“ae ie Lae oO | REPRODUCTION. we Gphrovisiacs and Antt-aphrovdistacs: Piper OooryS: ON PHE POWERS OF REPRODUCTION ; WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE JUDICIAL “ CONGRESS” opin ISe DEIN] FRANCE -DURING..THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. BY JOHN DAVENPORT. Ubi stimulus, 2b¢ fluxus.— HIPPOCRATES. LONDON: PRIVATELY PRINTED. 18609. . CONG EE NEE s: | nha hehe te Ga Page. Re INCIENT PHatiic WorsuHIP : we y Phallic Worship the most ancient and general I—2 *a| Phallic Worship found to exist in America 2 Indian Trimourti or Trinity 2 Lingham — 2 Yoni or Cteis, and ieee 4 Taly, Anecdote of the 4 Leaden Phalli found in the river rote is Round Towers in Ireland—Phallic temples 6 The May-Pole a relic of phallic worship 6 Phallus held in reverence by the Jews—King Dard 6 Le prerogativi de’ Testicoli (note) 6 An Egyptian Phallic Oath : : 8 Ancient Welsh Phallic Law . ; : London Costermongers’ Oath, “ By my taters ” : : 9 Bembo (Cardinal), his saying (note) . ; : IO Priapus, derivation of the word : i : a Priapus, how reverenced by Roman women . Priapus, decline of his worship II The Cross (T) known to the Buddhists and the Tene of Thibet ; 12 Cross (the) regarded by the Ancients as the emblem of fruitfulness . , Rev. Mr. Maurice quoted “ : : x x Page The Tau, Crux-Ansata, or triple Phallus ; , Ae aeee Remains of Phallic Worship in Europe . ; 4 Lampsacus, the Birth-place of the deity Priapus (note) : ‘a Saint Foutin : . : on) eas The Phallus of Foutin at Si onin eee holy vinegar — “2.02 ae 16 ~ Curious Phallic Customs. . . TO Godfrey de Bouillon and the Holy prepuce P : : 18 I] santo membro. my haters Sir W Hamilton’s account of er Soman ret to a Cosmo x and Damianus. ; ; : ; : ooh eas Lx votos ; : 5 : + ie eon ; 18 BSSAeG eri. ANAPHRODISIA, OR ABSENCE OF THE PRODUCTIVE POWER : Impotency, three kinds of, according to the Canon Law : 21 Impotency, Causes of, proper to Man . : : : “3 Impotency, Causes of, proper to Women a Sterility and its Causes Ss Morgagni quoted A Clitoris, its length sometimes nreiene the can union—case . quoted by Sir Everard Home . . 24—25 Columbus, Martial, Haller, Juvenal, Ate Mie nner . 25—26 Impotency, Moral Causes of . : ; ; . 28—29 Montaigne’s Advice : \fhareze Impotency caused by too great warnht of Clothing Hames hes! Opinion 2 i a3 Point-Tying— Voltaire’s Pucelle FoHeans auGee : ‘ 35 Point-Tying known to the Ancients—instances quoted . » 37—38 Point-Tying among the Moderns recognised by James I. dvs eee Counter-Charm to Point-Tying . ; ‘4I Agreeable Mode of curing such Race : ‘ 42 Case of Point-Tying related by Venette : 5 ; 43 Montaigne’s curious Story : 44 Judicial Congress in Cases of alleged Tater . . 47 xl Manner of conducting the Congress Judicial Congress originated with the Church : : Judicial Congress practised in France during the 16th and ee Centuries— Forbidden in 1677 Boileau quoted . Cases determined by the Tale eitisrcas Willick, Dr., his Remarks and Advice upon the Sexual Tater: course ; : PA Yoel Tl: APHRODISIACS AND ANTI-APHRODISIACS : _ The Mandrake or Dudaim the most ancient aphrodisiac Rachel and Leah Solomon’s Song . Pliny the Elder quoted Sappho’s love for Phaon accounted for . Superstitious ideas respecting the mandrake during the Middle Ages The Knights femplars godtd a none it Mandrake, Weir’s description of it Mandrake under the name of Mandragora ited as a Siete Macchiavelli’s Comedy of La Mandragora and Voltaire’s account of it Love potions, Venetian law Ah tiem Richard III. accuses Lady Grey of witchcraft Maundrell’s account of the Dudaim Singular Aphrodisiac used by the Amazons Philters, or love potions used by the ancients Hippomanes, wonderful powers of, as an aphrodisiac Recipes for love-potions Fish an aphrodisiac—Hecquet’s are , Mollusca, truffles and mushrooms used as aphrodisiacal George IV.’s appreciation of truffles (note) Effect of truffles described by a lady Page. 48 52 - 55—56 - 54—58 . 58—63 Xli Latin epigram on the vices of the monks : : go Naiveté of a monk on the score of adultery : : gt Curious Quatrain in the Church of St. Hyacinth ; F ae Madame Du Barri’s secret : : : 93 Do., Do., description of (note) : 2 Tablettes de Magnanimité—Poudre de oie aseeae Pastilles 94 Musk, Cantharides—effects of the latter F , 96 Cardnal Dubois’ Account of a Love-Potion : : : 98 Caricature upon Dubois (note) . : f id Indian Bang ; ; 3 d 104 Stimulating Powers of Oasun ’ : ; : d 106 Cabanis quoted . : : 5 107 D’Obsonville quoted. ; es 108 Potable Gold—Shakespeare distal ; I09—IIO— Bourchard’s Account of Aphrodisiacal Charms . ; III Flagellation—Graham’s Celestial Bed—Lady Hamilton ata Nelson, &c. . : . ; : : I2I—126 Burton quoted . ; ; : : 126 ANTI-APHRODISIACS : Refrigerants—Recommendation of Plato and Aristotle . 128—129 Sir Thos. Browne quoted : : ; : 130 Origen bi -Camphor an anti- Sri eineee ; Dice pLOw Coffee an anti- aphrodisae ee ec S saying (come 137 Infibulation, Holyday quoted . ; : I4I—144 Bernasco Padlocks : ; : : os mee Voltaire’s poem of the Galeaas ; ee : 146 Rabelais’ anti-aphrodisiacal remedies. : 147—154 ESSAY I. REMARKS UPON THE SYMBOLS OF THE REPRODUCTIVE POWERS. Ra YA ROM the investigations and researches of the learned, swap) there appears to be no doubt but that the most ancient Be 1 294 of all superstitions was that in which Nature was con- rnited chiefly under the attribute or property of fecundity ; the symbols of the reproductive power being those under which © its prolific potencies were exhibited. It is not because modern fastidiousness affects to consider those symbols as indecent, and even obscene, that we should therefore suppose them to have been so regarded by the ancients: on the contrary, the view of them awakened no impure ideas in the minds of the latter, being re- garded by them as the most sacred objects of worship. The ancients, indeed, did not look upon the pleasures of love with the same eye as the moderns do: the tender union of the sexes excited their veneration, because religion appeared to consecrate it, inas- much as their mythology presented to them all Olympus as more occupied with amatory delights than with the government of the universe. | The reflecting men of those times, more simple, but, it must be B 2 ANCIENT PHALLIC WORSHIP. confessed, more profound, than those of our own day, could not see — 3 any moral turpitude in actions regarded by them as the design of nature, and as the acme of felicity. For this reason it is that we find not only ancient writers expressing themselves freely upon subjects regarded by us as indecent, but even sculptors and patie equally unrestrained in this particular. The statesman took advantage of these religious impressions : whatever tended to increase population being held in honour. Those images and Priapi so frequently found in the temples of the ancients, and even in their houses, and which we consider as objects of indecent lewdness, were, in their eyes, but so many sacred motives exciting them to propagate their species. In order to represent by a physical object the reproductive power of the sun in spring-time, as well as the action of that power on all sentient beings, the ancients adopted that symbol of the male gender which the Greeks, who derived it from the Egyptians, called—Phallus.* This worship was so general as to have spread itself over a large portion of the habitable globe, for it flourished for many ages in Egypt and Syria, Persia, Asia Minor, Greece, and Italy: it was, and still is,in vigour in India and many parts of Africa, and was even found in America on its discovery by the Spaniards. Thus Garcilaso de la Vega informs ust that, in the public squares of Panuco (a Mexican town), bas-reliefs * For a representation of the Egyptian “ Phallus” see Plate I., figures 1, 2, and 3. These are taken from the “ Recuedi d’ Antiquites Egypttennes” by the Comte De Caylus, who, speaking of the first of them, observes: “ Cette figure représente le plus terrible Phallus qu’on ait vi, proportion gardée, sur aucun ouvrage. On nignore point la vénération que les Egyptiens avaient pour cet embléme, il est vrai; mais je doute que cette nation sage et peu outrée dans sa conduite efit con- eee dans les premiers siécles, c'est a dire, avant le régne des Ptolemées, une pareille figure.” + Historia de los Incas. Cap, VI. I, SYMBOLS OF REPRODUCTION. 3 were found which, like those of India, represented, in various ways the sexual union; while at Tlascala, another town of that country, the reproductive act was worshipped under the joint symbol of the generative organs, male and female. A more surprising fact is, that this worship has, as will be shewn hereafter, been perpetuated to a very late date, among the Christians of Europe. In its origin, the Phallus or emblem of the generative and pro- creative powers of nature appears to have been of a very simple and inoffensive character—although it was afterwards made subser- vient to the grossest and most superstitious purposes. In India this worship is everywhere to be found accompanying the triune God, called by the Hindoos, Trimourti or Trinity, and the significant form of the single obelisk or pillar called the Linga or Lingham ;* and it should be observed, in justice to the Hindoos, that it is some comparative and negative praise to them, that this emblem, under which they express the elements and operations of nature, is not externally indecorous. Unlike the abominable realities of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, we see this Indian phallic emblem in the Hindoo religious exhibitions, without offence, nor know, until information be extorted, that we are contemplating a symbol whose prototype is obscene. t * In the church of St. Peter’s, at Rome, is kept, ez secref, a large stone emblem of the creative power, of a very peculiar shape, on which are engraved Zevs Zwrynp. Only persons who have great interest can get a sight of it. Is it from this stone having some peculiar virtue that those frewx chevaliers, the cardinals, keep it so closely? Perhaps they choose to monopolize the use of it? I never saw it, but I know that it was at St. Peter’s\—HIGGINS. + See Plate II., figure 1. This figure of the Lingham presents a kind of Trinity, the vase represents Vishnu, from the middle of which rises a column rounded at the top representing Siva, and the whole rests upon a pedestal typifying Brahma. From the Voyage aux Indes Orientales eta la Chine, par M. Sonnerat, depuis 1774 gusquen 1781. Jom. 1., p. 179. B 2 4 ANCIENT PHALLIC WORSHIP. Besides the Lingham, the equally significant Yoni or Ctezs is. to be seen, being the female organ of generation. It is sometimes: single, often in conjunction, for the Indians, believing that the emblem of fecundity might be rendered more energetic by combin- ing the organs of both sexes, did so unite them, giving to this double symbol the name of Pu/leiar, confounded by some writers with the Lingham itself. This pulleiar is highly venerated by the sectarian worshippers of Siva (the third god of the Tri- mourti), who hang it round their neck, as a charm, or amulet, or enclosing it in a small box, fasten it upon their arm. The Indians | have also a little jewel called aly, worn, in like manner, by females round their necks asacharm. It is presented to them on their wedding day by their husbands, who receive it from the hands of the Brahmins. Upon these jewels is engraved the representation, either of the Lingham or of the Pulleiar. The following anecdote connected with this custom is given by M. Sonnerat. * «¢ A Capuchin missionary had a serious dispute with the ie residing at Pondicherry, which was referred for decision to the judicial courts. The disciples of Loyola, who can be toleration itself when toleration furthers their crafty and ambitious views, had declined all interference with the above custom. M. Tour- non, the Pope’s legate apostolic, who regarded the matter as one not to be trifled with, and with whom, moreover, the Jesuits were _ no favourites, strictly prohibited the ¢a/y, enjoining all female con- verts to substitute in its place either a cross or a medal of the Virgin. The Indian women, strongly attached to their ancient customs, refused obedience. The missionaries, apprehensive of losing the fruits of their zealous labours, and seeing the number of | y Voyage aux Indes et & la Chine., par Sonnerat, depuis 1774 jusqu’en 1781 ; OM. yy. 2. » « SS See Wo I. SYMBOLS OF REPRODUCTION. 5 their neophytes daily diminishing, entered into a compromise by adopting a mezzo-termine with the females in question, and it was agreed that a Cross should be engraved upon the ¢a/y, an arrange- ment by which the symbol of Christian salvation was coupled with that of the male and female pudenda.” The deep and enthusiastic veneration felt by the Hindoos for this worship is naturally explained by their intense anxiety and desire for having children who might perform those ceremonies to their manes which they firmly and piously believe will have the effect of mitigating their punishment in the world to come. They worship the Lingham, therefore, for the sake of having progeny, and husbands, whose wives are barren, send them to adore that symbol, and, if report be true, the ladies take especial care not to disappoint the wish of their dear spouses. It is probable that the introduction of this worship is due to the Indians who founded the sect of Siva, imagining, as they no doubt did, that the most effectual means of propagating it would be by presenting their deity under the form of that organ by which the reproduction of the human race 1s effected. Nothing can be a greater proof of the high antiquity of the Indians than this worship, it being certain that the Egyptians did not establish it, as well as the dogma of the Metempsychosis, among themselves, until after they had travelled in India. Phalli, usually in lead, have been even found in the river Rhone. These were most likely the signs and tokens belonging to some secret society probably of a licentious character. Similar ones are in the Forgeais collection, and were engraved in the Plombs HMis- toriés of that antiquarian.* According to an ingenious writer, + who 1s of opinion that the * See plate III., figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. + Henry O’Brien, Round Towers of Ireland. London, 1834. Chapter viii. 6 _ANCIENT PHALLIC WORSHIP. Indians sent, at a very remote period, colonists to Ireland, the round towers, so numerous in that island, are no other than ancient Phallic temples erected in honour of the fructifying power of nature emanating, as it was supposed to do, from the sun, under the name of Sol, Phoebus, Apollo, Abad, or Budh. * Alluding to these towers, Mr. O’Brien observes, “‘ The eastern votaries, suiting the action to the idea, and that their vivid imagi- nations might be still more enlivened by the very form of the temple, actually constructed its architecture after the model of the — membrum virile, which, obscenity apart, is the divinity-formed and — indispensable medium selected by God himself for human propaga- tion and sexual prolificacy.” There is every reason to believe that our May-poleis arelic of the ancient Phallic worship. The manners of the ancient Hebrews seem to have differed little, if at all, in this respect, from those of the nations surrounding them: thus, David, dancing with all his might before the ark, lifted up his ephod and exhibited his nakedness to “ the eyes of the handmaids of his servants.” No blame is attached to the king for such gross indecency during a public and religious ceremony ; while, Michal, his wife was punished with barrenness, for express- ing her disapprobation of his conduct. + This example attests the great respect entertained by the Hebrews for the organs of generation ;{ but we have a further * See Plate IV., figure 1. tT Samuel [15 chap..vi,v. 20, 21,.22):23, { The indispensable and inseparable appendages to the male organ have thus been eulogized by Giov. Francesco Lazzarelli in his poem entitled, La Cicceide, Pp. 120. LE PREROGATIVI DE’ TESTICOLI. Gran sostegni del mondo, almiC...... Del celeste Fattor, opre ingegnose ; Tool MBOLS.OF REPRODUCTION. 7 proof of this reverence for them in the fact that, when taking a solemn oath, they placed their hand upon them in token of its inviolability: When Abraham, addressing “ his oldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had,” is made to say, ‘* Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and I will make thee swear, by the Lord, the God of Heaven, and the God of the earth that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son, of the daughters of the Canaanites :”* and when Jacob, at the point of death, “called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me ; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt,” + the Hebrew text has been incorrectly translated in both these instances; for, according to learned commentators, it is not the thigh, but the phallus that is meant; such tact having, in the opinion of the Rabbins, been introduced for the purpose of doing honour to circumcision. This custom obtains in Egypt, even in our own day, for many travellers assert that the Arabs, when desirous of saluting or making a promise with great solemnity, place their hand upon the part in question. A case in point is related in a letter of the Ad- Da caricare i piccoli cannoni, Ond’ armata va ’uom, Palle focose : Robusti, ancorché teneri Palloni, Con cui giuocan tra lor, mariti e spose ; Del corpo uman spermatici Embrioni ; De’ venerei piacer fonti amorose ; Magazzini vitali, ove Natura L’uman seme riposto, a’ figli suoi D’assicurar la succession procura ! etc. * Genesis, chap. xxiv. v. 2, 3. + Genesis, chap. xlvii. v. 29. 8 ANCIENT PHALLIC W ORSHIP. q jutant-General Julian to a member of the Institute of Foyee * An Egyptian, who had been arrested as a spy, and brought before the general, finding that all his asseverations of innocence — could not be understood “leva sa chemise bleue, et prenant son phallus a la poignée, resta un moment dans Vattitude théatrale dun dieu jurant par le Styx. Sa physionomie semblait me dire: Apres le serment terrible que je fats pour vous prouver mon inno- cence, osez-vous en douter? Son geste me rappela que du tems d@’Abraham on jurait vérité en portant la main aux organes de la génération.” The vast antiquity of this custom among the ancient Egyptians is proved by figure 2, Plate IV. This figure, which is copied from Caylus, Vol. VI., Plate I., figure 4, represents Osiris grasping his phallus while taking an oath. Acustom greatly resembling this manner of swearing existedalso i in the north of Europe, as is proved byan ancient law still extant: thus, one of the articles of the Welsh laws enacted by Hoel the Good, provides that, in cases of rape, if the woman wishes to prosecute © the offender, she must, when swearing to the identity of the crimi- nal, lay her right hand upon the relics of the saints, and grasp with | her left one, the peccant member of the party accused. t It may be mentioned, en passant, that the low Irish in Dublin, and the London costermongers, often make use of an expression which, whether connected or not with the custom above noted, offers for our consideration a curious coincidence at least. If extra * Mémoires sur l Egypte, publiés pendant les Campagnes de Bonaparte, Partie 2, p. 193. + The Latin text of the law is as follows :—“Si mulier stuprata lege cum illo agere velit, membro virili s¢z¢stva prehenso et dextra reliquos sanctorum tmtpostta, juret super tllas quod ts per vim se, isto membro, vitiaverit. "—Voyage dans le Dé- partement du Finisterre, Tom. iii., p. 233. I. SYMBOLS OF REPRODUCTION. 9 force is to accompany an assertion, it is very common for the vulgar to say in conclusion : “‘S’elp my taters !” or ‘‘ So help me TESTES ” —equal to saying, “J swear by my member.” That the word “‘ taters” is a corruption of, and vulgarism for, ‘“‘ testes,” we see very readily in the expression “‘ strain my taters?