A CHAPTER FOR YOUNG MEN 



AT about the age of fifteen years, the lad begins 

 to assume the characteristics of the young man. 

 The shoulders broaden, the voice deepens, a 

 rapid growth in height and an increase in weight occurs, 

 and slight symptoms of a beard make their appearance. 

 The physiological changes which take place in the body 

 at this time are of serious import, and exert a pro- 

 found influence upon all parts of the body. The sexual 

 functions, which have heretofore been wholly placid, 

 provided the individual has been reared normally, now 

 become more active, as indicated by the increased 

 development of the organs. There is not, necessarily, 

 however, any functional activity or excitement of the 

 sexual system. If projjerly educated, and surrounded 

 by the proper influences, a boy of this age will know 

 nothing of the overwhelming excitements of the sexual 

 functions; and for some years longer, these organs 

 are by nature intended to remain passive, ■»".o natural 

 demand for their use occurring until after the body 

 has attained full maturity. 



Unfortunately, however, the natural order of things 

 is too frequently interfered with through the influence 

 of evil companions, and the majority of boys become 

 more or less contaminated morally long before this 

 period. Fortunate, indeed, is the boy who at the attain- 

 ment of puberty has acquired no form of sexual vice. 

 The nature of these vices, and the manner in which 

 they have been acquired, has been fully considered in 



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