UNCHASTITY 267 



SOLITARY VICE 



If illicit commerce of the sexes is a heinous sin, 

 self-pollution, or masturbation, is a crime doubly 

 abominable. As a sin against nature, it has no parallel 

 except in sodomy (see Gen. 19:5; Judges 19:22). It' 

 is the most dangerous of all sexual abuses because the 

 most extensively practiced. The vice consists in an 

 excitement of the genital organs produced otherwise 

 than in the natural way. It is known by the terms, 

 self-pollution, self-abuse, masturbation, onanism, ma- 

 nustupration, voluntary pollution, and solitary or secret 

 vice. The vice is the more extensive because there are 

 almost no bounds to its indulgence. Its frequent repe- 

 tition fastens it upon the victim with a fascination 

 almost irresistible. It may be begun in earliest in- 

 fancy, and may continue through life. 



Even though no warning may have been given, the 

 transgressor seems to know, instinctively, that he is 

 committing a great wrong, for he carefully hides his 

 practice from observation. In solitude he pollutes him- 

 self, and with his own hand blights all his prospects 

 for both this world and the nexto Even after being 

 solemnly warned, he will often continue this worse 

 than beastly practice, deliberately forfeiting his right 

 to health and happiness for a moment's mad sensuality. 



Alarming Prevalence of the Vice.— The habit is 

 by no means confined to boys ; girls also indulge in it, 

 though it is to be hoped, to a less fearful extent than 

 boys, at least in this country. A Russian physician, 

 quoted by an eminent medical professor in New York, 

 states that the habit is universal among girls in Russia. 

 It seems impossible that such a statement should be 