—i.e., to pass urine or make water. The Greeks had consecrated the same symbols of universal fecundity in their mysteries, the phallus and the cteis being pub- licly exhibited in the sanctuary of Eleusis. The membrum virile or active principle of generation was carried to the temple of Bacchus and there crowned with a garland by one of the most respectable matrons of the town or city. The Egyptian Osiris, and the female pudenda, or symbol of the passive principle of gene- ration were, in like manner, carried in procession to the temple of Libera or Proserpine. The worship of Priapus among the Romans was derived from the Egyptians, who, under the form of Apis, the sacred Bull, worshipped the generative power of nature ; and, as the syllable pri or pre signifies, in the oriental tongues, principle, production, or natural or original source, the word Priapus may be translated principle of production or of fecundation of Apis. The same symbol also bore among the Romans the names of Tutunus, Mutinus, and Fascinum. Among the many places where this divinity was wor- shipped, Lampsacus,* in Asia Minor, was the most noted on account of the obscene rites there practised. The Priapi were ot different forms; some having only a human head and the * Hunc locum tibi dedico consacroque, Priape, Quz domus tua, Lampsaei est, quaque silva, Priape. Nam te preecipue in suis urbibus colit, ora Hellespontia, czeteris ostreosior oris.—Catullus, Carm. xviii. C 10 ANCIENT PHALLIC WORSHIP. Phallus; some with the head of Pan or of a faun—that is, with the head and ears of a goat.* Others, with their indecent attri- bute, were placed in the public roads, and were then confounded with the divinities Mercury and Terminus, who presided over bounda- ries. Scaliger says that he saw at Rome, in the palace of a cardinal, + a similar statue, whose phallus had served as a sign post. t All the human part of these Priapi were invariably painted red. § When furnished with arms, which he was when representing Terminus, Priapus held in one hand a reaping hook, and, like — Osiris, grasped with the other the characteristic feature of his divinity, which was always of a monstrous size and in a state of energy. In the towns, Priapus had public chapels, whither such devotes as were suffering from maladies connected with his attributes repaired for the purpose of offering to him ex-vofos representing the parts afflicted ; these ex-votos being sometimes paintings and, at others, little figures made of wax or of wood, and sagen even of marble. | Females as superstitious, as they were lascivious, might be seen offering in public to Priapus, as many garlands as they had had lovers. These they would hang upon the enormous phallus of the idol, which was often hidden from sight by the number suspended by only one woman. * See Plate II., figure 2. + From possessing such an article of vIRTU, his Eminence must surely have been of the opinion of Cardinal Bembo — ¢hai there is no sin below the navel. { Falce minax et parte tui majore, Priape, Ad fontem queeso, dic mihi, qua sit iter—Priapeia Carm. Spee note tp. ia. IL SYMBOLS OF REPRODUCTION. me Others offered to the god as many phalli, made of the wood of the willow tree, as they had vanquished men in a single night . St. Augustine informs us that it was considered by the Roman ladies as a very proper and pious custom to require young brides to seat themselves upon the monstrous and obscene member of Priapus: and Lactantius says, ‘‘ Shall I speak of that Musinus, upon the extremity of which brides are accustomed to seat them- selves, in order that the god may appear to have been the first to receive the sacrifice of their modesty ?” * These facts prove that the worship of Priapus had greatly dege- nerated with the Romans, since, losing sight altogether of the object typified, they attached themselves to the symbol alone, in which they could see only what was indecent ; and hence religion became a pretext for libertinism. t Respected so long as the Roman manners preserved their pris- tine simplicity, but degraded { and vilified in proportion as the morals of that people became corrupted, the very sanctuary itself of Priapus failed to protect him from obloquy and ridicule. Chris- tian writers added their indignant invectives to the biting sarcasms of the poets, and the worship of Priapus would have been annihi- lated had not superstition and the force of habit, that most inde- structible of all human affections, come to the rescue. ‘These two powerful levers of mankind triumphed over reason and Christianity, * See S. Augustine, Civ. Dei., lib. 6, cap. 9, and Lactantius De falsa religione, Liboer. t See Plate I., figure 4. This phallus was found at Pompeii over a baker’s door. { Thus his statue was placed in orchards as a scare-crow to drive away supersti- tious thieves, as well as children and birds. Pomarii tutela®diligens rudvo Priape, furibus minare mutino.—Priapeia Carm. 73. 192 ANCIENT PHALLIC WORSHIP. — and succeeded, notwithstanding the strenuous and continued efforts — q of the latter, in maintaining in some degree, the worship of that filthy deity ; for the Christian priests, while opposing, @ Poutrance, the superstitions and impure practices already adverted to, did not so do, as regarded the other customs equally repugnant to decency ~ 4 and true religion. Less austere to these, and consulting their own interests, they turned to their profit the ancient worship established by the Romans and strengthened by habit : they appropriated to themselves what they could not destroy, and, in order to attract to their side the votaries of Priapus, they made a Christian of him. But besides the Lingham of the Indians, the Phallus of the Greeks, and the Priapus of the Romans, the Cross (TT), although generally thought to be exclusively emblematical of eternal life, has also, on account of its fancied similarity to the membrum virile, been considered by many as typical of the reproductive powers of nature. It was known as such to the Indians, being as commonin their country as in Egypt or in Furope. ‘* Let not the piety of the Catholic Christian,” says the Rev. Mr. Maurice, ‘‘ be offended at the preceding assertion that the Cross was one of the most usual symbols among the hieroglyphics of Egypt and India. Equally honoured in the Gentile and the Christian world, this emblem of universal nature, of that world to whose four corners its diverging radii pointed, decorated the hands of most of the sculptured images in the former country (Egypt), and the latter (India) stamped its form upon the most majestic of the shrines of their deities.” It is well known that the cross was regarded by the ancient Egyptians as the emblem of fruitfulness. Thus the Rev. Mr. Maurice describes a statue bearing a kind of cross in its hand as * Ind. Antiq. il, p. 361. I. SYMBOLS OF REPRODUCTION. 13 the symbol of fertility, or, in other words, of the procreative and generative powers.* The cross "[ so common upon Egyptian monuments was known to the Buddhists and to the Lama of Thibet 700 years before Christ. The Lama takes his name from the Lamah, which is an object of profound veneration with his followers: ‘‘ Cequi est remarquable,” says M. Avril, “c’est que le grand prétre des Tartares porte le nom de Lama, qui, en langue Tartare, désigne /a Croix, et les Bogdoi qui conquirent la Chine en 1644, et qui sont soumis au Dulai-Lama dans les_ choses de la religion, ont toujours des croix sur eux, quwils appellent lamas.” + The letter Tau “T, being the last one of the ancient alphabets, was made to typify, not only the end, boundary, or terminus of districts, but also the generative power of the eternal transmigratory life, and was used indiscriminately with the Phallus; it was, in fact, the Phallus. {| Speaking of this emblem, Payne Knight observes: “One of the most remarkable of those symbols of generation is a cross in the form of the letter “~T, which thus served as the emblem of creation and generation before the church adopted it as the sign of salvation, a lucky coincidence of ideas which, without doubt, facilitated the reception of it among the faithful.” § And again, “The male organs of generation are sometimes represented by signs of the same sort, which might properly be called symbols of symbols. One of the most remarkable of these is the Cross in * Ind. Antiq., vol. I., p. 247. + Voyage dans la Chine par Avril, Liv. iii., p. 194. ~ Higgins’ Anacalypsis, vol. 1., p. 269. § Worship of Priapus, p. 14. ANCIENT PHALLIC WORSHIP. the form of the letter T; which thus served as the emblem of creation and generation.” * i The famous Crux ansata t which may be seen on TAY the monuments of Egypt, is what is alluded to by the Prophet Ezekiel, { and is affirmed by the learmed L. A. Cro- zius to be nothing else than the triple Phallus mentioned by Plutarch. § | We shall now proceed to notice a few of the traces of the Phallic worship as were still to be found lingering in some parts of Europe so late- as the 18th century, a tenacity of existence by no means surprising if it be considered that of all the human affections none is more dangerous to oppose, none more difficult to eradicate, than habit. Accordingly it will be found that the above superstition has maintained itself in countries where Christianity was already established, and that, bidding defiance to the severe precepts of that pure faith, it successfully resisted for at least seventeen centuries every effort made to extirpate it by the Christian clergy backed by the civil power. Its triumph was, however, by no means complete, for this worship was constrained to yield to circumstances and to use a disguise by adopting the forms and designations peculiar. to Christianity, a mask which on the other hand, favoured, not a little, its preservation. SelOTd. Deno: + For some ingenious and learned observations on the Tau or Crux Ansata see Classical Journal, No. 39, p. 182. £ Chap. ix. v. 3. ‘Andthe Lord said unto him: Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the forehead of the men that sigh and cry for the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” § For a description of some of the above-mentioned Crosses, see Plate V., also “ Voyage dans la basse et la haute-Egypte pendant les campagnes de Bonaparte 1802 et 1829,” par Denon—Planches 48, 78. I, SYMBOLS OF REPRODUCTION. 15 Hence it was that the names of certain legendary saints were given to the ancient God of Lampsacus, * the said names having some relation either to the act over which that deity presided, or to his most prominent attributes. The first bishop of Lyon was honoured throughout Provence, Languedoc, and the Lyonnais as a saint, and as his name happened to be Pothin, Photin, or Fotin, commonly pronounced by the lower orders Foutin, these people, who are very apt to judge of the nature of things by the sound of the words by which they are designated, thought St. Foutin worthy of replacing Saint Priapus, and accordingly conferred upon him the prerogatives of his predecessor. Saint Foutin de Varailles had particular reverence paid to him in - Provence, nor is this to be wondered at, since the power was attributed to him of rendering barren women fruitful, stimulating flagging husbands, and curing their secret maladies. It was conse- quently the custom to lay upon his altar, as was formerly done on that of the god Priapus, small votive offerings, made of wax, and representing the weak or otherwise afflicted parts. Sanci says, “To this saint are offered waxen models of the pudenda of both sexes. ‘They are strewn in great numbers over the floor of the chapel, and should a gust of wind cause them to rustle against one another, it occasioned a serious interruption to the devotions paid to the saint. I was very much scandalized,” continues he, * This city was the birth place of the deity Priapus, whose orgies were there constantly celebrated. Alexander the Great, in his Persian expedition, resolved to destroy Lampsacus on account of its many vices, or rather from a jealousy of its adherence to Persia ; but it was saved by the artifice of the philosopher Anaxamenes, who, having heard that the king had sworn to refuse whatever he should ask him, begged him to destroy the city. "G ANCIENT PHALLIC WORSHIP. ‘when, passing through the town, I found the name of Foutin very common among the men. My landlord’s daughter had for _ godmother a young lady whose name was Foutine.” : The same saint was similarly honoured at Embrun. When the Protestants took that town in 1585, they found, among the relics of the principal church, the Phallus of St. Foutin. The devotees of that town, in imitation of pagan ones, made libations to this obscene idol. They poured wine over the extremity of the Phallus, which was dyed red by it. ‘This wine being afterwards collected and allowed to turn sour, was called the holy vinegar, and, according to the author from whom this account is taken, * was applied by women to a most extraordinary purpose; but what that purpose was we are not informed, and therefore can only guess it. At Orange there was also a phallus much venerated by the inha- bitants of that town. Larger than the one at Embrun, it was, moreover, covered with leather, and furnished with its appendages. When, in 1562, the Protestants destroyed the church of St. Eutro- plus, in this town, they seized the enormous Phallus and burned it in the market place. Similiar Phalli were to be found at Poligny, Vendre in the Bourbonnais, and at Auxerre. The inhabitants of Puy-en-Velay even to this day speak of their Saint Foustin who, in times not far remote from our own, was invoked by barren women who, under the idea of giving greater efficacy to their prayers, scraped the phallus of the saint, and, mixing the particles so abraded in water, devoutly swallowed them, in the hope of thereby being rendered fruitful. It is no doubt to one of these phallic saints that Count de * Journal d’Henri III. par Etoile. Tom. 5. a eeeeeeaaOoOoeeeEeEEEIeE—eEEEEEEEeeeEEeeEEEeeeeeeee ee eee I, SYMBOLS OF REPRODUCTION. 7, Gebelin refers when, speaking of the goat of Mendes, he says: «¢T have read somewhere that in the south of France there existed not long ago a custom resembling the one mentioned ; the women of that part of the country devoutly frequented a temple con- taining a statue of the saint, and which statue they embraced, expecting that their barrenness would be removed by the ope- ration. * In the neighbourhood of Brest stood the chapel of the famous Saint Guignole, or Guingalais, whose Phallic symbol consisted of a long wooden beam which passed right through the body of the saint, and the fore-part of which was strikingly characteristic. The devotees of this place, like those of Puy-en-Velay, most de- voutly rasped the extremity of this-miraculous symbol for the purpose of drinking the scrapings mixed with water as an antidote against sterility, and when by the frequent repetition of this opera- tion, the beam was worn away, a blow with a mallet in the rear of the saint propelled it immediately in front. Thus, although it was being continually scraped, it appeared never to diminish, a miracle due exclusively to the mallet. Antwerp was the Lampsacus of Belgium, Priapus being the tutelary god of that city. ers was the name given to him by the inhabitants who held this divinity in the greatest veneration. Females were accustomed to invoke him on the most trivial occa- sions, a custom which Goropltus informs us continued as late as the 16th century. + So inveterate was this superstition that Godefrey de Bouillon, marquis of that city, the illustrious leader of the first crusade, in order to eradicate it, or to replace it by the ceremonies of the * Histoire Religieuse du Calendrier, p. 420. + Johannis Goropii Becani, Origines Antwerpianz, 1569, lib. i., p.p. 26 and ror, D 18 ANCIENT PHALLIC WORSHIP. Christian church, sent to Antwerp, from Jerusalem, as a present of inestimable value, the foreskin of Fesus Christ.* This precious a relic, however, found but little favour with the Belgian ladies, and utterly failed to supersede their beloved Pascinum. + a: 4 In the kingdom of Naples, in the town of Trani, the capital — of the province of that name, there was carried in procession, during the Carnival, an old wooden statue representing an entire Priapus, in the ancient proportions; that is to say, that the dis- tinguishing characteristic of that god was very disproportioned tothe rest of the idol’s body, reaching, as it did, to the height of his chin. The people called this figure i/ Santo Membro,the holy member. This ancient ceremony, evidently a remains of the feasts of Bacchus, called by the Greeks Dyonysiacs, and by the Romans Lizde- ralia, existed as late as the commencement of the 18th century, when it was abolished by Joseph Davanzati, archbishop of that town. 4 Sir W. Hamilton’s account of the worship paid to St. Cosmo ~ and St. Damianus is very curious. ‘ On the 27th September, at Isernia, one of the most ancient. cities of the kingdom of Naples, situated in the province called the Contado di Molise, and adjoin- ing the Aruzzo, an annual fair is held which lasts three days. On one of the days of the fair the relics of Sts. Cosmo and Damianus are exposed. In the city and at the fair, ex-votos of wax repre- senting the male parts of generation, of various dimensions, some- times even of the length of a palm, are publicly exposed for sale. * The foreskins, still extant, of the Saviour, are reckoned to be twelve in num- ber. One was in the possession of the monks of Coulombs ; another at the Abbey of Charroux ; a third at Hildesheim, in Germany ; a fourth at Rome, in the Church OL. Teanedeenres ; a fifth at Antwerp ; asixth at Puy-en-Velay, in the Church of Notre Dame, &c., &c. So much for relics! tT Dulaure, Singularités Historiques de ’Histoire de Paris, p. 77. Paris, 1825. I. SYMBOLS OF REPRODUCTION. Ig There are also waxen vows that represent other parts of the body mixed with them, but of those there are few in comparison of the number of the Priapi. The distributors of these vows carry a basket full of them in one hand, and hold a plate in the other, to receive the money, crying out, “‘Saints Cosmo and Damianus!” If you ask the price of one, the answer is, “ pid ci metti, pid meriti;” the more you give, the more the merit. The vows are chiefly presented _ by the female sex, and they are seldom such as represent legs, arms, &c., but most commonly the male parts of generation. The person who was at the féfe, in the year 1780, and who gave me this account (the authenticity of which has since been confirmed to me by the Governor of Isernia) told me also that he heard a woman say, at the time she presented a vow, “ Santo Cosmo, bene- detto, cos? lo voglio.” Blessed St. Cosmo, “let it be like this!” The vow is never presented without being accompanied by a piece of money, and is always kissed by the devotee at the moment of pre- sentation. * But, as might eae be expected, this does not suffice to fructify barren women; and consequently another ceremony, one which is doubtless more efficacious, was required. The parties who resort to this fair, slept for two nights, some in the church of the Capuchian friars and the others in that of the Cordeliers, and when these two churches were found to be in- * Letter of Sir W. Hamilton prefixed to Payne Knight’s ‘“ Worship of Priapus.” For a representation of an ancient, Zx wofo, in silver, the size of the original, see Plate VI., figure 1. It is copied from an additional plate inserted by M. Panizzi, late librarian of the British Museum, in the fly-leaf of Payne Knight’s “ Worshzp of Phallus.” Ey 2 20 ANCIENT PHALLIC W ORSHIP. sufficient to contain the whole of such devotees the church of the : Hermitage of St. Cosmo received the surplus. a In the three edifices, the women were, during the two anes 4 separated from the men, the latter lying under the vestibule, and the women, in the church, these, whether in the church of the = Capuchins or in that of the Cordeliers, were under the protec- — tion of the Father guardian, the vicar, and a monk of merit. In the hermitage, it was the hermit himself who watched over them. * a From this it may easily be imagined how the miracle was 4 effected without troubling Saint Cosmo and Saint Damianus ~ at all, in the matter, as well as that the virtue, possessed by those two saints was extended even to young maidens and widows. ESSAY IT. ANAPHRODISIA ; OR, ABSENCE OF THE REPRO- DUCTIVE POWER. arta | DESCRIPTION of the symbols under which the 7e- © aN Bil productive power was anciently worshipped, having been Ges a* | given in the preceding Essay, the present one will contain some account of the negation or absence of that faculty, whether total or partial, as known under the names of Jmpotency and Sterility. Potency or power, as ; regards the generative act, may be defined as—the aptitude or ability to beget ; and Impotency, the negation or absence of such power. The canon law distinguished three kinds of impotency—viz., that which proceeds from frigidity ; that which is caused by sor- cery (ligature or point-tying), and that which proceeding from some defect of conformation is properly designated as zmpotentia coeundi. ‘The different kinds of impotency may be thus classed —1. Those which are proper to men; 2. Those proper to women, and 3. Those common to both sexes. 