rs be closed." In those days, even for science,
faith and intuition were alone possible. It is only of recent years that
the histologist's microscope and the physiological chemist's test-tube
have furnished them with a rational basis. It is no longer possible to cut
Nature in two and assert that here she is pure and there impure.[50]

There thus appears to be no adequate ground for agreeing with
those who consider that the proximity of the generative and
excretory centres is "a stupid bungle of Nature's." An
association which is so ancient and primitive in Nature can only
seem repulsive to those whose feelings have become morbidly
unnatural. It may further be remarked that the anus, which is the
more aesthetically unattractive of the excretory centres, is
comparatively remote from the sexual centre, and that, as R.
Hellmann remarked many years ago in discussing this question
(_Ueber Geschlechtsfreiheit_, p. 82): "In the first place,
freshly voided urine has nothing specially unpleasant about it,
and in the second place, even if it had, we might reflect that a
rosy mouth by no means loses its charm merely because it fails to
invite a kiss at the moment when its possessor is vomiting."

A clergyman writes suggesting that we may go further and find a
positive advantage in this proximity: "I am glad that you do not
agree with the man who considered that Nature had bungled by
using the genitals for urinary purposes; apart from teleological
or theological grounds I could not follow that line of reasoning.
I think there is no need for disgust concerning the urinary
organs, though I feel that the anus can never be attractive to
the normal mind; but the anus is quite separate from the
genitals. I would suggest that the proximity serves a good end in
making the organs more or less secret except at times of sexual
emotion or to those in love. The result is some degree of
repulsion at ordinary times and a strong attraction at times of
sexual activity. Hence, the ordinary guarding of the parts, from
fear of creating disgust, greatly increases their attractiveness
at other times when sexual emotion is paramount. Further, the
feeling of disgust itself is merely the result of habit and
sentiment, however useful it may be, and according to Scripture
everything is clean and good. The ascetic feeling of repulsio