Diseases consequent on Paederastia.
§ 13.
If we consider, first that the contractile power of the Sphincter ani muscle offered great resistance to the paederast, a resistance only to be overcome by the exertion of considerable force, secondly that the glands of the rectum exude a malodorous secretion, which under the influence of climate,—a subject to be dealt with more precisely later on,—assumes a more or less acrid quality, it will not surprise us to find that manifold forms of disease showed themselves in Ancient times both among paederasts and cinaedi (pathics). These were no doubt all the more serious in cases where the one set of organs or the other was already morbidly affected. As to the paederast indeed the direct evidence is scanty, yet it is not entirely wanting, as may be seen from the following Epigram of Martial[265]:
In Naevolum.
Mentula cum doleat puero, tibi, Naevole, culus,
Non sum divinus, sed scio quid facias.
(To Naevolus.—When I see pained and sore the boy’s penis and your posterior, Naevolus,—I’m no wizard, but I know what it is you do). Here we see both parts suffering from disease, the paederast in his penis, the pathic in his posterior: and Martial concludes Naevolus was a cinaedus.
But more especially must phimosis and paraphimosis have had a tendency to be set up in the case of the paederast. These at first, because the continuous state of erection of the penis which is a feature of these affections was obviously the most visibly conspicuous symptom, were designated by the name Satyriasis, the usual appellation of the latter condition. This will also give a probable explanation of the mortality from this cause observed by Themison in Crete[266],—a locality notorious, as we have seen, for the dishonouring of boys,—and generally for the frequency of Satyriasis, which often took an almost epidemic character in that island. Paraphimosis it should be noted in passing had already been only too frequently noted as affecting masturbators. Physicians indeed say nothing as to the predisposing causes, and explain the disease as arising from an Acrimonia humorum (Acridness of the humours) or from drinking a Philtre (Love-potion). Naumann[267] appears to wish to make the Satyriasis that prevailed in Crete some form of leprous affection, but for this view we can find absolutely no ground.
Much more frequent mention is found of affections of the rectum among the pathics as consequences of paederastia. First come fissures, and in their train ulcers of the rectum; whence the expressions sectus, percisus (cut), and the like are applied so often in Roman writers to the pathic, and to his vice generally. So Martial[268] says:
In Carinum.