270 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



noted in wliicli the practice was begun as early as two 

 years of age. It is common among African boys at 

 nine and ten years of age, according to Dr. Copland. 



Unsuspected Wickedness.— Parents wlio have no 

 suspicion of the evil, who think their children the em- 

 bodiment of purity, will find by careful observation 

 and inquiry,— though personal testimony cannot be 

 relied upon,— that in many instances their supposed 

 virtuous children are old in corruption. Such a revela- 

 tion has brought dismay into many a family, in some 

 cases only too late. 



Not long since a case came under our care which 

 well illustrates the apathy and blindness of parents 

 with respect to this subject. The parents of a young 

 man whose mind seemed to be somewhat disordered, 

 sent word to us through a friend respecting his con- 

 dition, asking advice. We suspected from the symp- 

 toms described the real cause of the disease, and urged 

 prompt attention to the case. In a short time the young 

 man was placed under our immediate care without en- 

 couragement of a cure, and we gave the case still closer 

 study. The characteristic sjanptoms of disease from 

 self-abuse were marked, but the father was positive 

 that no influence of that kind could have been at work. 

 He had watched his son narrowly from infancy, and 

 did not believe it possible for him to have been guilty. 

 In addition, the young man had long been remarkable 

 for his piety, and he did not believe there could be 

 any possibility of his being guilty of so gross a crime. 



A short time sufficed, however, to secure the indis- 

 putable evidence of the fact by his being caught in 

 the act by his nurse. 



This young man was a sad example of what havoc 

 is made with the ''human form divine" by this debas- 



