The power which certain odors have of exciting to desire is by no means doubtful, at least so far as animals are concerned. Most of the mammalia at the period of rutting, exhale certain emanations which serve to inform the male at a distance of the presence of a female and to excite in him the desire of copulation. Even in the insect kingdom some facts exist which cannot be accounted for except on the principle of odorous effluvia. Thus if we shut up in a perfectly close box a female bombyx, we shall soon see males flying around it, who cannot be guided there by the sense of sight. Does any thing similar occur in the human family? Many authors assert the affirmative. “Odors,” says Cabanis, “act powerfully on the nervous system: they incite it to all pleasurable sensations: they communicate to it this slight disturbance which seems to be inseparable from it, and this because they exercise a special influence on the organs which are the seat of the most vivid pleasure granted us by nature. In infancy, the influence of smell is but slight: in old age, it is feeble: it is most active at the period of youth which is that of love.” (Rapports du phys. an morale de l’homme, vol. I, p. 222.) Among many nations even in remote antiquity, voluptuous females excited their visitors to desire by the cosmetic use of different perfumes, particularly by musk. This substance has been said to be capable of producing even nocturnal pollutions. (Luc. Lebrœchus, Hist. Moschi, ch. 24, p. 153.) On the other hand, we read that Henry IV. thought that the natural odor of the sexual parts was more powerful than any cosmetics. Notwithstanding these testimonials and many others of a similar character, which might be adduced, we believe that in our species, where the sense of smell has so little influence compared to what it has in animals, that odors have but a slight effect in exciting to sexual pleasures. We think it prudent however to forbid the abuse of cosmetics in young people.
Irritation of the skin, particularly in the neighborhood of the sexual parts, may act on them as we have seen, and produce venereal desires. Debauched libertines have frequently sought pleasure in this, and have sometimes lashed themselves with thongs, or other instruments of torture. In the time of Nero, the art of invigorating the virile powers with green nettles was known and practised. Many authors have stated details on this topic which may be found in the treatise of Melbourne, (De flagrorum usu in re venerea, Lugd. Batav. 1643,[2]) and an article by Virey. (Dict. des Sc. Med., art. Flagellation.) The pleasures of flagellation, however, also have their limits: it has therefore been prescribed to deaden carnal desires, as well as to excite them. More than one saint has flagellated himself with this hope. In order that it should be efficacious, it should be used with severity.
It can easily be imagined that this remedy may have a very different effect from that proposed. Castigation, and also the denuding of the body, which is necessary, often have an effect on children, indicated by the erection of the penis. Young persons sometimes desire this punishment. The sensations caused by it have been so strong, as to be followed by an immediate emission. How many children have become addicted to onanism, in consequence of this imprudent punishment! how often has the fatal habit of onanism been encouraged by it! These consequences have been pointed out by many authors. Pic de la Mirandole, Rhodoginus, &c., have related instances of it. The following is from Serrurier. “One of my school-fellows,” says he, “found an indescribable pleasure in being whipped: he took every occasion to provoke the master, who never pardoned an offender, but had him scourged, by individuals to whom this duty was committed. This same school-fellow declared that he was sorry when the punishment was ended, because then the pollution was not complete. What has been the consequence of this horrid discovery. The unhappy person became addicted to onanism. Reduced to the lowest stage of consumption, in consequence of the habitual loss of semen, his death presents us a picture of depravity, and an instance of the danger to which one is exposed by this fatal passion.” Castigation is much more to be dreaded when practised by one of an opposite sex from that of the patient. Even young children notice this difference. Rousseau, describing the effect produced on him by being punished by Mademoiselle Lambercier, says, he was then eight years old, “For a long time she confined herself to threats, and the threat of punishment seemed very dreadful to me; but after it was performed, I found it less terrible than I expected; so much so, that it required all my natural sweetness to prevent me from seeking a return of the punishment, by averting it: for I found in the pain, and even in the shame, a mixture of sensuality which had left rather a desire, than a fear to be punished by the same hand. The same punishment from the hand of her brother would doubtless have been less agreeable.” Rousseau having exposed himself a second time to punishment, it was seen by a certain sign, that this chastisement did not produce the desired effect: he therefore escaped afterward. Thanks to his temperament, Rousseau did not contract, at that dangerous period, a habit which would have extinguished, at their source, those admirable faculties which were afterward developed.
