulation—Physiology and Social Attributes.]—With the male, the condition essential to coition is erection of the penis; which is physiologically accomplished by fostering amative thoughts, and by attitudes favorable to the stimulation of the erotic desire; as in close proximity with one of the opposite sex. A voluptuous female figure may excite the erotic instinct of an amative male in vigorous health, even though he be chaste in his intentions and habits. Individuals are isolated whose amative passions are entirely under the will, when in perfect health, of either sex. The act of coition is entirely under the will, in all healthy, well-organized human beings; but it is not uncommon that a man or woman is observed who is not responsible for acts during erotic excitement. Such are either victims of mal-organization or a sexual delirium. Many an act has been committed during such delirium or excitement, on account of which an individual has grieved her life away, or sought the only refuge that could hide her life from shame; the victim’s grave, the river: yes, a victim to sexual delirium or uncontrollable sexual passion. This innate desire is the usual instigation of copulation, and has been said to be the index to the presence of spermatozoa within the vesiculæ seminales.
Copulation may take place in the female before puberty or after the climacteric period; but in neither will the sexual congress be fruitful. Then, if the signification be confined to fruitful contact, there would seem to be a marital discrepancy between the male and female; as in the female we observe only thirty years of her existence in which it is possible for sexual congress to be followed by conception; while the male, from puberty to very old age, may be fruitful, if placed in conjunction with a female at the proper age. Nature, being rather wise in this respect, has not deprived the female of her sexual passion and pleasure at the limit of her fructification period.
Perfect coitus is not essential to impregnation; as many authenticated cases are on record in which intromission had not taken place, as evidenced by an unruptured hymen, where only it was possible for the semen to come in contact with the sphincter vaginæ; and impregnation and conception followed. Only by contrasting natural with abnormal coition, is it possible for us to comprehend how much one subject has to do in causing nervous diseases; and not to advocate that normal coition—which refers to time as much as manner—produces many permanent morbid changes.
Copulation, practiced in moderation, is conducive to domestic felicity only when both parties to the marriage contract are in a state of health sexually. This excludes sexual contact in too close proximity to the menstrual crisis, and whenever the female is not in a condition to appreciate the act, and that her condition and will should be considered and respected, and man at all times should consult her pleasure.
For further information on the physiology of copulation, I must refer the reader to Flint’s Human Physiology, where it is treated of in an exhaustive manner. But there are many points of interest that are not alone physiological, that may well be discussed and belong especially to our subject.
There seems to be a chosen time for fruitful coition with all animals. With the human race this is only partially true. The female, it is said, begins her period of breeding usually at fourteen and discontinues at forty-five; yet there are intermediate periods when copulation will not usually prove fruitful, viz., that period beginning the fourteenth day after menstruation, and ending with the next menstrual flow. This rule is not valid; as many times, in my own observation, have I known women to conceive at any and all times during her period of breeding. Even cases have occurred where the period of menstruation was not confined to the usual time of life; or the “second life” may appear, as in the following case which came under my observation some years since:
A Mrs. H. ceased menstruating at 52, was free from menstrual flow until 71 years of age, and then menstruated regularly (a perfect menstrual flow), every 40 days, until she died at the age of 76. She possessed the erotic desire and enjoyed coition. Her husband died two years before she did. She became confused in religious doctrines after her husband’s death; was melancholy and fond of isolation; committed suicide by hanging herself to her bedpost. I assisted in cutting the scarf and learned all particulars of her past life from friends and her physician.
Many cases are on record of females menstruating at very early periods. As to these discharges being indicative of the reproductive stage, much doubt may be expressed. It is very common for the male to retain his virility to a very advanced age. I am acquainted with an octogenarian, who married a young girl of nineteen, whose copulation was fruitful and the child healthy. This is doubtless not so very uncommon, in proportion to the circumstances offered for a test.
We would naturally conclude that, on account of prostitution and debauch, it was necessary that marriage become a legally organized institution. There is no evidence that in early history marriage was any more than a choice, the consummation of which was simply the invocation of a superhuman or divine watch-care; that they were bound in wedlock, not by statute law, but by a superstitious belief and natural selection. Natural selection was more cultivated and was a better guidance than in modern times, when law governs the joining and casting asunder. Copulation is the key to morality and society. So certain bonds of restriction and moral government of a social character exist, and they are made to restrain human beings and to control and limit copulation to a legitimate sphere; viz., man and wife. Any deviation from this legitimate course has long been denominated prostitution, which exists in public and private.