22 If, ABSENCE OF THE REPRODUCTIVE POWER. The causes of impotency proper to man are natural frigidity 5 ; 3 defect of conformation, and accident. ‘a The causes of impotency proper to women are all such obstacles | as arise ex clausurd uteri aut nimia arctitudine. ig oo. The causes common both to men and women are the ee of | puberty and imperfect conformation. * a Impotency may also be divided into natural and accidental ; ate gy former being that which a person is born with, or which proceeds ex vitio naturalis temperament vel partium genitalium; and the latter that which arises from some accident, as ex casu vel morbo. T Another definition of impotency in man is the on posse semt- nare in vase idoneo; three things being considered as indispensable to his due performance of the generative act.—U¢ arriget or erec- tion; 2. Ut vas femineum resaret, or intromission, and 3. O89 in vase Seminat, or emission. | Sterility must not be confounded with impotency. Many women are barren, but very few are impotent; while, on the contrary, many men are impotent who ought not, on that account, to be regarded as barren. In either sex impotency is present when from whatever cause an individual cannot concur in the sexual contact. Sterility exists when the contact, after having been regularly ac- complished, is followed by no productive result. With the exception of those pathological cases in which defor- mities are sometimes, but very rarely, met with, it may be affirmed that woman is never impotent, for her organization opposes it. Radical impotence, in fact, results in the female from the complete absence, or the occlusion simply, of the vagina. Now, these cases * To these the canon law adds sorcery, ligature or point-tying. t Zachias, Queest. medico. leg. lib. IL, tit. 1, quest. 1. ANAPHRODISTA. 23 are extremely rare, and may therefore be considered as exceptions or as real monstrosities. , As the causes of sterility in women are numerous and of various kinds, we shall briefly enumerate them. The absence of ovaries or their diseased state are the radical cause of sterility. These causes may be suspected but not cured. When there is no uterus, still fecundation and pregnancy are not impossible, since extra-uterine pregnancies are occasionally observed, that is to say, cases in which the product of conception has escaped the uterus, and proceeded to establish itself in some point of the lower belly. Neither is the vagina indispensable, for cases are cited of the contraction of this organ accompanied by the recto- vaginal fistula, in which fecundation is effected, although the fecun- dating fluid had been confined to the rectum. Female masturbation is another rife cause of barrenness in women. If it be true that the number of eggs is limited, and that there are not more than from 15 to 20 in each ovary, it is evident that sterility must ensue when these 15 or 20 eggs have been detached without fecundation. If, on the contrary, new eggs are continually secreted by the ovaries, it is equally evident that the secretory action must, sooner or later, become exhausted by the over excite- ment caused by the indulgence above mentioned. Another very great cause of sterility, and which must be of frequent occurrence, is found in the obstructed or choked-up state of the Fallopian tubes. These passages, which establish the commu- nication between the ovary and the uterus, may be obstructed by inflammation, either acute or chronic, to which they must be subject in all diseases to the abdomen, as well as by frequent ex- citement. Morgaeni speaks of certain women of the town, with whom the 24 II, ABSENCE OF THE REPRODUCTIVE POWER. Fallopian tubes were completely obliterated by the thickening of 4 ; the parietes or sides, an evident consequence of the continual orgasm in which they were kept by immoderate indulgence in a coition. | The absence of menstruation almost always induces barrenness. Cases are, notwithstanding, reported in which women have their menses during pregnancy, but these are meedai which so far from invalidating the rule, confirm it. Polypi, or the development of fibrous bodies in the uterus, present an equal obstacle to fecundation, their presence having the effect of perverting the physiological functions of the uterus, nor does their removal always cause sterility to disappear. Impotency in women can only result from the absence of the vagina, or from its excessive narrowness which does not allow of the approach of the male, although instances have occurred of fecundation being effected without the introduction of the male organ. Thus cases have been found of women who have been fecundated, and have even arrived at the term of pregnancy, having been obliged to submit to a surgical operation for the removal of the Hymen, which membrane had not been broken in the acts which had nevertheless effected the fecun- dation. Lastly, the excessive length, when it does exist, of the clitoris, also opposes the conjugal act, by the difficulty it presents to the introduction of the fecundating organ; the only remedy to be employed in this case consists in amputation, an operation which has been frequently performed, The organ in question is known to resemble, in a very great degree, the virile member, both in external form and internal structure, to be susceptible of erection and relaxation and endowed with ex- quisite sensibility. It has been seen equal to the penisin volume. ANAPHRODISTA. 25 A remarkable instance is given by Home.* It occurred in a negress who was purchased by General Melville, in the island of Dominica, in the West Indies, about the year 1744. She was of the Mandango nation, 24 years of age, her breasts were very flat, she had a rough voice, and a masculine countenance. The clitoris was two inches long, and in thickness resembled a common sized thumb, when viewed at some distance the end appeared round and of a red colour, but upon closer examination was found to be more pointed than that of a penis, and having neither pre- puce nor preforation ; when handled it became half erected, and was in that state fully three inches long and much thicker than before: when she voided her urine she was obliged to lift it up, as it completely covered the orifice of the urethra. The other parts of the female organs were found to be in a natural state. Columbus quotes the existence of a woman who had a clitoris as long as the little finger. Haller speaks of another in whom this organ was seven inches in length. Some have even been said to be of the monstrous length of twelve inches. These are the enormous dimensions which sometimes deceive as to the real character of the sex, and which have occasioned a belief in the existence of real hermaphrodites. Women so formed have also a great disposition to usurp the virile functions ; they preserve scarcely anything of their sex except their habits and manners. Their stature is in general tall, their limbs muscular, their face masculine, their voice deep, and their deportment bold and manly—in a word, they completely justify the words of Martial : cc Mentiturque virum prodigiosa Venus.” + * See Lectures on Comparative Anatomy, by Sir Everard Home, Bart. Vol. IIT., p. 116. London, 1823. : + Lib. I., Epigram. 91. 26 II. ABSENCE OF THE REPRODUCTIVE POWER. In the case of man’s impotency it often happens, on the con- q trary, that, with organs to all appearance perfectly sels. he 3S a nevertheless, impotent. 7 5 If the woman be organized for receiving, the man ts (rea for 7 4 imparting ; now, in the majority of cases, his impotency is such that, although he seems to be provided with abundant stores ous is precluded from offering them. : $I Goncret jacet exiguus cum ramice nervus Et quamvis tota palpetur nocte, jacebit.” * ee Such, in fact, is the great difficulty of those individuals Hike a have abused their organs and destroyed their sensibility. The — erectile tissue whose turgescence is indispensable, no longer admits - into its vascular plexus or network, a quantity of fluid sufficient to give the organ the power of penetrating—jacet exiguus—and, although it may be supposed that the seminal glands perform their functions perfectly well, and secrete abundantly the fluid peculiar to them, the copulative organ remains paralyzed. This is the impotence which is brought on by old age, and which Ariosto has so forcibly described in the following lines, wherein he relates the futile attempts made upon Angelica by the hermit: Egli Pabbraccia, ed a piacer la tocca : Ed ella dorme, e non pit fare ischermo : Or le baccia il bel petto, ora la bocca, Non é, ch’l veggia, in quel loco aspro ed ermo. Ma nel incontro, il suo destrier trabocca Che al desio non risponde, il corpo infermo : * Juvenal Sat. t Vv.204, 105. _ANAPHRODISIA. ~ 27 Tutte le vie, tutti 1 modi tenta, Ma quel pigre rozzo non pero salta Indarno el fren gli scuote e li tormenta E non puo far che tenga la testa alta. * At other times the impotency of the man is independent of the secretion of the fecundating fluid and even of the erection, both of which are regular. In such case it is caused either by the gland not being properly perforated, or by a contraction of the ure- thral canal, which contraction arrests the seminal fluid at the moment of expulsion, causing it to flow back towards the bladder, or else intercepting the continuous stream and allowing it to run by dribblets only. The former of these imperforations technically called Hypospsdivos is a vice of conformation in which the penis, instead of being perforated at the summit of the gland, presents its opening at a greater or less distance under the gland, at the lower part of the urethra or at the perineum. As might be expected, impotency, when precocious, influences, in no small degree, the moral character. Cabanis knew three men who, in the vigour of age, had suddenly become impotent, although in other respects they were in good health, much engaged in business, and had but little reason to be affected by the loss of pleasures in which they indulged but very rarely and with great moderation, yet their character became gloomy and trascible, and their mental powers appeared to diminish daily. t The celebrated Ribeiro Sanchez, a pupil of Boerhaave, observes in his “* Traité des * Orlando Furioso, Can. 1, stanz. 49, 60. + Rapport, Tom. I., p. 335. we 28 I. ABSENCE OF THE REPRODUCTIVE POWER. maladies Vénériennes chroniques,” that these diseases particularly dis- pose those subject to them to superstitious terrors. — Lo ae Impotency may, however, equally proceed. from moral as from physical causes. In this case it consists in the total privation of the - sensibility peculiar to the reproductive organs. ‘This insensibility is by no means infrequent in persons whose mental powers : are con- tinually in action, as the following case will shew :— A celebrated mathematician of a very robust constitution, hava 7 ing married a young and pretty woman, lived several years with a her, but had not the happiness of becoming a father. Far from being insensible to the charms of his fair wife, he, on the contrary, felt frequently impelled to gratify his passion, but the conjugal act, complete in every other respect, was never crowned by the emission of the seminal fluid. The interval of time which occurred between the commencement of his labour of love and the end was always sufficiently long to allow his mind, which had been for a moment abstracted by his pleasure, to be brought back to the constant objects of his meditation—that is, to geometrical problems or - algebraical formula. At the very moment even of the orgasm, the intellectual powers resumed their empire and all genital sensation vanished. Peirible, his medical adviser, recommended Madame — , ++... never to suffer the attentions of her husband until he was half-seas-over, this appearing to him the only practicable means of withdrawing her learned spouse from the influence of the divine Urania and subjecting him more immediately to that of the seduc- a tive goddess of Paphos. The advice proved judicious. Monsieur miners 2 became the father of several fine and healthy boys and girls, thus furnishing another pio: of the truth of the maxim, “< Sine Cerere et Baccho Sriget Venus.” But the impotency arising from the predominance of the intel- lect is the least formidable of all. The one most to be dreaded is ANAPHRODISTA. pee 2g that which results from the excessive and premature exercise of the reproductive functions, for, as has been well observed, “ the too frequent indulgence of a natural propensity at first increases the concomitant desire and makes its gratification a part of the periodi- cal circle of action; but by degrees the over excitement of the organs, abating their tone and vitality, unfits them for the discharge of their office, the accompanying pleasures are blunted, and give place to satiety and disgust.” * Such unfortunate persons as are the victims of this kind of ana- phrodisia become old long before their natural time, and have all their generative apparatus blasted with impotency. Their testicles withered and dried up secrete nothing but a serous fluid void of all virtue ; the erectile tissue no longer admits into its plexus the quantum of blood necessary for turgescence, the principal organ of the reproductive act remains in a state of flaccidity, insensible to the reiterated and most stimulating solicitations ; the muscles de- stined to favour erection are stricken with paralysis, and the violence of their desires, joined to the want of power to gratify them, drives the unhappy victim to acts of the most revolting lubricity and thence to despair. An instance of this kind occurred in the case of a young man, the son of an opulent family. He had arrived at puberty, but from the early age of ten had been accustomed to indulge in indecent familiarities with young girls, who had gratified him by lascivious manipulations ; the consequence was an entire loss of the erectile power. ‘Travelling being recommended, he proceeded to France, where he consulted, but without avail, several celebrated physicians. He then went to the waters of Spa, and there his case was attentively and anxiously considered by Van-Hers. * Sir Charles Morgan, Philos. of Morals, p. 25. 30 I. ABSENCE OF THE REPRODUCTIVE POWER. The sensibility and weakness of the genital member were so = great, that on the slightest touch, and without any sensation or ’ desire of sexual intercourse the young man emitted a fluid similar to whey. ‘This secretion continued night and day, every time that he made water, or upon the slightest friction of his linen. After various remedies being proposed, without any beneficial results, a Van-Hers considered the disease as incurable; but, as the patient would not coincide in his opinion and was very rich, he continued his travels in Italy, France, England, and Germany, in the hope of recovering his powers of virility. He failed not, as usual, to meet with physicians who, from mercenary motives, held out to him the most illusory prospects of a perfect cure. At length, after six years passed in travelling and in vain attempts to regain the gene- rative faculty, he returned to the candid and able physician from whom he had heard the truth, and whose opinion he was now convinced was but too well founded. As may be supposed, Van- Hers perceived no new circumstance to justify an alteration in his view of the case, and the unfortunate young man returned home, deeply deploring the advantages of a fortune which had made him — the victim of the precocious abuse of pleasures to which he must now bid adieu for ever.* ‘Too great warmth of passion may not only defeat its own object, but also produce a temporary impo- tency. A lover, after having, with all the ardour of affection, longed for the enjoyment of his mistress, finds himself at the a moment of fruition incapable of consummating his happiness. The only remedy for this misfortune is to allay the over-excitement and to restrain the exuberance of the imagination. It would be mad- ness to persist in endeavouring to obtain a victory which must be * Nosographie philosophique. ANAPHRODISIA. 31 certain, as soon as the heat of the animal spirits being abated, a portion of them proceeds to animate the agents of voluptuous pas- sion. The following are cases of this description. «< A young man whose wife’s relations had promised him a con- siderable estate as soon as she proved to be pregnant, fatigued himself to no purpose by continued devotions at the shrine of love; his over anxiety defeating the very object he so ardently desired to accomplish. In despair at the failure of his repeated efforts, he was, at length, on the point of believing his wife barren, when, following the advice of a judicious physician, he absented himself from home for a fortnight, and upon his return proved by the suc- cess which attended his amorous labours, that absence is sometimes the best doctor.” | «A noble Venetian, aged twenty years, was married to a very handsome lady, with whom he cohabited with a good deal of vigour, but never could emit semen in the coition, whereas in his dreams he could discharge very freely. This misfortune very much afflicted him and his family; and as no remedy could be found at home, the Venetian ambassadors residing at the different courts of Europe were desired to consult some of the most eminent physicians in the cities where they resided, to account for the causes, and to find a cure for this extraordinary complaint of the difference of the states when in sleep and when actually in coition. : “‘T was of opinion that it consisted altogether in the uretha being closely shut by the vigour of the erection in coition, which found so great a resistance that the powers that throw the seed out of the vesicule seminales could not overcome it; whereas, in dreams, the pressure on the uretha being much less, an evacuation was effected.” The method of cure was not less successful than obvious from 32 II. ABSENCE OF THE REPRODUCTIVE POWER. — a the foregoing account: tor gentle evacuations and a slender diet brought about and fully completed their desires.* see Cabanis is of opinion that debility of the stomach almost always” produces a similar state in the organs of generation. ‘ L’énergie ou la débilité de l’éstomac produit, presque toujours, un état ana- logue dans ceux de la génération. J’ai soigné un jeune homme _ | chez qui la paralysie accidentelle de ces derniers avait été ae ; par certains vices de la digestion stomachique ; OD qui reprit la — 4 vigueur de son Age, aussit6t qu’il elit récouvré la puissance de di- : 7 : gérer.t Old Montaigne’s advice in cases similar to those Bi cited 4 is worthy of notice. ‘As to what concerns married people,” says he, “ having the year before them, they ought never to compel, or SO ech as offer at the feat, if they do not find themselves very ready. And it is better indecently to fail of handling the gee sheets, and of © paying the ceremony due to the wedding night, when a man perceives himself full of agitation and trembling, expecting another opportunity at a better and more private leisure, when his fancy shall be better composed, than to make himself per- petually miserable for having misbehaved himself, and being baffled — 5 at the first assault. Tull possession be taken, a man that knows himself subject to this infirmity, should leisurely and by degrees make certain little trials and light offers, without attempting at a once to force an absolute conquest over his own mutinous and indisposed faculties; such as know their members to be naturally — obedient to their desires, need to take no other care but only to counterplot their fancy. The indocile and rude liberty of this * Medical Essays published by a society in Edinburgh, vol. I., p. 270. Cases : reported by W. Cockburn, M.D. t+ Rapport, tome II., p. 422. “a. Y y i) ¢. et a oo 4 = rs = a a. ANAPHRODISIA. 