_Copulation――Physiology and Social Attributes._――With the male, the
condition essential to coition is erection of the penis; which is
physiologically accomplished by fostering amative thoughts, and by
attitudes favorable to the stimulation of the erotic desire; as in
close proximity with one of the opposite sex. A voluptuous female
figure may excite the erotic instinct of an amative male in vigorous
health, even though he be chaste in his intentions and habits.
Individuals are isolated whose amative passions are entirely under
the will, when in perfect health, of either sex. The act of coition
is entirely under the will, in all healthy, well-organized human
beings; but it is not uncommon that a man or woman is observed who is
not responsible for acts during erotic excitement. Such are either
victims of mal-organization or a sexual delirium. Many an act has been
committed during such delirium or excitement, on account of which an
individual has grieved her life away, or sought the only refuge that
could hide her life from shame; the victim’s grave, the river: yes,
a victim to sexual delirium or uncontrollable sexual passion. This
innate desire is the usual instigation of copulation, and has been said
to be the index to the presence of spermatozoa within the vesiculæ
seminales.
Copulation may take place in the female before puberty or after
the climacteric period; but in neither will the sexual congress
be fruitful. Then, if the signification be confined to fruitful
contact, there would seem to be a marital discrepancy between the
male and female; as in the female we observe only thirty years of her
existence in which it is possible for sexual congress to be followed
by conception; while the male, from puberty to very old age, may be
fruitful, if placed in conjunction with a female at the proper age.
Nature, being rather wise in this respect, has not deprived the female
of her sexual passion and pleasure at the limit of her fructification
period.
Perfect coitus is not essential to impregnation; as many authenticated
cases are on record in which intromission had not taken place, as
evidenced by an unruptured hymen, where only it was possible for the
semen to come in contact with the sphincter vaginæ; and impregnation
and conception followed. Only by contrasting natural with abnormal
coition, is it possible for us to comprehend how much one subject
has to do in causing nervous diseases; and not to advocate that
normal coition――which refers to time as much as manner――produces many
permanent morbid changes.
_Copulation, practiced in moderation, is conducive to domestic felicity
only when both parties to the marriage contract are in a state of
health sexually._ This excludes sexual contact in too close proximity
to the menstrual crisis, and whenever the female is not in a condition
to appreciate the act, and that her condition and will should be
considered and respected, and man at all times should consult her
pleasure.
For further information on the physiology of copulation, I must refer
the reader to _Flint’s Human Physiology_, where it is treated of in an
exhaustive manner. But there are many points of interest that are not
alone physiological, that may well be discussed and belong especially
to our subject.
There seems to be a chosen time for fruitful coition with all
animals. With the human race this is only partially true. The female,
it is said, begins her period of breeding usually at fourteen and
discontinues at forty-five; yet there are intermediate periods
when copulation will not usually prove fruitful, viz., that period
beginning the fourteenth day after menstruation, and ending with the
next menstrual flow. This rule is not valid; as many times, in my own
observation, have I known women to conceive at any and all times during
her period of breeding. Even cases have occurred where the period
of menstruation was not confined to the usual time of life; or the
“second life” may appear, as in the following case which came under my
observation some years since:
A Mrs. H. ceased menstruating at 52, was free from menstrual flow
until 71 years of age, and then menstruated regularly (a perfect
menstrual flow), every 40 days, until she died at the age of 76. She
possessed the erotic desire and enjoyed coition. Her husband died two
years before she did. She became confused in religious doctrines after
her husband’s death; was melancholy and fond of isolation; committed
suicide by hanging herself to her bedpost. I assisted in cutting the
scarf and learned all particulars of her past life from friends and her
physician.
Many cases are on record of females menstruating at very early periods.
As to these discharges being indicative of the reproductive stage, much
doubt may be expressed. It is very common for the male to retain his
virility to a very advanced age. I am acquainted with an octogenarian,
who married a young girl of nineteen, whose copulation was fruitful
and the child healthy. This is doubtless not so very uncommon, in
proportion to the circumstances offered for a test.
We would naturally conclude that, on account of prostitution and
debauch, it was necessary that marriage become a legally organized
institution. There is no evidence that in early history marriage
was any more than a choice, the consummation of which was simply the
invocation of a superhuman or divine watch-care; that they were bound
in wedlock, not by statute law, but by a superstitious belief and
natural selection. Natural selection was more cultivated and was a
better guidance than in modern times, when law governs the joining and
casting asunder. Copulation is the key to morality and society. So
certain bonds of restriction and moral government of a social character
exist, and they are made to restrain human beings and to control
and limit copulation to a legitimate sphere; viz., man and wife.
Any deviation from this legitimate course has long been denominated
prostitution, which exists in public and private.
The vice of changing partners has become so open and for such trivial
causes that laws have been enacted, of the most rigid character, and
then divorcing and remarrying are carried on to an alarming extent.
These are only the attributes of copulation and erotic desire.
Natural copulative affinity constitutes the bond of chaste affection
that holds together a man and wife in harmony and love. Parties, male
and female, have existed just as happily during life, when marriage
vows had never been solemnized and legalized by other than natural
copulative affinity. This sexual affinity constitutes more than
mere admiration, or transient passion or erotic anxiety: everlasting
contentment and felicity will follow such natural adaptation. Some are
contented in wedlock, as they possess submissive dispositions, who are
not adapted by copulative affinity.
Society is partial in her endowments and liberties bestowed upon the
sexes. The male enjoys favors at the hands of society not permitted the
female. For this, on account of her innate propensities, the female
is responsible. She will expunge a female from her circle of society
for that for which she will sustain the male. She will encourage
insults from man, and cry for woman’s rights, and against masculine
maltreatment. She will receive, with open arms, the young father of a
prospective bastard, and commit the equal participant, and prospective,
victimized mother, whose sins can only be equal to those of the father,
to a dungeon, or permit her to accept a life of shame by refusing her
entrance at the threshold.
If these are the privileges of modern society _now_, what would women
do with the fallen ones of their sex had they things as they so much
desire, in “woman’s rights” circles? Every female who had made a
mistake (that should become known) would be tortured at the rack, or
murdered; and few would there be left to tell the tale. The moral
beginning must be with woman. She must not offer premiums for male
licentiousness, and must encourage her fallen sisters to “sin no
more.” She must protect her own sex by showing forgiveness, as well
as censuring. So far as effecting any change, moral teaching is of
the greatest vanity. But these things are not looked upon in their
true light. Sexualists discuss these subjects, who do not appreciate
the first principles of sexual physiology; who do not comprehend that
the sexual relation in itself is the very essence of deception, as of
secrecy. The cunning devices of both male and female are exhausted by
efforts at assignation and debauch. The greater the legal restriction
the greater the deception. The more common, open and generous our
society becomes, the better will be its constituents.