OF PUBERTY. 405 



and part of Africa, as guards upon the chaftity 

 of the ladies. In Italy, this infamous, this cruel 

 operation, has nothing for its objedt but the im- 

 provement of the voice. The Hottentots cut 

 off one tefticle, becaule they imagine that this 

 operation renders them more fvvift in the chafe. 

 In other countries, the poor people mutilate their 

 children, to make them incapable of procreation, 

 and to prevent them from feeling thofe excruci- 

 ating pangs which they themfelves fuffer, when 

 they want bread to fupport their offspring. 



The rpecies of caftration vary according to the 

 object in view. V/hen the improvement of the 

 voice is intended, the two tefticles are only cut 

 out. But men, whofe minds are inflamed with 

 jcaloufy, would nor believe their females to be 

 fafe in the cuftody of fuch eunuchs : They em- 

 ploy none but fuch as have been deprived of the 

 whole external parts of generation. 



But amputation is not the only means of ac- 

 complifliing this end. Formerly, the growth of 

 the tefticles was prevented, and their ftrudlure 

 deftroyed, without any incifion : They bathed 

 the infants in warm water and decodions of 

 plants, and then preffed and rubbed the tefticles 

 for a long time, in order to deftroy their tex- 

 ture. Others comprefled them with an inftru- 

 ment : Some pretend, that this fpecles of caftra- 

 tion does not endanger life. 



The amputation of the tefticles is not very 

 dangerous : It may be done at any age ; the 



C c 3 time 



