18th century warn against masturbation

J Ment Sci ; A connection of the heinous sin with insanity began to be forged in the later s, as Enlightenment era values fostered an understanding of mental imbalance as illness that might be cured. Journal of Religion and Health. To intervene in this personal, secret activity, which masturbation was, does not represent something neutral for the parents. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. The History of American Health Reformers. If we draw the link with Tissot and the fact that the loss of semen that is to say orgasm through masturbation is the causes for the diseases that follow, it could explain why the question of female masturbation was less treated in the eighteenth century, because of a reluctance to associate women and sexual pleasure.

In the Song of Solomon, the Shulamite maiden encourages the Daughters of Jerusalem to "stir not nor awaken love until it please," i. The pendulum of sexual mores has now most certainly swung to the opposite extreme in the last half-century. The "new ways" are expression and guiltlessness. The act should be seen in light of a total process.

Indeed, according to Pickstone, sex has usurped religion's position on the spiritual pedestal. Pan in his turn taught the habit to young shepherds. The early stages of mammalian development are difficult to study. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Many health specialists consider masturbation a sensible source of pleasure, a convenient tension reducer, a productive way to realize body awareness and potential-in general, a healthy practice.

Females possess less vital force than the other sex, and are deprived very much of the bracing, invigorating air, by their in-door life. Some forms of sex, nevertheless, were more dangerous than others. Tissot, however, actually was a doctor. Kellogg was able to draw upon many medical sources' claims such as "neither the plague, nor war, nor small-pox, nor similar diseases, have produced results so disastrous to humanity as the pernicious habit of onanism ," credited to one Dr. Retrieved 27 August Because the brain's inflamed state could be transmitted to any organ or tissue of the body through the nervous system, all manner of disease could follow. Journal List West J Med v.