weakest line of defence against the assaults of the flesh; it was there
that resistance would most readily yield. Christianity thus probably led
to a considerable increase of masturbation. The attention which the
theologians devoted to its manifestations clearly bears witness to their
magnitude. It is noteworthy that Mohammedan theologians regarded
masturbation as a Christian vice. In Islam both doctrine and practice
tended to encourage sexual relationships, and not much attention was paid
to masturbation, nor even any severe reprobation directed against it. Omer
Haleby remarks that certain theologians of Islam are inclined to consider
the practice of masturbation in vogue among Christians as allowable to
devout Mussulmans when alone on a journey; he himself regards this as a
practice good neither for soul nor body (seminal emissions during sleep
providing all necessary relief); should, however, a Mussulman fall into
this error, God is merciful![348]

In Theodore's Penitential of the seventh century, forty days'
penance is prescribed for masturbation. Aquinas condemned
masturbation as worse than fornication, though less heinous than
other sexual offences against Nature; in opposition, also, to
those who believed that _distillatio_ usually takes place without
pleasure, he observed that it was often caused by sexual emotion,
and should, therefore, always be mentioned to the confessor.
Liguori also regarded masturbation as a graver sin than
fornication, and even said that _distillatio_, if voluntary and
with notable physical commotion, is without doubt a mortal sin,
for in such a case it is the beginning of a pollution. On the
other hand, some theologians have thought that _distillatio_ may
be permitted, even if there is some commotion, so long as it has
not been voluntarily procured, and Caramuel, who has been
described as a theological _enfant terrible_, declared that
"natural law does not forbid masturbation," but that proposition
was condemned by Innocent XI. The most enlightened modern
Catholic view is probably represented by Debreyne, who, after
remarking that he has known pious and intelligent persons who had
an irresistible impulse to masturbate, continues: "Must we
excuse, or condemn, these people? Neither the one nor the other.
If you condemn and repulse absolutely these persons as altogether
guilty, against their own conv