Are We a Declining\Race ? 



Since that period I have constantly come into 

 contact with evidence of its existence in various 

 parts of the world. Latterly, its demoralising 

 influence may be observed in all classes of the 

 community. There is scarcely a school, accord- 

 ing to medical evidence, where it is not indulged 

 in by the children of both sexes, and its influence 

 is being felt throughout the civilised world 

 to-day as the cause of deterioration. 



There is ample reason for supposing that the 

 influence of this vice has affected various parts 

 of Europe, at different periods, like a blight, for 

 the last two thousand years and more. I have 

 spent many hours, and searched some thousands 

 of volumes in tracing its history, and I therefore 

 venture to hope that the result of my studies 

 may be of some use. 



The reluctance with which most English 

 authors approach subjects connected with sexual 

 matters and all things connected with the organs 

 of generation, has rendered it extremely difficult 

 to deal with such a subtle vice as masturbation. 



However meagre the allusions made to it in 

 history, it can scarcely be doubted that the vice 

 has played a very important part in the downfall 

 of nations. Without attempting to trace it among 

 the bewildering religious ceremonies of the 

 Orient, from which quarter it was probably 

 introduced into Europe, it will be sufficient to 

 note the first records of its existence there. 

 Although we find it stated that the habit was 

 prevalent among both the Egyptians and Greeks, 

 it is highly improbable that it was so, to any 

 extent, until they had attained the very height 



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