33 scurvy member, is sufficiently remarkable by its importunate, unruly, and unseasonable tumidity and impatience at such times as we have nothing for it to do, and by its most unseasonable stu- pidity and disobedience when we stand most in need of its vigour, so imperiously contesting the authority of the will, and with so much obstinacy denying all solicitation of hand and fancy. And yet, though his rebellion is so universally complained of, and that proofs are not wanting to condemn him, if he had, nevertheless, feed me to plead his cause, I should, peradventure, bring the rest of his fellow-members into suspicion of complotting the mischief against him, out of pure envy of the importance and ravishing plea- sure peculiar to his employment, so as to have, by confederacy, armed the whole world against him, by malevolently charging him alone with their common offence.”* Too great warmth of clothing round the parts of generation, or too great pressure upon them, may be reckoned as causes of impotency. The custom of wearing breeches was considered by Hippocratest as a predisposing cause of the impotency so common among the ancient Scythians. Mr. Hunter was also of opinion that this article of dress by keeping the parts too warm, affording them a constant support, and allowing the muscles but little free- dom of motion, may, at least, relax and cause them to become flaccid, if it do not totally incapacitate them for the due perform- ance of their functions. Equally disadvantageous, in this respect, is the practice of riding upon horseback, as the organs of generation are, of necessity, frequently compressed either against the saddle or the horse’s back. Lalemant, in his Commentaries upon Hippocrates, adduces the * Essays, Book I., chap. xx. Cotton’s translation. 't Hippocrates de Aer: aqua et loco, 210. 34 Il. ABSENCE OF THE REPRODUCTIVE POWER. case of bakers, upon whom, by their not wearing breeches, the _ contrary effect 1s produced. ‘‘ We have often heard,” says he, 4a “‘that bakers and others whose parts of generation are not covered ~ by clothing, but hang freely, have large, well-grown testicles.*¥ = Another cause of impotency is the allowing the parts of genera~ tion to remain too long in a state of inaction. Those parts of the body which are most exercised are always found to be better grown, stronger, and more fitted for the discharge of their natural functions provided the exercise be neither too violent nor too frequent. The parts, on the contrary, which are condemned to rest and inactivity wither and gradually lose their tone, as well as the power of effecting the movements natural to them. Galen observes that the genital organs of the athlete, as well as those of all such whose profession or calling compelled them to remain chaste, were generally shrunken and wrinkled like those of old men, and that the contrary is the case with those who use them to an excess. ‘ All the athlete,” says he, “‘as*well as those who, for the sake of preserving or improving the voice, are, from their youth, debarred the pleasures of love, have their natural parts shrunken and wrinkled like those of old men, while, in such as have from an early age indulged in those delights to an excess, the vessels of those parts, by the habit of being dilated, cause the blood to flow there in great abundance, and the desire of coition to be proportionately increased, all which is a natural consequence _ of those general laws which all our faculties obey. Thus it is that the breasts of women who have never had children remain always small, while those of females who have been mothers,and who suckle their children, acquire a considerable volume, that they continue to * Treatise on the Veneieal Disease. ANAPHRODISIA. a5 give milk as long as they suckle their infants, and that their milk does not fail until they cease to nourish them.” * So well, indeed, was this fact known to the ancients, that Aristophanes uses the Expression, wécOny pixpav, penem exiguum, as an attribute of a youth who has preserved his innocence, and xwAjv peyddyv, penem magnum, as the sign of a dissolute one. It will easily be supposed that superstition, when brought to act upon weak and ignorant minds, is capable of producing temporary impotence. The pretended charm of witchery common in France as late as the close of the 17th century, and known by the name of nouer Paiguillette (point-tying) is a proof of this : Ami lecteur, vous avez quelquefois Oui conter qu’on nouait Paiguillette, Cest une étrange et terrible recette, Et dont un Saint ne doit jamais user, Que quand d’un autre il ne peut s’aviser. D’un pauvre amant, le feu se tourne en glace ; Vif et perclus, sans rien faire, il se lasse ; Dans ses efforts étonné de languir, Et consume sur le bord du plaisir. Telle une fleur des feux du jour séchée, La téte basse, et la tige penchée, Demande en vain les humides vapeurs Qui lui rendaient la vie et les couleurs. In olden times, prior to the invention of buttons, the femoral habiliments of men, or hose, as they were called, were fastened up by means of tags or points (Gallice) aiguillettes. Thus, Falstaff * Comment. de Aer: aqua et loco, 210. ft Voltaire, Pucelle d'Orléans, Chant xii. 36 I. ABSENCE OF THE REPRODUCTIVE POWER. says, “ Their points being cut, down fell their hose.” From this’ French word aiguillette was derived the term nouer aipuilielee (to tie up the points), equivalent to—button up the flap, to express — the rendering, by enchantment, a husband incapable of performing, the conjugal rite. The whole secret of this charm consisted in- the impostor choosing for his victim an individual whose youha inexperience, or superstition presented him with a fit subject tom d work upon. The imagination of the party being already predis- — posed for the trick, a look, a sign, a menace, either of the voice or of the hand, accompanied by some extraordinary gesture, was sufficient to produce the effect, and, as the mere apprehension of — an evil frequently occasions its occurrence, it followed that, super- _ stition having prepared the event, the latter, in its turn, fortified the superstition, a vicious circle which may justly be considered an opprobrium to man’s intelligence. | That such was the opinion entertained of it by sensible men ~ when it was in vogue, will be seen by the following curious - passage from an old and quaint French writer : , ‘“* Quelques uns tiennent cela pour superstition, que quand. on dit la Messe des espousées, lorsque l’on prononce ce mot Sara, ala bénédiction nuptiale, si vous estreignez une esguillette, que le marié ne pourra rien faire a son espousée la nuict suyuante, tant que la dite esguillette demeurera nouée. Ce que jay veu expérimenter faux infinies fois: car pourveuque lesguillette du compagnon soit a destachée, et qu’il soit bien roide et bien au point, il ne faut point _ douter qu’il n’accoustre bien la besongne, comme il appartient. = aN Aussi donne l’on vn folastre amulette et digne du subject: cest a scavoir que pour oster le sort, it faut pisser au travers dune bague de laquelle on a esté espousé. Véritablement ie le croy: car Cest a dire, en bon Francais que si on degoutte dans cet anneau de Hans Carvel, il n’y a charme qui puisse nuire. Aussi nouer lesguillette _ ANAPHRODISTIA. Sie: ne signifie autre chose qu’vn couard amant qui aura le mebre aussi peu disposé, que si l’esguillette de sa brayette estoit nouée.* As to the mode itself of conjuration, Bodin, a writer upon these subjects, asserts that there are not less than fifty different ways of performing it: of all which the most efficacious one is to take a small strip or thong of leather, or silken or worsted thread, or cotton cord, and to make on it three knots successively, each knot, when made, being accompanied by the sign of the cross, the word Ribald being pronounced upon making the first knot, Noba/ upon making the second one, and Vanardi upon making the third and last one; all which must be done during the celebration of the marriage ceremony. For the sake of change, one of the verses of the Miserere mei, Deus! may be repeated backwards, the names of the bride and bridegroom being thrice pronounced. The first time, the knot must be drawn rather tight; the second time still more so, and the third time quite close. Vulgar operators content themselves with pronouncing some cabalistic words during the marriage rite, tracing, at the same time, some mysterious figures or diagrams on the earth with the left foot, and affixing to the dress of the bride or bridegroom small slips of paper having magical _ characters inscribed upon them. Further details may be found in the works of Sprenger, an inquisitor, Crespet of Sans, Debris, a Jesuit, Bodin, Wier, De Lancre, and other learned demonologists. This species of enchantment was not unknown to the ancients. According to Herodotus t Amasis was prevented enjoying his wife Ladice by a sorcery of this description, nor was it till after the Queen had vowed a statue to Venus, “‘ sz secum cotret Amasis,” that the king’s wishes and her own were gratified. * Bigarrures du Seigneur des Accords. + Herodotus Enterpe clxxxii. Plato warns married persons gone such sorceries. * Virgil . speaks also of impotency effected by ligature. Terna tibi hec primum, duplici diversa colore Licia circumdo.t te Ovid admits the power of such charms in the followiee lines : 3 a Carmine lesa, Ceres sterilem vanescit in herbam | ‘ Deficiunt lesi carmine fontis aque : eo a Ilicibus glandes, cantataque vitibus uva | Decedit, et nulla forma movente, flexunt. Quid vetat et nervos ee Et juveni et Cupido, carmine abesse viro. { Of that most detestable of all tyrants, Nero, it is said that finding he could not enjoy a female whom he passionately desired, he complained of having been bewitched. | The fables of Apuleius are full of the enchantments of Pars philus. § 3 Numantina, the first ee of Plautius Sylvanus, was accused of having rendered her husband impotent by means of sorcery, “ in- jecisse carminibus et venefictis vecordium marito. | Paulus (Julius) of Tyr states that the Law of the Twelve — Tables contained an express prohibition against the employment of ligatures ; ‘‘ qui, sacra, impia nocturnave fecerint, ut quem incan- tarent, obligarent,” &c. Gregory of Tours relates** that Eulatius having taken a young * De Legibus, lib. 1. + Ecloga viii. t Amor., lib. iil, Eleg. 6. § De Asino Aureo, lib. ii, v. 3. | Tacitus Annal., lib. iv., 22. ‘I Lib. vj; oentent, ite 2 3. * * De rebus gestis Francorum, lib. 4, cap. 94. ANAPHRODISIA. 39 woman from a monastery and married her, his concubines, actuated by jealousy, put such a spell upon him, that he could by no means consummate his nuptials. Paulus A‘milius, in his life of King Clovis says that Theodoric sent back his wife Herméberge to her father, the King of Spain, as he had received her, a pure virgin, the force of witchcraft having incapacitated him from taking her maidenhead ; which sorcery Aimoinus Monachus* asserts to have been effected by Queen Brunchante. The practice of point-tying was formerly so general that princes and princesses made it one of their most amusing pastimes. Louis Sforza having seen the young Princess Isabella, daughter of Al- phonso King of Arragon, and who was betrothed to Galeas, Duke of Milan, was so enamoured of her beauty that he point-tyed Galeas for several months. Marie de Padille, concubine of Don Pedro King of Castille and Leon, point-tied him so effectually that he could not give the least marks of his fondness to his consort Queen Blanche. That the church acknowleged the power of these point-tiers is proved by the fact of their having been publicly anathematized by the provincial Councils of Milan and Tours, the Synods of Mont-Cassin and Ferriare, and by the clergy of France assembled at Mélun in 1579. A great number of rituals specify the means to be employed as countercharms to the sorceries of the point-tiers ; and the Cardinal Du Perron,t a very able and experienced prelate, has inserted in the ritual of Evreux very sage directions for this purpose. Similar precautions may be found in the synodal statutes SES ABE * Histoire des Frangais. + Nominated to the Bishopric of Evreux by HenryIV. of France. His favourite authors were Rabelais and Montaigne. :~ ee 3 ne -< \ F vs ee A Pad ¢ 68 III. APHRODISIACS AND | Pythagoras was the first (followed by Plutarch) who wee a this plant the name of ¢vpwropopdos (man-likeness), an appellation — which became very generally used ; but why he gave it is not pr cisely known : Calmet, however, suggests as a reason the ines its root being parted from the middle, downaee on The opinion respecting the peculiar property of the ae was not confined to the Jews, but was also entertained by the Greeks and Romans, the former of whom called its fruit—love- apples, and bestowed the name of Mandragoritis upon Venus. Dioscorides knew it by that of Mavdpayopas, and remarks that the root is supposed to be used in philters or love-potions;* and another writer lauds it as exciting the amorous propensity, remedy- ing female sterility, facilitating conception and prolificness, adding — 4 the singular fact that female elephants, after eating its leaves, are seized with so irresistible a desire for copulation, as to run oe in every direction, in quest of the male.t : Speaking of the plant Eryngium, the elder Pliny says: ‘ The ; whole variety of the Eryngium known in our (the Latin) Lape : as the centum capita has some marvellous facts recorded of it. It — is said to bear a striking likeness to the organs of generation of either sex ; it is rarely met with, but if a root resembling the male = organ of the human species be found by a man, it will ensure him a woman’s love ; hence it is that Phaon, the Lesbian, was so passion- ately beloved of Sappho.”{ If it be true, as is asserted by medical _ * Lib. Avs; cape go: ie + Quoted by Oct. Celsius in his “ Azerobotanicon,” Part I., par 5, art. Dudaim, ’ from Epiphan: Physiolog. c. 4. a t Pliny’s “ Natural History,” Vol. IV., p. 397 (Bohn’s Classical Library). ANT I-APHRODISIACS. 69 * writers, that the above root contains an essential oil of peculiarly stimulating qualities, the fact would account, not only for Sappho’s passion for Phaon, but also for the high value set upon it by the rival wives of Jacob. For the same reason as that suggested by Calmet, Columella calls the mandrake semihomo : ““Quamvis semihominis vesano gramine foeta Mandragore pariat flores.” * *« Let it not vex thee if thy teeming field The half-man Mandrake’s madd’ning seed should yield ;” and qualifies its seed by the epithet vesanus, because in his time (the first century after Christ) it was still supposed to form one of the ingredients of philters or love-potions. The superstitious ideas attached to the mandrake were indeed so current throughout Europe during the middle ages, that one of the accusations brought against the Knights Templars was that of adoring, in Palestine, an idol to which was given the name of Mandragora.t Even, comparatively, not very long ago, there might be seen in many of the continental towns quacks and mountebanks exhibiting little rudely-carved figures, which they declared to be genuine mandrakes, assuring their gaping auditors, at the same time, that they were produced from the urine of a gibbeted thief, and seriously warning those who might have to pull any out of the ground to stop their ears first, for otherwise the piercing shrieks of these plants would infallibly strike them with deafness. Wier thus describes the manufacture of these interesting little gentlemen: ‘‘ Impostors carve upon these plants while yet green the male and female forms, inserting millet * Columella De hortorum Cultu., v. 19, 20. + See a manuscript Picador still preserved in the “ Bibliotheque Nation- ale,” Fonds de Baluze, Rouleau 5. 70 III, APHRODISIACS AND or barley seeds in such parts as they desire the likeness of humadil hair to grow on; then, digging a hole in the ground, they polly the said plants therein, covering them with sand till such time as ~ the little seeds have stricken root, which, it is said, would be per- a fectly effected within twenty days at furthest. After this, disinter- ring the plants, these impostors, with a sharp cutting knife,so dexterously carve, pare, and slip the little filaments of the seeds as to make them resemble the hair which grows upon the various parts of the UAE: body.” * a “‘T have seen,” says the Abbé Rosier, “ mandrakes tolerably : well representing the male and female parts of generation, a resem- _ blance which they owe, almost entirely, to manual dexterity. F or a the intended object, a mandrake is chosen having a strong root, which, at the end of a few inches, bifurcates into two branches. As the root is soft, it easily takes the desired form, which it pre- serves on becoming dry.”+ ‘The author then describes the process __ of producing the resemblance of human hair, and which is similar — . to that given above. a In the year 1429, a Cordelier by name, Brother Richard, ik E minated from the pulpit a vigorous sermon against the amulette __ then much in vogue, and called ‘“‘ Mandragora.” He convinced “a his auditors, both male and female, of its impiety and inutility, and caused hundreds of those pretended charms which, upon that occa~ _ sion, were voluntarily delivered up to him, to be publicly burnt. It is, no doubt, to these mandragoras that an old chronicler alludes __ in the following strophe: | * See “ De ’imposture des Diables,”’ par Jacques Grévin, Tom. IV., p. 359. t+ From Weir “ De Mag: demonia :” Cours Complet d’agriculture par ?PAbbé — Rosier, Tom. VI., p. 401. ANT I-APHRODISTACS. 71 J’ai puis vu soudre en France Par grant dérision, La racine et la branche De toute abusion. Chef de lorgueil du monde Et de lubricité ; Femme oti tel mal habonde Rend povre utilité. * In the 15th century the mandrake enjoyed in Italy so great a reputation as an erotic stimulant, that the celebrated Macchiavelli wrote a much admired comedy upon it, called “* La Mandragora.” The subject of this piece, according to Voltaire, who asserts “qu'il vaut, peut étre, mieux que toutes les pi¢ces d’Aristophane, est un jeune homme adroit qui veut coucher avec la femme de son voisin. Il engage, avec de l’argent, un moine, un Fa tutto ou un Fa molto, 4 séduire sa maitresse et a faire tomber son mari dans un piége ridicule. On se moque tout le long de la piéce, de la reli- gion que toute |’Europe professe, dont Rome est le centre et dont le siege papal est le trone.” + Callimaco, one of the dramatis-persone of this comedy, thus eulogizes the plant in question, ‘“‘ Voi avete a intendere che non é cosa piu cetta a ingravidare, d@una pozione fatta di Mandragola, Questa € una cosa sperimentata da me due para di volte, e se non era questa, la Reina di Francia sarebbe sterile, ed infinite altre princi- pesse in quello Stato.” { * Récollections des choses merveilleuses Advenues en notre temps par George Chastelain, Edition de Coustelier, p. 150. + Lettres d Amabed, Vol. XXXIV., p. 261. Edition Beuchot, Paris. ~ Mandragola, Atto II. Scena 6. See also La Fontaine’s tale of “ La Mandra- gore,’ founded upon the above comedy. ee a - 7 a —— , ; 79 II. APHRODISIACS AND «You must know that nothing is so sure to make women con > ceive, as a draught composed of Mandragola. This is a fact whicl : I have verified upon four occasions, and had it not been for the | virtues of this plant, the Queen of France, as well as many noble ¥ ladies of that kingdom, would have proved barren.” By the Venetian law the administering of love-potions was accounted highly criminal. Thus the law “ Det maleficit et her- barie.” Cap. XVI. of the code, entitled ‘Della Commissione — del maleficio” says, ‘“Statuimo etiamdio che se alcun homo o s femina harra fatto maleficii, iguali so dimandono volgarmente — amatorie, o veramente alcuni altri maleficii, che alcun homo o femina se havesson in ones sia frusta et bollade, et che hara con- sigliato, patisca simile pena.” * | a The notion of the efficacy of love powders was also so preva-- lent in the 15th century in our owncountry that in the Parliament _ summoned by King Richard III., on his usurping the throne, it was publicly urged as a charge against Lady Grey, that she had 49 bewitched King Edward IV. by strange potions and amorous = charms. - ‘And here also we considered how that the said pretended marriage betwixt the abovenamed King Edward and Elizabeth es Grey, was made of great presumption, without the knowing and j assent of the Lords of this land, and also by sorcery and witch-_ 7 craft committed by the said Elizabeth and her mother Jaquet — : 4 Duchesse of Bedford, as the common opinion of the people and _ the public voice and fame is thorow all this land.” (From the a * See Warburton on Shakespeare’s Othello. Act I., Scene 8. ““ By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks.” ANTI-APHRODISIACS. — 73 ** Address of Parliament to the high and