Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XLII Masturbation IT is difficult for the average individual to realize that girls are at all in danger of acquiring the secret vice known as self-abuse or masturbation. We do so like to think of the feminine half of creation as made of entirely different clay from that used for their counterpart, that we are prone to picture them as utterly free from the temptations and dangers that assail the masculine portion of mankind. There is a certain foundation in fact for this feeling. We know that every cell of the woman's body manifests the characteristics of femininity, and in so far is different from every cell of the man's body. Her impulses and inclinations are different from his, and it is equally true that temptations which assail him with pecular force may not have so great an effect upon her. Taking all of these things into account, however, it is nevertheless true that they are both human beings, with physical impulses and appetites which at least correspond. We have no opportunity for discovering how strong the spontaneous impulse toward masturbation would be in either sex, because we are not able to bring up our children in entirely ideal surroundings where there would be no outward suggestion toward that form of sex gratification. Therefore, we have no opportunity for comparing the strength of this impulse in the two sexes. We are obliged simply to accept conditions as they are, and any one who has been made the confidant of any large number of young women is aware of the fact that many of them have had to meet this temptation. It would be well for us to consider the natural ways in which this habit may be formed in early childhood, in order that we may rid ourselves of an unnecessary amount of condemnation for those who...