The importance of separating the sexes in schools can be seen from the preceding remarks: this is done in many institutions, and should be practised in all. The rod, too, should also be excluded from families, and physicians should explain to families the double danger of a loss of modesty, and of exciting the senses.
Certain articles of clothing may excite the skin, cause an itching, and thus produce effects similar to those of flagellation. Haircloth and sackcloth, with which some orders of monks are now clothed, have contributed, it is said, together with the mode of life to that reputation for incontinence possessed by some orders of friars. A want of cleanliness has also had the same effect. Be this true or not, it is wise to avoid the use of flannels next the skin, particularly in young patients, and around the pelvis. Hence woollen pantaloons should always be lined. The importance of keeping the sexual organs clean, has already been pointed out; the same remarks apply to the whole body.
This cleanliness must be maintained by lotions and baths. The former ought generally to be cold: this rule is seldom contra-indicated. As to baths, we would remark that hot baths ought seldom to be prescribed for onanists and for young persons generally, because of the excitement which they cause. Tepid baths should also be used with care, as they render one susceptible and delicate. Cold baths ought always then to be preferred, when the season and health of the patients permit. There are other rules to be mentioned hereafter.
The venereal appetite may be much modified by food and drinks. This passion and the excesses with which it is attended may be connected with the diet used. Hence when we attempt to cure a young person of onanism a good selection of food and drink is very essential. It is therefore important to state the dietetic conditions by which the venereal appetite is excited or depressed.
Sine cerere et Baccho friget Venus is an old proverb, which however is too obsolete. Generally speaking abundance of good food is more favorable to venereal desires than a contrary mode of diet. This may be seen on a large scale by comparing years of plenty with those of scarcity. We can then remark how injurious periods of public distress are to the procreative power. This has long been observed, but has now been demonstrated beyond a doubt, by the patient researches of Villermé. He has ascertained from several statistical tables of population in France, that at the period of the revolution when the duty was removed from wine, salt, &c., when the laborers found themselves unusually prosperous, when they indulged in feasts and celebrations, in short, lived better, the number of births evidently increased. Eleven tables were examined by Villermé, and to this remark—he found but one exception. On the contrary, when the diet of the people is poor and insufficient, the number of conceptions diminishes and never resumes its level till abundance is restored. It would even seem that after the period of scarcity has passed away, it still continues to exercise an extraordinary degree of energy.
These facts were very manifest after the bad harvest of 1816: the number of conceptions, proportionally speaking was less, from November 1816 to September 1817, especially during the months of April, May, June, and July, than in other years. (Ann. d’hyg. publ., Jun. 1834.) Similar observations have been made in animals: it is remarked that the period of heat supervenes when they are best fed, and that generally they are much more productive when they are domesticated than when in a wild state, where they are often liable to long fasts. Hence there is reason for prescribing fasting to deaden carnal passions. Villermé has remarked that in all those catholic countries of which he has seen statistics, Lent, as it is now observed, and particularly as it was formerly kept, seems to exercise an unfavorable influence on generation.
The facts which have been mentioned may be explained in several ways: first by the action of plenty and scarcity on the health of the public. Probably in times of scarcity, a state of things is observed analogous to what is seen in marshy countries during the reign of epidemics. The action of abundance on the power of procreation may be explained also by the direct influence of the labor of digestion on the organs where the venereal sense is located. It is known that amorous desires are often developed directly after taking food. Nocturnal pollutions sometimes occur directly after lying down. Serrurier speaks of a maniac who had seminal emissions on taking food after long abstinence. (Dict. des Sc. Med., vol. xliv. p. 116.) Farther the effect alluded to may be produced as is readily imagined, more easily and forcibly when the excitement attending the labor of digestion is excessive when for instance, the repast has been great, composed of many exciting and stimulant articles of food and of good wine or with a small quantity of alcoholic drinks. Those individuals who are subject to pollution, feel the direct influence of these circumstances.