lblatt
fuer Anthropologie_, 1900, Heft IV.)

As regards the mental qualities and moral character of the
castrated, Griffiths considers that there is an undue prejudice
against eunuchs, and refers to Narses, who was not only one of
the first generals of the Roman Empire, but a man of highly
estimable character. (_Lancet_, March 30, 1895.) Matignon, who
has carefully studied Chinese eunuchs, points out that they
occupy positions of much responsibility, and, though regarded in
many respects as social outcasts, possess very excellent and
amiable moral qualities (_Archives Cliniques de Bordeaux_, May,
1896.) In America Everett Flood finds that epileptics and
feeble-minded boys are mentally and morally benefited by
castration. ("Notes on the Castration of Idiot Children,"
_American Journal of Psychology_, January, 1899.) It is often
forgotten that the physical and psychic qualities associated with
and largely dependent on the ability to experience the impulse of
detumescence, while essential to the perfect man, involve many
egoistic, aggressive and acquisitive characteristics which are of
little intellectual value, and at the same time inimical to many
moral virtues.

We have a further standard--positive this time rather than negative--to
aid us in determining the erotic temperament: the phenomena of puberty.
The efflorescence of puberty is essentially the manifestation of the
ability to experience detumescence. It is therefore reasonable to suppose
that the individuals in whom the special phenomena of puberty develop most
markedly are those in whom detumescence is likely to be most vigorous. If
such is the case we should expect to find the erotic temperament marked by
developed larynx and deep voice, a considerable degree of pigmentary
development in hair and skin, and a marked tendency to hairiness; while
in women there should be a pronounced growth of the breasts and
pelvis.[144]

There is yet another standard by which we may measure the individual's
aptitude for detumescence: the presence of those activities which are most
prominently brought into play during the process of detumescence. The
individual, that is to say, who is organically most apt to manifest the
physiological activities which mainly make up the process of detumescence,
is most likely to be of pronounced erotic temperament.

"Erotic persons are of motor type," remark Vasch