[87]. In Zola’s “Therese Raquin,” where the lover repeatedly kisses his mistress’s boot, the case is quite different from that of shoe- and boot-fetichists, who, at the sight of every boot worn by a lady, or even alone, are thrown into sexual excitement, even to the extent of ejaculation.
[88]. Though Binet (op. cit.) declares that every sexual perversion, without exception, depends upon such an “accident acting on a predisposed subject” (where, under predisposition, only hyperæsthesia in general is understood), yet such an assumption for other perversions than fetichism is neither necessary nor satisfactory. For example, it is not clear how the sight of another’s punishment could excite sexually even a very excitable individual, if the physiological relationship of lust and cruelty had not been developed into original sadism in an abnormally excitable individual.
[89]. When young husbands who have associated much with prostitutes feel impotent in the face of the chastity of their young wives—a thing that frequently occurs—the condition may be regarded as a kind of (psychical) fetichism in a wider sense. One of my patients was never potent with his beautiful and chaste young wife, because he was accustomed to the lascivious methods of prostitutes. When he now and then attempted coitus with puellis he was perfectly potent. Hammond (op. cit.) reports a very similar interesting case. Of course, in such cases, a bad conscience and hypochondriacal fear of impotence play an important part.
[90]. A kind of rudimentary sadism in L. and masochism in N.
[91]. Great sexual hyperæsthesia. Comp. note on p. 50.
[92]. This is also sexual hyperæsthesia. Any intense excitement affects the sexual sphere (Binet’s “dynamogénie générale”). Concerning this, Dr. Moll communicates the following case: “A similar thing is described by Mr. E., aged 27; merchant. While at school, and afterward, he often had ejaculation with pleasurable feeling when he was seized with a feeling of intense anxiety. Besides, almost every other physical or mental pain exerted a similar influence. E., as he states, has a normal sexual instinct, but suffers with nervous impotence.”
[93]. Phila. Med. and Surg. Rep., Sept. 7, 1889.
[94]. This case was originally reported by Dr. A. R. Reynolds, Chicago (Western Med. Reporter, Nov., 1888).
[95]. Moll (op. cit. p. 131) reports: “A man, X., becomes intensely excited sexually whenever he sees a woman with the hair in a braid; loose hair, no matter how beautiful, cannot produce this effect.”
Of course, it is not justifiable to consider all hair-despoilers fetichists, for in a few cases such acts are done for the purpose of gain,—i.e., the stolen hair is not a fetich.