THE ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION 93 



is the one that so often yields valuable clues as to 

 the function of any particular part of the organism. 



Castration. Here the history of mankind sup- 

 plies us with an abundance of material at least, 

 in so far as the male part of the population is con- 

 cerned ; for our information concerning the female 

 portion is slender. Castration was extensively 

 practised in antiquity, and still is in oriental 

 countries where there are watchers of the harem. 

 Professor Falta informs us that it was carried out 

 in Italy "for musical purposes," and that the prac- 

 tice ceased only recently. In Eussia a religious 

 sect known as the "skopzen" include castration as 

 a necessary part of their religious ritual. Perhaps 

 the most pathetic account that has been handed 

 down to us is that of the famous Abelard, who was 

 castrated by order of Heloise's uncle, Fulbert. 



The results of castration are much dependent 

 upon the age at which it is performed. If this is 

 done before puberty, the sexual instinct disappears, 

 never to return. The eunuch often grows to be very 

 tall, those reaching six feet eight inches being 

 common. The voice, due to the non-development 

 of the larynx, retains the sound of a childish so- 

 prano. The face is livid, the skin poor in pigment 

 and the flesh flabby. Very often the breasts are 

 abnormally developed, and almost always such in- 

 dividuals are beardless. These last two symptoms 

 have often been taken as an indication of the devel- 