mightie Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester.”) * Modern writers, as might be expected, have taken a very wide range in their inquiries as to what kind of plant the Dudaim really was, some regarding it as lilies, roses, violets, daffodils, snowdrops, and jasmine; others, as melons, plaintain fruits, whirtleberries, dwarf brambles, the berries of the physalis or winter cherry, grapes of some peculiar kind, or even underground fungi, as truffles, &c. Many have supposed the word to mean the ingredients, whatever they might have been, of a charm or love potion, and hence have recurred to the mandrake celebrated, as already said, throughout antiquity, for its supposed virtues, and whose history has been tricked out with all the traditionary nonsense that might be imagined to confirm that report of such qualities. Liebentantz, +} in 1660; the younger Rudbeck, { in 1733, and Celsius, § in 1745, have displayed much erudition and research in their inquiries ; but the first of these writers arrived at the conclusion that nothing certain could be come to on the subject; while the second proposed raspberries as the Dudaim ; and the third main- tained that they were the fruit of the Zizyphus, the Spina Christi of the disciples of Linnzus. Maundrell, who travelled in the East in the 17th century, informs us that, having asked the chief priest of Aleppo what sort of a plant or fruit the Dudaim, or (as we translate it) the mandrakes, were which Leah gave to Rachel for the purchase of her husband’s * See Speed’s Historie of Great Britaine. Richard III. Book II., page 913 folio edition, 1632. + Exercitatio de Rachelis Deliciis, 4to, 1678. + Atlantica illustrata, 1733. § Hierobotanicon, 1745. oe: III. APHRODISIACS AND leaf bearing a certain sort of fruit, in shape resembling an apple growing ripe in harvest, but of an ill savour, and not wholesome. But the virtue of them was to help conception, being laid under th genial bed. That the women were wont to apply it at this Bes out of an opinion of its prolific virtue,” * : Sue Some writers have supposed the Dudaim to be neither more non less than the truffle. Virey asserts it to be a species of Orchis; and, indeed, considering the remarkable conformation of the root ‘ of this plant,t the slightly spermatic odour of its farinaceous sub- 2 stance, as well as that of the flowers of another one belonging to the same family, an odour so similar to the emanations of an animal proverbial for its salaciousness, and to which its bearded spikes or ears give additional resemblance, the almost unbounded confidence which the ancients reposed in its aphrodisiacal virtues cannot appear surprising. : One of the most extraordinary AR ae upon record is that reported to have been employed by the Amazons. The “Ama- | zons,” says Eustathius,{ ‘* broke either a leg or an arm of the cap- tives they took in battle, and this they did, not only to prevent their attempts at escape, or their plotting, but also, and this more especially, to render them more vigorous in the venereal conflict ; for, as they themselves burnt away the right breast of their female children in order that the right arm might become stronger from * “Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem at Easter, A.D., 1697.” + Orchis is a Greek word signifying /es¢icle, a name given by the ancientsto this __ a plant on account of the supposed resemblance of its root to that organ. + + Eustathii Commentarii ad Homerum, Vol.I., p. 325, 4039. Editio Lipsia, 5 ANT I-APHRODISIACS. a5 receiving additional nutriment, so they imagined that, similarly, the genital member would be strengthened by the deprivation of one of the extremities, whether a leg or an arm. MHence, when reproached by the Scythians with the limping gait of her slaves, Queen Antianara replied, “ dpurra xwAds oupe?,” ‘ the lame best per- form the act of love.” Among the ancient Romans, it was impossible that philters, or love-potions, should not be introduced amid the general depravity so common in every class; and hence we meet with frequent allu- sions to them in their writers. Thus, the emperor Julian, sur- named the Apostate, writing to his friend Callixines, observes “‘ At enim inquies, Penelopes etiam amor et fides erga virum tempore cognita est. Et quis, tandem, inquam, in muliere amorem conju- gis sui religioni ac pietati anteponet quam continud mandragore bi- bisse judicitur ?.?* | *< But you, Callixines, observe that Penelope’s love to her hus- band was always thus manifested. To this I answer, who but he that has habitually drunk Mandragora can prefer in a woman con- jugal affection to piety ?” The over excitement caused in the nervous system by such potions frequently proved fatal. Such, according to Eusebius, was the fate of the poet Lucretius, who, having been driven to madness by an amatory potion, and having, during the intervals of his insanity, composed several books, which were afterwards cor- rected by Cicero, died by his own hand, in the 44th year of his age.t It should, however, be remembered that this account has * Juliani Calixene Epistola. t+ “Amatorio poculo furorem versus, quum aliquot libros per intervalla conscrip- serat.” 76 II. APHRODISIACS AND — iS been questioned by the poet’s translator and annotator, the la “a! Mr. Mason Good, in these words: 2 o a ‘“ By whom the potion was administered is conjectured only — from a passage in St. Jerome,* who says that a certain tla killed her husband or her lover by giving him a philtre, which | was intended to secure his love, but the effect of which was to 4 make him insane. This Lucilia is supposed to have been the wife or the mistress of Lucretius, but by whom the suppoaticr ia was first made, I am not able to discover.”+ Suetonius relates the . same thing of Caius Caligula, who although, when he arrived at ‘” manhood, endured fatigue tolerably well, was still occasionally liable a to faintness, owing to which he remained incapable of any effort. He was not insensible to this disorder of his mind, and sometimes had thoughts of retiring.{ ‘Creditum,” he continues, “ potiona- tus a Czsonia uxore, amatorio quodam medicamento, sed quges in furorem verterit.”§ . ! | “It is thought that his wife Czsonia administered to him a aa love-potion, which threw him into a phrensy.” It is in allusion to this that Juvenal writes: “* Tamen hoc tolerabile, si non Et furere incipias, ut avunculus ille Neronis Cui totam tremuli frontem Cesonia pulli Infudit.”’|| =a * Epist. dissuas: ad Rufinum C. 22. Tom xi. p. 245, ad Varone — t+ Remarks on the life and poems of Lucretius, p. vi. (Bohn’s Classical Library), __ ~ Probably to Anticyra, a Greek town situated at the mouth of the river Sper- chius, and reputed to produce the genuine hellebore, recommended by the ancient — physicians as a cure for insanity, whence the well known adage, “ Naviget Anti- cyram.” § Sueton. Calig. 50. || Juvenal. Sat. vi. v. 614. ANT I-APHRODISTACS. 77 ** Some nimbler juice would make him foam and rave, Like that Cesonia to her Caius gave, Who, plucking from the forehead of the foal The mother’s love, infused it in the bowl: The boiling blood ran hissing through his veins, Tul the mad vapour mounted to his brains.” These concoctions were publicly sold at Rome, their ingredients consisting of herbs of various kinds, in the culling and testing of which the shepherds were often employed. The remora, or suck- ing-fish, certain bones of the frog, the astroit, or star-fish, and the hippomanes were also used. Horace informs us that dried human marrow and liver were also had recourse to : “« Exsucta uti medulla et aridum jecur Amoris esset poculum.”* That his parch’d marrow might compose, Together with his liver dried, an amorous dose. Del Riot and Wallich{ assert that to the above were likewise added nail-pairings, sundry metals, reptiles, and the intestines of particular birds and fishes, and even semen virile and sanguis men- struus. During the concoction of these filthy, disgusting, and abominable compounds, the Infernal Deities were earnestly invoked. Of all the above ingredients the most famous was the hippoma- nes, which, according to Wier, was a piece of flesh upon the fore- head of a young colt, of a black or brown colour, in size and shape * Hor. Epod Lib. Carm. V. 1708. See also the admirable notes of Dacier and Sanadon upon the above ode. + Disquisitionum Magicarum, Lib. III. Questio III. De Amatorio Maleficio, page 7 + Cinq livres de l’imposture et tromperie des diables. Lib. II., p. 216, 1569. § De Magorum Daemonomania. Lib. I., Cap. III., p. 27. 78 III, APHRODISIACS AND - 4 q like a fig, which the mare is said to bite off as soon as she has | 7 foaled, the mare forsaking her offspring when prevented from SO . doing ; hence the hippomanes, which was in reality nothing more 4 | than a caul or part of the omentum attached to the head of the — foal, as it is also sometimes to that of infants, was thought to be particularly effective in conciliating love, especially when calcined or reduced to powder, and swallowed in some of the blood of the _ person beloved. ‘This superstition is, however, in some degree a excusable, if it be considered that, even in the present day, many persons in our own country firmly believe the human caul to have the power of saving its possessor from drowning ; and that in the good old times, it was regarded as a visible indication that Provi- dence had designed the infant so furnished for the service of reli- gion, such children, whether male or female, being destined, in consequence, for the cloister. Virgil thus mentions it as one of the ingredients of the philter that Dido caused to be made for her previously to her cones a suicide: “‘ Falcibus et messe ad Lunam queruntur alienis Pubentes herbe, nigri cum lacte venent. Queritur et nascentis equi in fronte revulsus Et matri preruptus amor.”* ‘“‘ Herbs are brought, by moonlight mow’d With brazen scythes, big, swol’n with milky juice Of curious poison, and the fleshy knot Torn from the forehead of a new foald colt To rob the mother’s love.” : | The following curious account of the wonderful effects of the * Aneid, Lib. IV., v.-13, 14, 15, and. 16. ANTI-APHRODISIACS. 79 hippomanes, and which fully justifies the etymology of that word, is given by Pausanias : “ Among these (offerings) you may behold these of Phormis Menalius. . . . His gifts in Olympia are two horses and two charioteers, one of which horses the Aélians assert to have been made by a magician, of brass, into which metal he had previously infused the Aippomanes, and which, in consequence, possessed the power of exciting in horses a mad desire for coition. The horse so made by the magician was, both in size and shape, inferior to many horses which are dedicated within Altis, and was rendered still more deformed by having no tail. Horses desire connection with this image not only in spring, but every day throughout the year, for, breaking their bridles or running away from their drivers, they rush into Altis and attack the horse in a manner much more furious than if it was the most beautiful mare, and one they were acquainted with. ‘Their hoofs, indeed, slip from the side of the image, but nevertheless they never cease neighing vehemently and leaping furiously on the figure till they are driven off by the whip or by some other violent means, for till such methods are applied, it is impossible to disengage them from the brass.”* Many formula for love-potions may be found in the work of Albertus Magnus, who, among other things, particularly recom- mends “ the brains of a partridge calcined into powder and swal- lowed in red wine,” a remedy which is also much insisted upon by Platina, who, in praising the flesh of the partridge, says, “ Perdicis caro bene ac facile concoquitur, multum in se nutrimenti habet, cerebri vim auget, genituram facilitat ac demortuam Venerem ex- citat.” + * Pausanias, Greeciz Descriptio, Lib. V., c. 27. + In his work “ De valetudine tuenda.” 80 III. APHRODISIACS AND > ee 86 UI. APHRODISIAGS AND aa de poissons et @herbes qui sont des aliments composés de beaucoup a eau.” 5 Should this be true, the Infallible (?) Church must have com-— mitted an astounding blunder in thinking to mortify, for six week a the sinful lusts and affections of its dupes, by confining TEN for-4 the above period, to the exclusive use of such articles of food. ; There are also some aliments which, although not inet in the class of analeptics, are, nevertheless, reported to possess specific a aphrodisiacal qualities ; such are fish, truffles, and chocolate. — e The following anecdote relative to this property in fish is related by Hecquet :* q “‘ Sultan Saladin, wishing to ascertain the extent of thecontinence _ of the dervishes, took two of them into his palace, and, during a certain space of time, had them fed upon the most succulent food. In a short time all traces of their self-inflicted severities were effaced, and their embonpoint began to re-appear. a In this state he gave them two Odalisquest of surpassing beauty, _ but all whose blandishments and allurements proved ineffectual, — for the two holy men came forth from the ordeal as pure as the = diamond of Bejapore.{ — 4 The Sultan still kept them in his palace, and, to celebrate their triumph, caused them to live upon a diet equally recherché, but consisting entirely of fish. A few days afterwards they were again a subjected to the united powers of youth and beauty, but this time __ nature was too strong, and the too happy cenobites forgot, in the arms of voluptuousness, their vows of continence and chastity. age * Traité des dispenses et de Caréme, Paris, 1709, en 12mo, réimprimé trois fois. t+ Names given to the female slaves or concubines in the harem of the Sultan. : “as + A large province of the Deccan, said to have been famous, in ancient times, for its diamond mines. ; ANTI-APHRODISIACS. 87 This peculiar property in fish has been attributed to the presence | _ of phosphorus, which is known to exist somewhat plentifully in their substance, and has also been discovered in their roes in a simple state of combination. Now, phosphorus is one of the most powerful stimulants: it acts upon the generative organism in a manner to cause the most violent priapisms ; but this principle does not act alone, and there must also be taken into account the different seasonings and condiments which form the basis of most culinary preparations to which fish are subjected, and which are all taken from the class of irritants. The prolific virtues of fish have, no doubt, been greatly exagge- rated, and it is certain that too much importance has been given to the observation made (rather upon slight grounds) by travellers as to the abundant population of ichthyophagic nations; nor would it be difficult to adduce facts to prove to the incredulous that the continuous use of fish excites lasctviousness in such persons only as are constitutionally inclined thereto. The following instances sufficiently establish the aphrodisiacal qualities of phosphorus. A drake belonging to a chemist having drunk water out of a copper vessel which had contained phospho- rus, ceased not gallanting his females till he died. “An old man to whom a few drops only of phosphoric ether had been adminis- tered, experienced repeated and imperious venereal wants which he was compelled to satisfy. Leroy and Battatz, two celebrated French physicians of the last century, tried the effects of phos- phorus upon themselves, with similar results. Sensations of the same kind are said to be experienced by persons whose occupation requires the frequent handling of this drug. It may thus be con- sidered as satisfactorily proved that the above substance is essen- tially an energetic stimulant of the genital organs ; but, should still further evidence be required, it may be found in the fact that the 88 Il, APHRODISTACS AND administration of it, even in small doses, has been productive ore the most horrible and fatal results, instances of which are recorded — in -many medical works, both foreign and English, but more parse \< ticularly in those of Brera, Magendie, and others. | ‘a The erotic properties of truffles and mushrooms are ae : by most writers as better established than those of fish. The — ancient Romans were well acquainted with truffles, and obtained — them from Greece and Africa, especially from the province of Libya, the fungi found there being particularly esteemed for their delicacy and flavour. In modern times, also, the truffle is regarded as the diamond of the kitchen, being highly valued for its apa ; of exciting the genesiac sense, it being a positive aphrodisiac which disposes men to be exacting and women complying.* | a The following instance of its effects is given by Brillat Savarin,} to whom the circumstances were communicated, in confidence, by the lady who was the subject of them: “« Je soupai,” said she, “‘ un jour chez moi en trio avec mon mari et un de ses amis dont le nom était V.... Cétait un bead percoy et ne manquant bee esprit et venait souvent chez moi, mais il ne m/avait jamais rien dit qui put le faire regarder comme mon amant, et sil me fesait la cour, c’était dune maniére si enve- q loppée qu’il n’y avait qu’une sotte qui eut pu s’en facher. II parais- — j sait, ce jour la, destiné 4 me tenir compagnie pendant le reste de la _ soirée, car mon mari avait un rendezvous et devait nous quitter - bientét. Notre souper avait pour base une petite volaille truffée. * That Corypheus of voluptuaries, George IV., so highly appreciated this quality in truffles, that his Ministers at the Courts of Turin, Naples, Florence, &c., were — specially instructed to forward by a State messenger to the Royal Kitchen any offe 2 i. those fungi that might be found superior in size, delicacy, or flavour. + Physiologie du Gout, par Brillat Savarin, Paris, 1859. ANT 1- AP HRODISLACS. 89 Les truffes étaient délicieuses et quoique je les aime beaucoup, je me contins, non-obstant ; je ne bus aussi qu’un seul verre de Cham- pagne, ayant quelque pressentiment que la soirée ne se passerait pas Sans €venement. Bientot mon mari partit et me laissa seule avec V.... quil regardait comme tout a fait sans conséquence, La conversation roula d’abord sur des sujets indifférents, mais elle ne tarda pas a prendre une tournure plus sérieuse et plus intéressante. V.... fut successivement flatteur, expansif, affectueux, caressant, et voyant que je ne faisais que plaisanter de tant de belles choses, il devint si pressant que je ne pus plus me tromper de ses préten- sions. Alors, je me reveillai comme d’une songe et me défendis avec autant plus de franchise que mon coeur ne me disait rien pour lui. Il persistait avec une action que pouvait devenir tout a fait offensante ; j’eus beaucoup de peine de le ramener, et j’avone, a ma honte, que je n’y parvins que parce que j’eus l’art de lui faire croire que toute espérance ne lui serait pas interdite. Ennfin, il me quitta, jallai me coucher et dormis tout d'un somme. Mais le len- demain fut le jour du jugement; j’examinai1 ma conduite de la veille, et je la trouvai repréhensible. J’aurais di arréter VV... . dés les premiéres phrases, et ne pas me preter 4 une conversation qui ne présageait rien de bon. Ma fierté aurait da se reveiller plutét, mes yeux s’armer de sévérité, j’aurais da sonner, crier, me facher, faire, enfin, tout ce que je ne fis pas. Que vous dirai je, Monsieur, je mis tout cela sur le compte des truffes, et je suis réele- ment persuadée qu’elles m’avaient donné une prédisposition dan- gereuse, et si je n’y renonce pas (ce qui eut été trop rigoureux) du moins je n’en mange jamais sans que le plaisir qu’elles me causent ne soit mélé d’un peu de défiance.” The mushroom was also equally well known as the truffle to the ancient Romans for its aphrodisiacal qualities. Thus, Martial says : go II. APHRODISIACS AND “« Quum sit anus conjux et sint tibi mortua membra, Nil aliud 4u/dis quam sater esse potes.” * “If envious age relax the nuptial knot, Thy food be mushrooms, and thy feast shalot.” This bulb was believed by the ancients to be so decided a stimu- a lant, that it was always served up, together with pepper and pine- nuts, at the wedding dinner. An immoderate use of chocolate was, in the 17th century, cone q | sidered so powerful an aphrodisiac that Jean Franco Raucher strenu- oS ously enforced the necessity of forbidding the monks to drink it, adding that if such an interdiction had been laid upon it at an q earlier period, the scandal with which that sacred order had been assailed would have been prevented. It is a singular fact that, — 7 fearful of losing their character, or, what, perhaps, was dearer to them, their chocolate, the worthy cenobites were so diligent in suppressing Raucher’s work that four copies only of it are said to =— be in existence. ' The history of the middle ages abounds with complaints af FR: 4 lubricity, gluttony, and drunkenness of the monks, vices which are __ described as being their ruin, in the following pithy distich : . Seointettia nigrorum que vastant res monachorum, Renes et venter et pocula sumpta frequenter.” + “« Three things to ruin monks combine— Venery, gluttony, and wine. i A monk who was a great enemy to adultery, was one day preach- ing against it, and grew so warm in his argument, and took so * Martial, Epigram, lib. xili. epig. 34. t+ Ducange, Glossaire. ANT I-AP HRODISIACS. gi much pains to convince his congregation of his own abhorrence of it, that at last he broke out in the following solemn declaration : “‘-Yea, my brethren, I had rather, for the good of my soul, have to do with ten maids every month, than, in ten years, to touch one married woman !” The celebrity they acquired in the field of Venus may readily be imagined from a quatrain that was affixed in a conspicuous part of the Church of St. Hyacinthe, and which runs thus : “« Hemmes qui désirez de devenir enceinte Addressez cy vos voeux au grand Saint Hyacinthe, Et tout ce que pour vous le Saint ne pourra faire Les moines de céans pourront y satisfaire.” * “¢ You ladies who for pregnancy do wish To great St. Hyacinthe your prayers apply, And what his Saintship cannot accomplish The monks within will surely satisfy.” It would have been well had these holy men been contented with these, comparatively, venial indulgences. The following macaronic epigram, however, shows that they were but too much addicted to the Amour Socratique : “< Let a friar of some order tecum pernoctare Either thy wife or thy daughter hic vult violare, Or thy son he will prefer, sicut fortem fortis, God give such a friar pain in Inferni portis.” + But the open violation of their monastic vows, especially that of chastity, sometimes subjected monks to very severe punishment, a * J. H. Meibomius de flagrorum usu in Re medica et Venerea, Paris, 1792, pai2s. + See Macaronéana, par M. Octave Delepierre, Paris, 1852, p. 3. 