Onanism display'd / being, I. an enquiry into the true nature of Onan's sin. II. of the modern Onanists. III. of self-pollution, its causes, and consequences; with three extraordinary cases, of two young gentlemen and a lady, who were very much addicted to this crime. IV. of nocturnal-pollutions natural and forc'd. V. the great sin of self-pollution, with the judgment of the most eminent divines upon this subject. VI. a dissertation concerning generation, with a curious description of the parts, and of their proper functions, &c. according to the latest, and most approv'd anatomical discoveries

by Unknown

The Glans, or head of the Membrum Virile, is the only fleshy part in the Yard; being soft and smooth, to prevent its hurting the Matrix of the Woman, and running in some measure to a point to facilitate its Entry: It is cover’d with a thin Membrane, which renders it sensible of the Titillation occasion’d by rubbing upon the Matrix; and in the time of Erection, the Spirits and Blood repair to it vigorously, when it swells and starts out of an uncommon length, assuming a lively red Colour; but upon the retreat of the Blood, it flaggs and becomes pale and shrivell’d.

The prepuce is the loose Skin at the utmost end of the Yard, which stretches out and covers the Nut, or draws down, to uncover it, as there is occasion: In time of Erection, it will draw down the Yard a considerable way, the easier to enter in Copulation: ’Tis tied under the Nut, with a fine Ligament call’d the Bridle, which must be cut when it is to short, and draws the orifice of the Nut downwards, by reason it hinders the Ejaculation of the Seed in a straight Line. The Prepuce enlarges the pleasure in Copulation, especially of the Women.

The Yard has two Cavernous Bodies, one on each side, taking their rise from the lower part of the Os Pubis, and the Hip-bone, and these cavernous Bodies, or Nerves have two Substances, external and internal, the external one is thick, hard, and nervous, and the internal one, is spungy, thin, and fungous.

The Erection of the Yard is owing to these cavernous Bodies, which being fill’d with Spirits, swell and extend themselves: And the arterious Blood being poured into the cavernous Bodies effects the distension of the Yard, as its lankness is occasion’d by sending of that Blood through the Hypogastrick Veins. The spungy Substance of the cavernous Bodies, stops the Blood for some time, whereby an erection is forc’d.

In all Enjoyments, the animal Spirits are rouz’d by fancy, which strikes the Idea of Pleasure, and when the Spirits are thus rais’d, they instantly repair to the Nerves of the Organs of Generation, and puff them up on mixing with the Blood, convey’d thither by the Arteries; and upon the mixture of these two, a Fermentation succeeds, whereby an Erection is effected.

The Urethra is a nervous Passage, extending from the neck of the Bladder, to the end of the Yard. It is a common passage for the Seed and Urine.

The Testicles are so call’d from the Latin Word Testes, as they witness the vigour of a Man. They are seated without the Abdomen, at the root of the Yard; and enclos’d in the Scrotum, which is a Purse consisting of two Membranes; these Vessels do not prepare or form the Seed; but their office is to import the Blood from which ’tis separated.

The Testicles are of an oval Figure, about the size of a Pigeons Egg, and in some larger: They are wrapt up in five Coats or fine Skins, viz. The Scrotum, Dartos, Eritroides, Elitroides, and the Albuginea; the two first are call’d common, and the three last are call’d proper. The outer Coat is shrivell’d and encompass’d with thin Hair. The Substance of the Testicle, is white, soft, and loose, compos’d of several small Seminals Vessels, and Capillaries, which are the Branches of the Arteries, Veins, Nerves, and Lymphatick Vessels.

There are two Muscles call’d Cremasters, which keep the Stones suspended; and if these happen to be stronger than ordinary, they’ll move the Testicles of themselves.

The most volatile part of the Blood is strain’d out from the rest by the Glandulous Pith of the Testicle, which gives passage only to the finest Particles, and obliges the rest to return to the Veins. This part of the Blood thus filtrated, is rais’d to a just degree of perfection by the length of the Pipes, through which it passes; and what adds to its refinement is the windings of these Pipes, which procure a mutual disunion, by whirling about. When the Seed is prepar’d, it is lodg’d in the expansion of the Vasa Deferentia; being first put in motion by the Heat of the Vein call’d the Spermatick Artery; and when the Imagination is enflam’d by amorous Thoughts, it suddenly breaks forth.