Fear of Sex, part V: Mental images 'n more!

In this week's episode of Fear of Sex, the authors of the 1922 non-classic "Ethical Sex Relations, or The New Eugenics" try explaining the various sicknesses that could cause an inflated libido. Listen up, because this just might be the only time you encounter an argument that suggests constipation is a turn-on. Then after the jump, I've got a brief photo tour of the book we've been suffering through for the past month. See the insanity for yourself! But first...

Page: 122
Chapter title: There Seems to be a Sex Mania in this Civilization
Section title: Causes of Sexual Excitability

Too frequent irritation of the genitals, onanism, intercourse too frequently repeated, alcoholic stimulants and condiments in excess, and also lack of exercise, are the main causes of sexual excitability.

Treatment for sexual excitability consists of removing or remedying the causes as above given. The following articles of food should be avoided: Highly seasoned food, cheese, all rich foods, salted and acid food, meat should be eaten moderately. The system should not become constipated, as that irritates the genitalia and increases the inflammation. Carbonated waters and all alcoholic drinks must be discarded or forbidden. Exercises such as the strength of in the individual will permit should daily and systematically be engaged in. It is also best that the body and mind be constantly and properly employed.

In women sexual excitability is often caused by local diseases, the cure of these diseases must therefore be wrought and the remedy will thus be an accomplished fact.

And now, images!

That's my favorite illustration from the book. Who knew that sperm, before leaving the testicles, are actually hanging out with microscopic chocolate chip cookies? And check out the description: Floating bodies in life fluid. Imagine if we still used those terms. "Whoops, sorry about that. Here's a tissue to wipe off those floating bodies in life fluid."

There you see the cover of the book. Look at that big smudge in the middle. From somebody perhaps gripping this book a bit too tightly? We'll never know. The only indication of who once owned this is a small pencil signature on the first page -- R. G. Burrows.

This photo is from the fifth page, and serves as a faint warning of things to come. Of course, a reader is hardly prepared for the horrors inside. Who could have predicted, say, that this line about children being "born well" -- no doubt a desire of every parent -- is backed up by arguments that too much sex will cause people to "beget sickly children who die early"? It's pro-life, but it sure ain't pro-living.

And there, just for the hell of it, is the original logo I designed, before I decided it was too weird and creepy, and settled on the quotation graphic that you see at the top of each FOS post. A little over the top, perhaps? Perhaps.

Tune in next week!

Posted by Jason Feifer at December 21, 2004 08:24 AM