92 II, APHRODISIACS AND a Ks = singular instance of which is recorded by Thevet,* who, on account: of the inimitable quaintness of his language and style, must be allowed to tell his own story : o “ Phillippus Bourgoin, grad Duce de lAbbaye de Cluny, ; voyant linsolence, ribleries, et putasseries que menoient certains — religieux de labbaye de Cluny les fist appeller particuliérement, — leur demonstra le tort qu’ilz se faisoient et a la saincteté de a ordre, et appercevant qu’ilz continuoient leur train, en pleine voute = ou assemblée, qu’ils font en leur chapitre, leur denonga, qu’estat en — son oratoire Sainct Hugues s’estoit apparu a luy, le chargeant del leur fair entendre qwilz amendassent leur vie, ou autremét, qu ilz 7 tomberoient en son indignation, les ayant en telle verdeure envoya — querir des maistres opérateurs sécretement en son logis et madae q quent une nuict tous les plus mauvais garcons de Moynes, les uns — aprés les autres, qui n’estaient plutot entrez au logis du Prieur qu’o leur badoit les yeux, et apres les maistres leurs nettovet srogardeneaml leurs petites boursettes de ce qui les faisoit hennir aprés leurs volup- téz et aprés les renvoiet en leurs chambres, plus legiers de deux grains q qwilz wetoiét auparavant, les ayant chappénez. Aprés telle exécu- — i tion le bruict courut qu’6 avoit veu Sainct Hugues se pourméant | pres de l’enfermerie de Pabbaye, qui fist croire aux pauvres Moynes hongres, que par adresse autre qu’humaine, ils avoiét aimsi esté — estropiez de leur virilité. q To these poor monks may, however, be applied the sly remark a of Hume, upon a similar act of cruelty perpetrated, though for a far more innocent cause, by Geoffry, the father of Henry II., upon — ] | the prior and chapter of Seez in Normandy, viz., that “ uf the 2 9 Thevet, Portraits des Vies des Hommes Illustres, Vol. I., p. 13, fol. edit., Paris 1584. : a ANTI-APHRODISIACS. 93 pain and danger they might justly complain, yet, since they had vowed chastity, he deprived them of a superfluous treasure.’”* If the properties of ambergris be less potent than those of phos- phorus, they are certainly less fatal. According to Boswell,t three grains of the former suffice to produce a marked acceleration of the pulse, a considerable development of muscular strength, a greater activity in the intellectual faculties, and a disposition to cheerful- ness and venereal desires. The same author also says that it is a medicine which can, for a short time, restore an effete old man to juvenility.{ The ancients reposed great confidence in the virtues of this drug, employing it as a renovator of the vital powers and of the organs, whose energy had been exhausted by age or by excess ; and throughout the East this perfume still maintains a reputation for life-preserving qualities. | Madame Du Barry,§ the infamous mistress of Louis XV., is * Hume's Hist. of England, Vol. I., p. 348. + Dissertatio Inauguralis de Ambra, § iv. p. 36. ~ Medicamentum quod non solum potenter stimulat, sed vel effcetum senem, pro brevi tempore, ad juventutem iterum restituit. Jdzd., § vili., p. 44. § Née dans une condition obscure, vouée au libertinage dés sa plus tendre jeunesse, autant par gofit que par état, Made. Du Barrry ne put offrir 4 son auguste amant, malgré la fleur de la jeunesse et les brillants appas dont elle étoit encore pourvue, que les restes de la plus vile canaille, de la prostitution.” Vie privée des maitresses de Louis XV., p. 153.—“ You are no doubt curious to hear an opinion of Madame Du Barri’s beauty from the lips of one who has seen her both in her days of prosperity and after her downfall. She was a person of small, almost diminutive stature, extremely frail and delicate in feature, which saved her from being vulgar ; but, even from the first, she always wore that peculiarly faze look which she owed to a youth of dissipation, a maturity of unbounded indulgence. At the period of my visit she was about thirty-six years of age, but, from her child-like form and delicacy of countenance, appeared much younger, and her gamdades and unrestrained ges- tures of supreme delight on having, as she said, guelgwun a gut parler, did not seem displaced. Although alone, and evidently not in expectation of visitors, her toilet was brilliant and recherche, the result of the necessity of killing time.” Talley- rand Papers.” 94. UI. APHRODISIACS AND reported to have availed herself of its aphrodisiacal qualities in order to stimulate the jaded appetites of her royal paramour. “¢ L’attachement du roi pour Madame Du Barry* lui est venu des efforts prodigieux qu’elle lui fit faire au moyen d’un baptéme (lave- ment) ambré dont elle se parfuma intérieurement tous les jours. On ajoute quelle igen a cela un secret dont on ne se sert pas encore en bonne société.” : | Piquant as is this anecdote, the key to it 1s equine BO, 3 LoS mouches cantarides, 1 diabolini l’essence de giroflée, les baptémes ambrés, etc., sont des inventions de notre siecle dont la débilité eut été incurable sans ces secours, l’auteur ne peut rendre le secret de la mauvaise société, dont se sert la Comtesse, sans blesser la bonne, tout ce qu'il peut dire décemment est que ce secret est un diminutif des erreurs philosophiques.” + The old pharmaeopceia are amply furnished with formula of which amber constitutes the base. These recipes are generally designated by names which, to a certain extent, indicate the par- ticular use to which they are destined by their makers; thus, France formerly boasted her “ Tablettes de Magnanimité,” or “ Electuaire Satyrion,” and ‘“‘ Un poudre de joie.” ‘Troches, or odoriferous lozenges, to which the ancients gave the pretty name of “* Avuncule Cyprie,” were, and perhaps are still, sold in Paris under that of ‘ Seraglio Pastilles.” Ambergris forms the basis of these, as it also does of the Indian pastilles. called ‘* Cachunde,” and which were equally in repute. Zacutus Lusitanusf states that * Espion de la Cour. t Gazetier Cuirassé, ou Anecdotes Scandaleuses de la Cour de France. ft In his “ Praxis Medica Admtranda,’ wherein he also gives the formula of an electuary ad excttandum tentiginem nulli secundum, p. 295, Obsery. XCI., as well as a recipe for pills ad Co¢tds tgnaviam, Observ. CXIILI., p. 297. ANTI-APHRODISIACS. 95 they were composed of bole Tuccinum, musk, ambergris, aloes-wood, red and yellow sanders (pterocarpus santalinus) mastic, sweet-flag _(calamus aromaticus) galanga, cinnamon, rhubarb, Indian myroba- lon, absynth, and of some pounded precious stones, which, how- ever, impart no additional quality to the composition. Speaking of this composition, the Encyclopcedia Perthensis describes it as “a medicine highly celebrated among the Chinese and Indians; it is composed of ambergris and several other aromatic ingredients, per- fumes, medicinal earths, and precious stones. It imparts a sweet- ness to the breath, is a valuable medicine in all nervous complaints, and is esteemed as a prolonger of life and an exciter to venery.™ Rivieret gives us the following formula for a potion whose virtue ; is indisputable. ‘‘’Take of amber, half a drachm; musk, two scruples ; aloes, one drachm and a half; pound them all together, pour upon the mass a sufficient quantity of spirits of wine so that the liquor may cover it to the height of about five fingers’ breadth ; expose it to sand heat, filter and distil it, close it hermetically, and administer it in broth in the dose of three or five drops. This liquor is also advantageous when mixed with syrup, prepared as - follows :—Take of cinnamon water, four ounces ; orange and rose water, each six ounces, and sugar candy q.s. Musk taken internally is said by many physicians to be almost equal to ambergris for its aphrodisiacal qualities. Externally ap- plied, this substance produces very singular phenomena. Borelli details the case of a man “ qui s’étant frotté le penis avec du musc avant de se livrer a l’exercise des fonctions genitales, resta uni avec * Encyclopcedia Parthensis, Article Cachunde. + See his Premier Traité de homme et de son essentielle anatomie, avec les éléments et ce qui est en eux, de ses maladies, médicine et absolus remédes, etc., Paris, 1588. 96 Ill. APHRODISIACS AND sa femme sans pouvoir sen séparer. II fallait, dans cette position lui donner une quantité de lavements afin de ramoller les parties qui s’¢taient extraordinairement tumifi¢es.”* Diermerbreek and Schurigius give similar instances. ‘The effects of musk are, there- fore, almost equal to those produced by certain plants, as recorded by Theophrastus: ‘Esse herbas que vel ad sexagesimum coitum vim prestant sed at demum secernitur sanguis.”— Weickard says that by means of this drug he resuscitated the genital power in a man who had nearly completed his eightieth year. But, of all aphrodisiacs, the most certain and terrible in its effects are cantharides, commonly known as Spanish flies. That they exercise a powerful and energetic action upon the organization and stimulate, to the utmost, the venereal desire, is but too true. The effects, however, which these insects, when applied as a blister upon the skin, are known to produce, are insignificant when com- pared with their intense action upon the stomach when taken inter- nally ; nor is it the stomach only which is affected by them: the bladder experiences an irritation exceeding even that caused by the — severest strangury. To these succeed perforation of the stomach, ulcers throughout the entire length of the intestinal canal, dysentery, and, lastly, death in the midst of intolerable agonies. Medical works abound with observations concerning the fatal effects of cantharides when unduly administered, whether from ignorance or for exciting the venereal appetite. The two following cases are recorded by Pabrol in his ‘“‘ Observations Anatomiques ” : : En 1752 nous fumes visiter un pauvre homme d’Organ en Pro- vence atteint du plus horrible satyriasis qu’on saurait voir et penser. Le fait est tel. Il avait les quartes, pour en guerir prend conseil *Centaa: tT See Celius, lib. xiv, cape: a ee ANT I-APHRODISTACS. 97 dune sorciére, laquelle lui fait une potion d’une once de semences d’orties, de deux drachmes de cantharides, d’une drachme et demi de caboule et autres, ce qui le rendit si furieux a l’acte vénérien que sa femme nous jura son Dieu, gw’il Pavait chevauchée, dans denx mois, quatre vingt sept fois, sans y comprendre plus de dix fois qwil 8 étatt corrompu lui-méme. Dans le temps que nous consultions, le pau- vre homme spermatisa trois fois a notre présence, embrassa le pied du lit, et agitant contre lui comme st ceust été sa femme. Ce spec- tacle nous étonna et nous hata a lui faire des remédes pour abattre cette furieusse chaleur, mais quel reméde qu’on lui eust faire, se passa-t-il le pas.” “Un médecin a Orange, nommé Chauvel avait été appellé en 1758 a Caderousse, petite ville proche de sa résidence, pour voir un homme atteint d'une) maladie du méme genre. A entrée de la maison il trouve la femme du dit malade, laquelle se plaignit a lui de la furieuse lubricité de son mari, guz Pavait chevauchée quarante fois pour une nuit, et avait toutes les parties gonflées, étant contrainte les lui montrer afin quil lui ordonnast les remédes pour abattre Vinfammation. Le mal du mari étant venu d’un breuvage sem- blable a Pautre que lui fut donné par une femme qui gardait lhdpi- tal, pour guérir la fiévre tierce qui l’affligeoit, de laquelle il tomba dans une telle fureur qu'il fallait ?attacher comme s'il eust été pos- sédé du diable. Le vicaire du lieu fut présent, pour V’exhorter a la présence méme du Sieur Chauvel, lesquels il priait le laisser mourir avec le plaisir, les femmes le plicrent dans un linsseuil mou- illé en eau et en vinaigre, ou il fnt laissé jusqu’au le lendemain qu’elles allaient le visiter, mais sa furieuse chaleur fut bien abattue et eteinte, car elles le trouvérent roid mort, la bouche béante, mont- rant les dents, et son membre gangréné.” Paré also relates that a courtezan, having sprinkled the meat O 98 III. APHRODISIACS AND given by her to one of her lovers, with pounded cantharides, the wretched youth was seized with a violent priapism and loss of blood at the anus, of which he died. Ferdinand the Catholic, of Castile, owed his death to the effects of a philter administered to him by his queen, Germaine de Foix, in the hope of enabling him to beget an heir to the crowns of Aragon, Navarre, and Naples. ‘Plusieurs dames,” says Mignot,* ‘“‘attachées a la Reine, lui indiquérent un breuvage qu’il fallait, disoit on, donner a Ferdinand pour ranimer ses forces. Cette prin- cese fit composer ce reméde, sous ses yeux, et le présenta au roi qui désirait, plus qu’elle, d’avoir un fils, Depuis ce jour, la santé de Ferdinand s’affaiblit, au point qu'il ne la recouvra jamais.” The life of the celebrated Wallenstein, one of the heroes of the «Thirty years’ war,” was for a long time endangered from the effects of a potion administered to him by his countess. ‘* De re- tour dans sa patrie, 11 (Wallenstein) sut inspirer une vive passion 4: une riche veuve de la famille de Wiezkova, et eut l’adresse de se faire préféré & des rivaux d’un rang plus élevé; mais cette union fut troublée par l’extréme jalousie de sa femme; ou prétend méme quelle fit usage de philtres que pensérent compromettre la santé de son mari.” + Cardinal Dubois, { the favourite and minister of Philip Duke of Orleans, Regent of France, during the minority of Louis XV., gives the following amusing account of a love potion, to the pow- * Histoire de Ferdinand et Isabelle, Tom II., 326. Paris 1766. + Biographie Universelle, Art. Wallenstein. ~ Detested by the Parisians, Dubois was the object of innumerable caricatures, of which the most samglante was one representing him “a genoux aux pieds d’une _ fille de joie qui prenait de ce sale écoulement qui afflige les femmes, tous les mois, pour lui en rougir sa calotte et le faire Cardinal.” See Erotika Biblion. Paris, 1792, P. 52. ‘ini a a a diet Sd attain rte * . eT ‘ A eX gr 2 Rn DA Ae Pet ete PN ie every te a len soap cS Fn A ‘ edn, Por ng Fy URE Coat he cy, Ores 5) TR a te AN CMC Te Ser, area al TE 6, x 2 t a) x ANT I-APHRODISIACS. 99 erful effects of which he considered himself indebted for his exist- ence. ‘An old bachelor, of Brivas, had engaged to marry a young lady of only sixteen years of age. The night before the wedding he assembled the wise heads of his family for the purpose of _ consulting upon the best means of enabling him to perform his part creditably in the approaching amorous conflict. Opinions were divided ; some maintained that nature was adequate to the occasion at any age, while others recommended a certain prepara- tion in the Pharmacopeia, which would amply supply the defect of youth in a sexaginary husband. The old gentleman chose, without hesitation, the surest and speediest of these two chances of success. ‘The prescription was sent to the shop of my worthy father, who was an apothecary in the town, and he accordingly im- mediately set to work, and made up a draught which would have awakened desire even in Methusaleh himself. This valuable phil- ter was not to be sent to the party till the next day. It was late, and my mother,” continues the Cardinal, “desired her husband to retire to rest and he, tired with his day’s work, quickly undressed himself, blew out his candle, and deposited himself, like a loving husband, by the side of his dear spouse. Awakening in the mid- dle of the night, he complained of being excessively thirsty, and his better half, roused from her slumbers, got up in the dark, and groping about for something wherewith to quench his thirst, her hand encountered the invigorating philter, which it truly proved to be, for I came into the world precisely nine months after that memorable night.’* Although love-potions and philters, as well as the other prepa- rations had recourse to, for animating and arousing the organs of * Mémoires du Cardinal Dubois, vol. I., p. 3. 100 II. APHRODISIACS AND reproduction frequently owe, as we have shewn, their advantages to cantharides, and are, but too often productive of terrible effects, yet it cannot be denied that when administered by a skilful, cautious, and experienced physician, they have restored the desired ve | when all other means have failed. The flesh of the Schinck (scincus) an amphibious animal of the lizard species, and sometimes of the land lizard, or crocodile, is said, when reduced to powder and drunk with sweet wine, to act miraculously in exciting the venereal action ; it is also prepared for the same object in the form of the electuary known by the name of Diasatyrion. /Elius recommends that in order to cause the erection of the virile organ, the flesh of this animal should be taken from the vicinity of its genital apparatus.* It is a well known fact that the Egyptian peasants carried their lizards to Cairo, whence they were forwarded, vid Alexandria, to Venice and» Marseilles. ‘This species of lizard, which feeds upon aromatic plants was also used as an aphrodisiac by the Arabs, and the well known anti-poisonous quality of its flesh had caused it, in more ancient times, to be employed as an ingredient in the far-famed Mithridates, or antidote to poison. Browne informs ust “that in Africa, no part of the Materia Medica is so much in requisition as those which stimulate to venereal pleasure. The Lacerta scincus in powder, and a thousand other articles of the same kind, are in continual demand.” The plant Chervri (sandix ceropolium) is also accounted as capable of exciting amorous propensities, so much so that Tiberius, the Roman emperor, the most lascivious, per- haps, of men, is said to have exacted a certain quantity of it from ——_ * Elius Tetrabilis, I. Disc. Chap. 32 and 33. + Browne’s Travels in Africa, etc., p. 343. PR ee me a age ee Phe Me he _ANTI-AP HRODISIACS. aot the Germans, by way of tribute, for the purpose of rendering him- self vigorous with his women and catamites; and Venette says that the Swedish ladies give it to their husbands when they find them flag in their matrimonial duties.