dangerous than
the evil it is supposed to cure, worse than masturbation, much worse
than nocturnal emissions. Sexual anomalies and perversions are not
cured in brothels; on the contrary they develop there.

Moreover, it is absurd to exaggerate the effects of onanism and sexual
excesses in themselves, and thus increase the anxiety of a number of
unfortunates. In Chapter IV, we have already spoken of great
variations which the sexual appetite presents without ceasing to be
normal, and we have mentioned the rule given by Luther. In my opinion
the advice given by the doctor should be as follows:

As long as he does not wish to marry, a young man should remove as far
as possible all sexual ideas from his thoughts. He should be contented
with nocturnal emissions, which are produced spontaneously, and should
avoid all the manipulations of onanism. A young girl should do the
same all the more easily, because her sexual appetite is normally
weaker, and is not accompanied by glandular secretions which more or
less demand ejaculation.

Persons unable to resist their sexual appetite should be extremely
prudent in their extra-nuptial intercourse. Moreover, there is no need
for this to assume the character of prostitution.

=Medical Advice.=--It is the doctor's duty to give friendly advice to
every one who consults him on sexual questions, without posing as a
judge or a moralist. He should never frighten or reprimand the poor
hypochondriac who blames himself for masturbation, nor sexual perverts
of any kind, unless, of course, they are absolutely dangerous, such as
sadists. He should, on the contrary, calm their fears and give them
encouragement; and in this way he may do much good.

Hypnotic suggestion gives him a means of directly combating many cases
of sexual excitation, or at least of attenuating them, by directing
the cerebral activity of the patient to other subjects. Each case
should be judged by itself and attention should be paid to the
different points we have studied in this book. Even between husband
and wife, and especially as a consequence of monogamy, certain
unfortunate or delicate circumstances may raise difficulties; for
example, the periods during which conception should be avoided, a
certain time after accouchement and during certain morbid conditions.

In this case unskillful medical advice may have unfortunate results.
When a doctor forbids a husband to have sexual intercourse with his
wife he exposes hi