Posted by:
baura
(
)
Date: December 05, 2018 11:21PM
"Self abuse" was a common term for masturbation back in the
1800s when many doctors preached that it caused insanity and a
whole host of physical maladies. The fact that Mormon leaders
still use that expression shows that they are still stuck in the
1800s mentally. Here's an 1835 article from the "New England
Journal of Medicine:"
https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJM183503250120703Another term was "the solitary vice." Turn-of-the-century books
on life and sex (wait until marriage, of course) always had a
chapter on "The Solitary Vice" with case histories of young men
whose lives were ruined--RUINED! by wanking. Only young men
were mentioned, of course, since young women never engage in
similar behavior.
Graham crackers were originally developed to discourage
masturbation. It was believed that spicy foods inflamed the
genitals and thus diverted one's attention there. Graham
crackers were invented to be a pleasant but bland snack that
would not lead to "beating the baguette." Here's a line from
the chapter on "self-abuse" in a book by John Harvey Kellogg,
(yes, the inventor of corn flakes):
"The use of stimulants of any kind is a fruitful cause of the
vice. Tea and coffee have led thousands to perdition in this
way. The influence of tobacco is so strongly shown in this
direction that it is doubtful if there can be found a boy who
has attained the age of puberty and has acquired the habit of
using tobacco, who is not also addicted to this vile practice.
Candies, spices, cinnamon, cloves, peppermint, and all strong
essences, powerfully excite the genital organs and lead to the
same result."
--John Harvey Kellogg, "Plain Facts for Young and Old" (1881)
See also:
Lizard (stroking the)
Bishop (shaking hands with the)
Chicken (choking the)
Mule (loping the)
Monkey (spanking the)