* But it was upon the plant called Satyrion (orchis mascula) that those who required aphrodisiacal remedies rested their most san- guine hopes. ‘This plant, Theophrastus assures us, possesses so wonderful a property of exciting venery that a mere application of it to the parts of generation will enable a man to accomplish the act of love twelve times successively. Speaking of this plant Venette + says that the herb which the Indian King Androphyl sent to King Antiochus was that of Theophrastus, and that it was so efficacious in exciting men to amorous enjoyment as to surpass in that quality, all other plants, the Indian who was the bearer of it assuring the king “‘qu’elle lui avait donné de la vigueur pour soixante dix embrassements,” but he owned ‘‘ qu’aux derniers efforts ce qu'il rendait n’était plus de semence.” Matthiole, however, observing that those persons who made use of it did not appear much given to lasciviousness, concluded that we had lost the true satyrion of the ancients; but it is, neverthe- less certain, notwithstanding so adverse an opinion, that this plant long preserved its reputation, and was recommended by all bota- nists for its aphrodisiac potency. Of all the species of this plant the one popularly known as dog-stones is reputed to possess the greatest virtue. The Turks have also their Satyrion (orchis morio), which grows upon the mountains near Constantinople, and which they make use * La génération de homme, ou tableau de l'amour conjugal. Tom I., p. 276. FeLbid, p..232. 102 II, APHRODISIACS AND of to repair their strength, and stimulate them to the generative act. From this root is made the salep of which the inhabitants of Turkey, Persia, and Syria, are extremely fond, being looked upon as one of the greatest restoratives and provocatives to venery in the whole vegetable world. But besides the aphrodisaical quali- ties attributed to this plant by the above people, they give it credit for other ones, which good opinion experience has confirmed, and therefore whenever they undertake a long voyage, they never omit to carry it with them as a specific against all diseases. Modern practitioners likewise commend its restorative, mucilaginous and demulcent qualities as rendering it of considerable utility, particu- larly in sea scurvy, diarrhoea, dysentery, and stone or gravel. In addition to this property, salep also possesses the very singular one of concealing the taste of sea water, hence to prevent the dreadful calamity of perishing by thirst at sea it has been proposed that the powder of this plant should form part of the provisions of every ship’s company. Borax is likewise considered to possess peculiar aphrodisiacal qualities. ‘‘ I] pénétre,” says Venette, ‘‘ toutes les parties de notre corps et en ouvre tous les vaisseaux, et par la ténuité de sa sub- stance, 7] conduit aux parties génitales tout ce qui est capable de nous servir de matiére a la semence.* The plant Rocket (Brasica eruca) has likewise been especially celebrated by the ancient poets for possessing the virtue of restor- ing vigour to the sexual organs, on which account it was consecrated to and sown around, the statue of Priapus ; thus Columella says :— * Venette Génération de ’homme, Tom I., p. 279. isthe ste ail Pe ee eet) ee ee Si a eat ae | aaa ee. 2 ~~ a o ‘ a vy. we . a ee wat a ane. z ie - * ANTI-APHRODISIACS. 103 “« Et que frugifero seritur vicina Priapo Excitet ut veneri tardos eruca maritos.” * ‘“« Th’ eruca, Priapus, near thee we sow To rouse to duty husbands who are slow.” Virgil attributes to it the same quality, designating it as— fe. -. Et venerem revocans eruca morantem.” + *« Th’ eruca, plant which gives to jaded appetite the spur.” Lobel { gives an amusing account of the effects of this plant upon certain monks in the garden of whose monastery it was sown, an infusion of it being daily doled out to them under the impression that its cheering and exhilirating qualities would rouse them from the state of inactivity and sluggishness so common to the inmates of such establishments. But, alas! the continual use of it produced an effect far more powerful than had been contemplated by the worthy itinerant monk who had recommended it, for the poor cenobites were so stimulated by its aphrodisiacal virtues that, trans- gressing alike their monastic walls and vows, they sought relief for their amorous desires in the fond embraces of the women resid- ing in the neighbourhood. Salt, mala Bacchica § Cubebs, Surag, || and Radix Chine (bark), were also regarded by ancient physicians as powerful aphrodisiacs. * De cultu hortorum, v. 108. + Moretum, v. 85. + Mag. Nat., Lib. vil., c. § Mala Bacchica tanta olim in amoribus preevalerunt, ut corone ex illis statuze Bacchi ponerentur. | Surag radix ad coitum summe facit: s¢ gucs comedat aut infustonem btbat, membrum subtte erigitur. Leo Afric., Lib. 1X., cap. ult., p. 302. 104 III, APHRODISLACS AND Gomez * asserts of the first of these substances, that women who — much indulge in it are thereby rendered more salacious, and that, for this reason, Venus is said to have arisen from the sea; whence the epigram :— < Unde tot in Veneta scortorum millia cur sunt? In promptu causa est, Venus orta Mince “¢ In Venice why so many punks abound ? The reason sure is easy to be found : Because, as learned sages all agree, Fair Venus’ birth-place was the salt, salt sea.” To the last of the above-mentioned plants, Baptista Porta ascribes the most wonderful powers, his words being: Planta que non solum edentibus, sed et genitale languentibus tantum valet, ut coire summe desiderant, quoties fere velint, possint ; alios duodecies profecisse, alios ad sexaginta vices pervenisse, refert. }- Certain condiments are also aphrodisiacal, acting as they, un- doubtedly do, as powerful stimulants. Thus Tourtelle and Pey- rible assure us that pepper is a provocative to venereal pleasures, while Gesner and Chappel cured an atony of the virile member of three or four years’ duration, by repeated immersions of that organ in a strong infusion of mustard seed. The principal ingredient of the Bang so much used by the Indians, as well as of the Maslac of the Turks is a species of the hemp plant. The Indians, says Acosta, { masticate the seeds and * Gomez (Ferdinand) of Ciudad Real, a celebrated physician, born 1388, died 1457. +. Mag. Nat. Libs Vis cate: ~ Tractado de las drogas y medicinas de las Indias Orientales, chap. LXI., p. 360, Burgos, 1578. ee ANTI-APHRODISTACS, 105 leaves of several species of that plant, in order to increase their vigour in the venereal congress, and very frequently combine with it, ambergris, musk, and sugar, preparing it in the form of an elec- tuary. It has been remarked, moreover, that even in our own climate, the caged birds that are Se with hemp seed are the most amorously inclined. According to Browne * whole fields are in Africa sown with hashish, the bang of the East Indies, for the purpose of being used as a stimulant to amorous dalliance. It is used in a variety of forms, but in none, it is supposed, more efficaciously than what, in Arabic, is called Maijun, a kind of electuary, in which both men and women indulge to excess. It is said that the Chinese, domesticated at Batavia, avail them- selves of a certain electuary for the purpose of stimulating their appetite for sexual intercourse. This preparation, called by them Affion, is chiefly composed of opium, and it is asserted that its effect is so violent that a brutal passion supervenes and continues throughout the night, the female being obliged to flee from the too energetic embraces of her lover f. . Narcotics, in general, and especially, opium, have been con- sidered as direct aphrodisiacs, an opinion which, if well founded, would enable us to account more easily for those agreeable sensa- tions by which the use of these substances is followed. But it is very probable that narcotics act upon the genital organs in no other way than they do upon the other ones, that is to say, they certainly do stimulate them, but only proportionately to the increase of force in the circulation of the blood and to the power or tone * Travels in Africa, &c., p. 341. + Lignac. A physical view of man and woman in a state of marriage, Vol. I., p- 190. iM 106 Ii, APHRODISIACS AND of the muscular fibre. It is also very probable that the voluptu- ous impressions superinduced by them depend upon the circum- stances under which those persons are, who habitually indulge in them, and that they are connected with other impressions or with particular ideas which awaken them. If, for instance, in a Sultan reclining upon his sofa, the intoxication of opium is accompanied by images of the most ravishing delight, and if it occasions in him that sweet and lively emotion which the anticipation of those delights awakens throughout the whole nervous system, the same inebriation is associated in the mind of a Janizary or a Spahi with ideas of blood and carnage, with paroxysms, the brutal fury of which has, certainly, nothing in common with the tender emotions of love. It is in vain to allege in proof of the aphrodisiacal qua- lities of opium the state of erection in which the genital members of Turks are found when lying dead on a field of battle, * for this state depends upon, or is caused by, the violent spasm or universal convulsive movements with which the body is seized in the moment of death: the same phenomenon frequently appears in persons who suffer hanging. In warm countries, it is the con- comitant of death from convulsive diseases, and in our own climate, it has been observed in persons who have died from apoplectic attacks. The power which certain odours possess of exciting venereal desires admits not the slightest doubt, at least as far as the inferior animals are concerned. Nearly all the mammifera exhale or emit, in the rutting season, peculiar emanations serving to announce ~ * Turcz ad Levenzinum contra Comitem Ludovicum Souches pugnantes, opio exaltati turpiter caesi, et octo mille numero occisi, #en¢tulas rigidas tulere. Christen. Opium Hist. Daeriar ae cetaet' et ie ‘ tonite inp epeariareiais =*, 2 AN ite a tity ng hee RS - ANTIAP HRODISTACS. lO} from afar to the male the presence of the female and to excite in him the sexual desire. Facts have been observed, with respect to insects even, which cannot be otherwise accounted for than by odorous effluvia. If, for instance, the female of the bombyx butterfly, be placed in a box accurately closed, it will not be long before several males will be seen flying around the prison, and which could not possibly have known, by means of their visual organs, the presence of their captive Dulcinea. Now the question is, does anything analogous take place in our own species? Many authors assert that there does, and among them Virey, who, speaking of such exhalations, says: ‘‘ L’extréme propreté des hommes et des femmes, lhabitude de se baigner et de changer souvent de linge font disparaitre les odeurs génitales.* On doit aussi remarquer que la haire des Cénobites, la robe des Capucins, le froc des moines, les vetements rudes et mal-propres de diverses corporations religieuses exposent ceux qui les portent 4 de fortes tentations, a cause de la qualité stimulante et de la sueur fétide dont étaient bient6t empreintes toutes ces sortes d’habille- ments.” + ‘‘ Odours,” observes Cabanis { ‘‘ act powerfully upon the nervous system, they prepare it for all the pleasurable sensa- tions; they communicate to it that slight disturbance or commo- * It was, perhaps, the knowledge of this fact that suggested to La Fontaine the lines :— “ Un muletier a ce jeu Vaut trois roils.” “To play at which game, I’m sure it is clear, Three kings are no match for one muleteer.” + Histoire Naturelle du Genre Humain. Tom. II., p. 123. + Cabanis, Rapport, &c. Tom. II., p. 89. 108 III, APHRODISIACS AND tion which appears as if inseparable from emotions of delight, all which may be accounted for by their exercising a special action upon those organs whence originate the most rapturous pleasure of which our nature is susceptible. In infancy its influence is almost nothing, in old age it is weak, its true epoch being that of youth, that of love.” It is certain that among most nations, and from the remotest antiquity, voluptuous women strengthened their amorous propensi- ties by the use of various perfumes, but particularly of musk, to which has been attributed the power of exciting nocturnal emis- sions. The great Henry IV., of France, no novice in love affairs, was opposed to the use of odours, maintaining that the parts of generation should be allowed to retain their natural scent, which, in his opinion, was more effectual than all the perfumes ever manu- factured by art. | Another aphrodisiacal remedy, which for a long time enjoyed a great reputation was the penis of the stag, which was supposed to possess the virtue of furnishing a man with an abundance of seminal fluid. Perhaps the reason why the ancients attributed this property to the genital member of that animal was from the sup- position that it was the receptacle of the bile; that the abundance and acrid quality of this fluid caused lasciviousness, and that the stag being transported by an erotic furor during the rutting season, he was the most salacious of animals, and consequently that the. genital organ of this quadruped would, when applied to man’s generative apparatus, impart thereto considerable heat and irrita- tion. A somewhat similar opinion respecting the horse appears to have obtained among the Tartars, if we may judge from the fol- lowing account given by Foucher d’Obsonville :* “Les palefreniers — * Essais philosophiques sur les mceurs de divers animaux étrangers, p. , — at ara nat Re a ve ee Neer ee an ee are Fa > = S Pre a sia eg pea ANT I-APHRODISIACS. 10g aménent un cheval de sept a huit ans, mais nerveux, bien nourri et en bon état. On lui présente une jument comme pour la saillir, et cependant on le retient de fagon a bien irriter ses idées. Enfin, dans le moment ou il semble qu'il va lui étre libre de s’élancer des- sus, lon fait adroitement passer la verge dans un cordon dont le noeud coulant est rapproché au ventre, ensuite, saisissant 4 l instant ou l’animal parait dans sa plus forte érection, deux hommes qui tiennent les extrémités du cordon le tirent avec force et, sur le champ, le membre est séparé du corps au dessus le nceud coulant. Par ce moyen, les esprits sont retenus et fixés dans cette partie laquelle reste gonflée ; aussitot on la lave et la fait cuire avec divers aromatiques et épiceries aphrodisiaques.” The means of procuring the vigour necessary for sexual delights has also been sought for in certain preparations celebrated by the alchymists. Struck by the splendour of gold, its incorruptibility, and other rare qualities, some physicians imagined that this metal might introduce into the animal economy an inexhaustible source of strength and vitality; while empirics, abusing the credulity of the wealthy and the voluptuous, made them pay exorbitantly for aphrodisiacal preparations in which they assured their dupes that gold, under different forms, was an ingredient. -Among innume- rable other instances, is that of a French lady who, to procure her- self an heir, strove to reanimate an exhausted constitution by taking daily in soup what she was made to believe was potable gold, to the value of 50 francs, a fraud to expose which it suffices to say that the largest dose of perchloride of gold that can be safely administered is 1-6th of a grain. ‘The tincture of the gold known by the name of Mademoiselle Grimaldi’s potable gold enjoyed a wonderful reputation towards the close of the 18th century as an efficacious restorative and stimulant ; and numerous instances of its all but miraculous powers were confidently adduced. Dr. Samuel IIO TH, ARARODISTAGS AND Johnson, indeed, in a note upon a well-known passage in Shakes- peare,* denies the possibility of making gold potable: “ There has long,” he observes, ‘‘ prevailed an opinion that a solution of gold has great medicinal virtues, and that the incorruptibility of gold might be communicated to the body impregnated with it. Some have pretended to make gold potable among other frauds practised upon credulity.” So far back, however, as the 17th century the Abbé Guence shewed that it was feasible, and even described the process minutely ; and it 1s now known to every chemist that gold is susceptible of entering into immediate combination with chlorine by the agency of heat, that it may even be dissolved in water charged with chlorine, and that various methods exist of obtaining chlorate of gold, a combination which is often success- fully employed in the treatment of syphilitic cases. Ether, naphtha, and essential oils take gold from its solvent, and form liquors which have been called potable gold. Even the Christian Church itself possessed, in its early times, aphrodisiacs peculiarly its own. ‘‘On trouve,” says Voltaire,t+ ‘dans la lettre a Maitre Acactus Lampirius (Litere virorum obscurorum) une raillerie assez forte sur la conjuration qu’on em- ployait pour se faire aimer des filles. Le secret consistoit 4 prendre un cheveu de la fille, on le plagoit dabord dans son haut-de- chausses ; on faisoit une confession générale et on fesoit dire trois * “The care on thee depending Hath fed upon the body of my father, Therefore, thou best of gold art worst of gold ; Other less fine in carat is more precious, Preserving life in medicine potable.” Henry IV., sec. part, act iv. sc. 11. + Lettres sur Francois Rabelais. Let. II. ANT I-APHRODISIACS. III messes, pendant les quelles on mettoit le cheveu autour de son col ; on allumait un cierge béni au dernier Evangile et on pronongait cette formule. ‘O Vierge! je te conjure par la vertu du Dieu tout-puissant, par les neuf choeurs des anges, par la vertu gosdrienne, améne moi icelle fille, en chair et en os, afin que je Ja saboule a mon plaisir.’ ” Bourchard, Bishop of Worms, has transmitted to us* an account of certain aphrodisiacal charms practised by women of his time, the disgusting obscenity of which is such that we cannot venture upon translating the passage : *< Fecisti quod quedam mulieres ee solent? Tollunt men- struum suum sanguinem et immiscunt cibo vel potui et dant viris suis ad manducandum vel ad bibendum ut plus diligantur ab eis. Si fecisti, quinque annos per legitimas ferias poeniteas. «< Gustasti de semine viri tui ut propter tua diabolica facta plus in amorem exardisceret? Si fecisti, septem annos per legitimas ferias poenitere debeas. << Fecisti quod quedam mulieres facere solent? Prosternunt se in faciem et discoopertis natibus, jubent ut supra nudas nates con- ficiatur panis, ut eo decocto tradunt maritis suis ad comedendum. Hoc ideo faciunt ut plus exardescant in amorem suum. Si fecistt, duos annos per legitimas ferias pceniteas. “« Fecisti quod queedam mulieres facere solent? Tollunt piscem vivum et mittunt eum in puerperium suum, et tamdiu 1bi tenent, donec mortuus fuerit, et decocto pisce vel assato, maritis suis ad comedendum tradunt. Ideo facitunt ut plus in amorem suum exar- descant. Si fecisti, duos annos per legitimas ferias poeniteas.” Remedies taken internally are not the only ones which stimulate * De Poenitentia Decretorum, lib. xix. 112 III, APHRODISIACS AND man to sexual intercourse. External applications materially con- tribute to that end, and liniments have been composed wherewith to anoint the parts of generation. These washes are made of honey, liquid storax, oil and fresh butter, or the fat of the wild goose, together with a small quantity of spurge, pyrethrum, ginger or pepper to insure the remedy’s penetrating: a few grains of ambergris, musk, or cinnamon are to be added by way of perfume. Remedies for the same purpose may also be applied to men’s testicles especially ; as, according to the opinion of Galen, those parts are the second source of heat, which they communicate to the ’ whole of the body ; for, besides the power of engendering, they also elaborate a spirituous humour or fluid which renders man ; robust, hardy, and courageous. The best application of this kind : is that composed of cinnamon powder, gilliflower, ginger and rose water, together with theriac, the crumb of bread, and red wine. In addition to the means already mentioned for restoring vigour to the generative organs, two others may be reckoned which have been successfully resorted to for bracing them in such persons whose reproductive faculties lie dormant rather than extinct: these two methods are known as flagellation and urtication.* Flagellation was recommended by several of the ancient physi- cians as an effectual remedy in many disorders, and this upon the physiological axiom of Hippocrates—udi stimulus, 161 affiuxus. Seneca considers it as able to remove the quartan ague. Jerome Mercuritalis speaks of it as employed by many physicians in order to impart embonpoint to thin, meagre persons ; and Galen informs us that slave merchants used it as a means of clearing the com- ee ee ee ae ese eo re * See Millengen’s “ Curiosities of Medical Experience,” art. Flagellation, Vol. II., p. 47 et seq. cay eS ea) oes a ANT I-APHRODISIACS. 113 plexion of their slaves and plumping them up. Aledeus, of Pa- dua, recommends flagellation with green nettles, that is, urtication, to be performed on the limbs of young childeren for the purpose of hastening the eruption of the small pox. Thomas Campanella* attributes to flagellation the virtue of curing intestinal obstructions, and adduces, in proof of his assertion, the case of the Prince of Venosa, one of the best musicians of his time, who could not go to stool, without being previously flogged by a valet kept expressly for that purpose. Even at a later period the same opinion obtained as to the effi- cacy of flagellation, it being supposed by many physicians to reani- mate the torpid circulation of the capillary and cutaneous vessels, to increase muscular energy, to promote absorption, and to favour the necessary secretions of our nature.t As an erotic stimulant, more particularly, it may be observed that, considering the many intimate and sympathetic relations existing between the nervous branches of the extremity of the spinal marrow, it is impossible to doubt that flagellation exercised upon the buttocks and the adja- cent parts, has a powerful effect upon the organs of generation. Meibomius,f the great advocate for the use of this remedy, * Medic., Lib. III., art. 12. + See Richter, Opuscula medica Col. I., p. 273, “Qui novit ex stimulantium fonte, cardiaca, afhrodistaca, diaphoretica, diuretica aliaque non infimi ordinis me- dicamenta peti, perspicit plenius quam larga verberibus bene merendi sit, uti pree- sertim in torpore nervorum, paralysi, zmpotentia ad Venerem et naturalium ex- cretionum eluxit. + Author of the work entitled, “De fagrorum usu in re venerea, Lug. Bat., 1643, with the motto: “ Delicias pariunt Veneri crudelia flagra, Dum nocet, illa juvat, dum juvat, ecce nocet.” “Lo! cruel stripes the sweets of love insure, And painful pleasures pleasing pains procure.” 114 II, APHRODISIACS AND remarks, that stripes inflicted upon the back and loins are of great utility in exciting the venereal appetite, because they create warmth in those parts whose office it is to elaborate the semen and to convey it to the generative organs. He, therefore, considered it by no means wonderful that the miserable victims of debauchery and lasciviousness, as well as those whose powers have been ex- hausted by age or excess, should have recourse to flagellation as a remedy. He observes that its effect is very likely to be that of renewing warmth in the now frigid parts, and of furnishing heat to the semen, an effect in producing which the pain itself materially contributes by the blood and heat which is thereby drawn down to the part until they are communicated to the reproductive organs, the erotic passion being thus raised, even in spite of nature herself, beyond her powers. A similar view is taken by a modern writer, whose opinion is ‘“‘that the effect of flagellation may be easily referred to the powerful sympathy which exists between the nerves of the lower part of the spinal marrow and other organs. Artifi- cial excitement appears in some degree natural; it is observed in several animals, especially in the feline race. Even snails plunge into each other a bony, prickly spur, that arises from their throats, and which, like the sting of the wasp, frequently breaks off, and is left in the wound.”* After the appearance of the Abbé Boileau’s Histoire de la Flagellation, the Jesuits condemned several propositions found either in that work or in others approved by him. ‘The following is one: “ Necesse est cum musculi lumbares virgis aut flagellis diverbe- rantur, spiritus vitales revelli, adeoque salaces motus ob vicinam * Millingen, “ Curiosities of Medical Experience.” Vol. II., p. 52. f y * RY Pees oe ANT I-APHRODISIACS. 115 partium genitalium et testium excitari, qui venereis ac illecebris cerebrum mentemque fascinant ac virtutem castitatis ad extremas angustias redigunt.” From out of almost innumerable instances of the efficacy of flagellation as an aphrodisiac, the following are selected. Cornelius Gallus, the friend of Virgil, Horace, Tibullus, and Catullus, and who, according to Pliny, died the most delightful of deaths, by expiring in the embraces of the fondest object of his affections,* was solely indebted for the delicious transports he en- joyed with her to the scourge with which her severe father chas- tised her for the faults that originated in too warm a temperament, a punishment which, instead of counteracting, furthered the wishes of the voluptuous Roman. Jean Pic de Mirandole relatest the case of a person known to him who, being a great libertine, could not consummate the act of love without being flagellated until the blood came, and that, therefore, providing himself for the occasion with a whip steeped in vinegar, he presented it to his imamorata, begging her not to spare him, for “ plus on le fouettait, plus il y trouvait des délices, la douleur et la volupté marchant, dans cet homme, d’un pas egal”. Meibomius mentions the case of a citizen of Lubeck who, being accused and convicted of adultery, was sentenced to be banished. A woman of pleasure with whom this man had been for a long * To this personage may justly be applied the French epitaph upon one who died under similar circumstances : ‘“Je suis mort de l'amour entrepris Entre les jambes d’une dame, Bien heureux d’avoir rendu l’ame, Au méme lieu ot je I’ai pris.” + See his work, contra Astrologos, Lib. III., cap. 27. rey III. APHRODISIACS AND time intimate, appeared before the judges as a witness on his behalf. ‘This woman swore that the man was never able to con- summate the act of love with her unless he had been previously flogged,—an operation which it was also necessary to repeat before each successive indulgence. That this was a means employed by Abelard in his commerce with Heloisa, appears from the following passages in two of his letters to her: | . “‘ Verbera quandoque dabat amor non furor, gratia non ira que omnium unguentorum suavitatem transcenderent.”* “ Stripes which, whenever inflicted by love, not by fury but affection, transcended, in sweetness, every unguent.” ‘“‘ Nosti quantis turpitudinibus 1mmoderata mea libido corpora nostra addixerat et nulla honestatis vel Dei reverentia in ipsis die- bus Dominice passionis vel quantarumque solemnitatem ut hujus luti volutabro me revocavit. Sed et te nolentem aut dissuadentem — que natura infirmior eras, ut seepius minis ac flagellis ad consensum trahebam.{” Cia “Thou knowest to what shameful excesses my unbridled lust had delivered up our bodies, so that no sense of decency, no reverence fur God, could, even in the season of our Lord’s passion, or during any other holy festival, drag me forth from out that cesspool of filthy mire; but that even with threats and scourges I often compelled thee who wast, by nature, the weaker vessel, to comply, notwithstanding thy unwillingness and remonstrances.” The renowned Tamerlane, the mighty conqueror of Asia, * Petri Abcelardi_Abbatis Rugensis et Heloissz Abbatisse Paracletensis Epis- tole. Epist. I., p. ro. + Ibib. Epist.ll iene, =: , So ele t ¢! ‘i < a ‘ 7 o Yy aye he OE is F P — he Sal al al all att — ci Pe ee ee nce ee eis i dis ‘ esas: lh ll wath baanlittaalin se {es Ne 5 aplte i odaaces alo = : ee enn, Wy ee Pe Ste a eee i Slee AT ED A ; a — ANT I-APHRODISIACS. 117 required a like stimulus,* the more so perhaps from the circum- stance of his being a monorchis.+ The Abbé Boileau, in his well known and entertaining “ His- toire des Flagellants,” partly attributes the gross licentiousness of that period to the strange practice then in vogue of doing penance by being scourged in public; and his brother the celebrated poet and critic, defending the Abbé against the animadversions of the Jesuits, remarks very forcibly : “¢ Non, le livre des Flagellans N’a jamais condamné, lisez le‘bien, mes péres, Ces rigidités salutaires | Qui, pour ravir le Ciel, saintement violens, Exercent sur leurs corps, tant de Chrétiens austeéres : Il blame seulement ces abus odieux D’étaler et d’offrir aux yeux Ce que leur doit toujours cacher la bienveillance, Et combat vivement la fausse piété, Qui sous couleur d@éteindre en nous la volupté Par Paustérité méme, et par la pénitence Sait allumer le feu de la lubricité.t Flagellation, indeed, as well as the custom of wearing the hair- shirt, so common with the monks, and even with religious lay catholics, was, by the stimulus it imparted to the skin, and hence to the internal viscera, much more likely to increase the energy of * See Mcibomius, p. 43, note a. Edit. Paris, 1792, I2mo. + Name given to persons having only one testicle. Pechuvecs: Lone Lepe2n3. > Ed. 1714 113 III, APHRODISIACS AND the physiological functions, and thus excite the commission of the very acts they were intended to suppress. The Abbé Chuppe d’Auteroche, member of the Académie Fe Sciences, and who died in California a few days after the observa- tion of the Transit of Venus in 1760, remarks that the stripes given to persons frequenting the vapour baths in Russia impart activity to the fluids and elasticity to the organs and oe addi- tional stimulus to the venereal appetite.* M. Serrurier records the following curious case. ‘ One of my schoolfellows, who found an indescribable pleasure in being flogged, purposely and wilfully neglected his duty in order to draw upon himself the correction, which never failed to produce an emission of semen. As may easily be imagined he soon began the practice of masturbation, in which he indulged to so frightful an extent that rapid consumption ensued, and he died, a most horrible and disgusting object, affording a melancholy example of that fatal vice. + The case of Jean Jacques Rousseau is well known. When a child he was by no means displeased with the corrections adminis- tered to him by a lady considerably his elder, he even frequently sought for a whipping at her hands, especially after he perceived that the flagellation developed in him the manifest token of virility. But he must be allowed to give his own account of it. ‘Assez long temps,” says he, “‘ Madame Lambercier s’entint a la menace, et cette menace d’un chatiment tout nouveau pour moi me semblait trés effrayante, mais aprés l’exécution, je la trouvai moins terrible a ’épreuve que l’attente ne l’avait été, et ce quil y a de plus bizarre * Travels in Siberia in 1661, Tom I., p. 319. t+ Dictionnaire des Sciences Médicales. Art. Pollution. Pa eV sd mit a ase eRe nt ON ae in ANT I-AP HRODISIACS. 11g est que ce chatiment m’ affectionna davantage delle qui me Pavoit imposé. II fallait méme toute Ja vérité de cette affection et toute ma douceur naturelle pour m’empécher de chercher le retour du mé€me traitement en le méritant, car j’avais trouvé dans la douleur, dans la honte méme, un mélange de ‘sensualité qui m/’avait laissé plus de désir que de crainte de léprouver derechef, par la méme main. I] est vrai que comme il se mélait, sans doute, 4 cela quel- que instinct précoce du sexe, le méme chatiment regu de son frére, ne m’eut point, du tout, parut plaisant.”* As flagellation is practised by striking the skin with a rod formed of twigs, until the heat and redness become more intense, so if the twigs be replaced by fresh nettles, the operation will become,—urtication. The employment of urtication is of great antiquity, for Celsus as well as Aretzeus mentions the use of it, it being, in those times, a popular remedy. That the Romans had frequent recourse to it in order to arouse the sexual appetite, is proved by the following passage from Petronius Arbiter, which, for obvious reasons, we shall content ourselves with giving in the original only. ‘* Oeno- thea semiebria ad me Tee ES ;—Perficienda sunt, inquit, myste- ria ut recipias nervos. «¢ Simulque profert scorteum fascinum quod, ut olio et minuto pipere, atque urtice trito circumdedit semine, paulatim coepit in- serere ano meo. Hoc crudelissima anus spargit subinde femina mea Nasturciit succum cum abrotono miscet, perfusis que inguini- bus meis, viridis urtice fascem comprehendit omnes que infra umbilicum ccepit lenta manu cedere.f * Confessions, Tom. I. t+ De Nasturcio mira refert Dioscoridas, I., 2, c. 185. { Satyricon, Caput xxxviil. 120 Il APHRODISTAGS AND Menghus Faventinus assures us that nettles have ‘‘une pro- priété merveilleuse pour allonger, tendre, grossir et ériger le mem- bre viril, qui, par une parsimonie de la nature, feroit craindre la stérilité.* Urtication appears to have been well known in France during the time of Rabelais, who, alluding to this mode of procuring the vigour necessary for the amorous conflict, says, ‘‘se frotter le cul au panicaut (a species of thistle) vrai moyen d’avoir au cul passion. p p y Une femme en mélancholie Pour faute d’occupation, Frottez moi le cul d’ortie Elle aura au cul passion.t The irritation caused by nettles produces effects analogous to those which are observed in persons afflicted with the itch, the ring-worm and leprosy. The lubricity of those unfortunates is sometimes uncontrolable; they suffer violent priapisms, which are followed by ejaculation, whenever a severe itching forces them to scratch themselves with a kind of furor or madness. “In a medical point of view,” observes Dr. Millingen, “ urtica- tion, or stinging with nettles, is a practice not sufficiently appre- ciated. In many instances, especially in cases of paralysis, it is more efficacious than blistering or stimulating frictions. Its effects, though perhaps less permanent, are general and diffused over the limb. This process has been found effectual in restoring heat to the lower extremities, and a case of obstinate lethargy was cured by Corvisart by a repeated urtication of the whole body. During * Pract. part. il. cap. de passioni membré-génital. t Ducatiana iL, b. 505. g dicta re , ait X HS : r lye Poke ANT I-AP HRODISIACS. 121 the action of the stimulus, the patient, who was a young man, would open his eyes and laugh, but then sink again into a profound sleep. In three weeks, however, his perfect cure was effected.* In 1783, Dr. James Graham, an humble imitator of the celebra- ted Cagliostro, commenced giving his sanatary lectures, which he illustrated by the dazzling presence of his Goddess of Health, a character which, for a short time, was sustained by Emma Harte, afterwards the celebrated Lady Hamilton, wife of Sir William Hamilton, English Ambassador at the Court of Naples, and the chére amie of the immortal Nelson. , After describing various aphrodisiacal remedies, the lecturer thus proceeds: ‘“‘ But, gentlemen, if all the above means and ‘methods, which I have thus faithfully, ingenuously, and with the frankest and most unreserved liberality, recommended, fail, suffer me, with great cordiality, and assurance of success, to recommend my celestial, or medico, magnetico, musico, electrical bed which I have, with so much study and at so vast an expense, constructed, not alone to insure the removal of barrenness, when conception is at all in the nature of things possible, but likewise to improve, exalt, and invigorate the bodily, and through them, the mental faculties of the human spacies. This bed, whose seemingly magi- cal influences are now celebrated from pole to pole and from the rising to the setting sun! is indeed an umique in science! and un- questionably the first and the only one that ever was mentioned, erected, or even, perhaps, thought of, in the world; and I will now conclude the lecture with giving you a slight descriptive sketch of the structure of the bed, and the nature of those influences with which it glows—which it breathes forth, and with which it animates, —<————— * Curiosities of Medical Experience, vol. II., p. 55. 14757) Ill, APHRODISIACS AND regenerates, and transports those happy, happy persons who have the honour and the paradisiacal blessedness of reposing on it. ‘The Grand Celestial State Bed! then, gentlemen, which 1s twelve feet long by nine wide, is supported by forty pillars of 2 brilliant glass, of great strength and of the most exquisite work- manship, in regard to shape, cutting, and engravings; sweetly — . delicate and richly variegated colours, and the most brilliant polish! They are, moreover, invisibly incrusted with a certain transparent varnish in order to render the insulation still more complete; and that otherwise, properly assisted, we may have, in even the most unfavourable weather, abundance of the electrical fire. “‘ The sublime, the magnificent, and, I may say, the super-celes- tial dome of the bed, which contains the odoriferous, balmy, and ethereal spices, odours, and essences, and which is the grand maga- zine or reservoir of those vivifying and invigorating influences: which are exhaled and dispersed by the breathing of the music, and by the attenuating, repelling, and accelerating force of the elec- trical fire, —is very curiously inlaid or wholly covered on the under side with brilliant plates of looking-glass, so disposed as to reflect the various attractive charms of the happy recumbent couple, in the most flattering, most agreeable, and most enchanting style. : F - Qn the top or summit of the dome, are placed, in the most loy- ing attitudes, two exquisite figures, representing the marriage of Cupid and Psyche, with a fine figure of Hymen behind, and over them, with his torch flaming with electrical fire in one hand, and, with the other, supporting a celestial crown sparkling, likewise, with the effulgent fire over a pair of real living turtle-doves, who, on a little bed of roses, coo and bill under the super-animating 1m- pulses of the genial fire! The other elegant groups of figures which sport on the top of the dome—the Cupids, the Loves, and NSS ae aE Mer ee. - DAS erp ae ei Detar get ale % weet Ube ANTI-APHRODISTACS. £23 the Graces!—besides festoons of the freshest and most beautiful flowers, have each of them musical instruments in their hands, which by the exquisite and most expensive mechanism, are made to breathe forth sounds corresponding with the appearance of the several instruments,—flutes, guitars, violins, clarionets, trumpets, horns, oboes, kettle-drums, &c. On the posts or pillars, too, which support the grand dome are groups of figures, musical instruments, organ-pipes, &c., which, in sweet concert with the other instru- ments, at the commencement of the tender dalliance of the happy pair, breathe forth celestial sounds! lulling them in visions of ely- sian joys! opening new sources of pleasure, and ‘“untwisting all the chains which tie the hidden soul of harmony!” At the head of the bed, in the full centre front, appears, sparkling with electri- cal fire, through a glory of burnished and effulgent gold, the great, first, ever-operating commandment, Be FRUITFUL, MULTIPLY, AND REPLENISH THE EARTH! under this is a most elegant and sweet- toned organ, in the front of which is a fine landscape of moving figures on the earth, birds flying, swans, &c., gliding on the waters, a fine procession, too, is seen, village nymphs strewing flowers before priests, brides, bridegrooms, and their attendants, who, all entering into the temple of Hymen, disappear from the delighted eye. he painting and embellishment of this front are most mas- terly, and reflect the highest honour on the artists by whom they were executed; and the whole view is terminated with fountains, waterfalls, shepherds, shepherdesses, and other peasants, at pastoral sports and rural employments, and by a little church, the dial of which points out truly and distinctly the hour. ‘Tn the celestial bed no feather bed is employed; sometimes mattresses filled with sweet new wheat or cut straw, with the grain | in the ears, and mingled with balm, rose leaves, lavender flowers, 124 Il, APHRODISIACS AND and oriental spices, and, at other times, springy hair mattresses are used. Neither will you find upon the celestial bed linen sheets ; our sheets are of the richest and softest silk or satin; of various colours suited to the complexion of the lady who is to repose on them. Pale green, for example, rose colour, sky blue, black, 7 white, purple, azure, mazarin blue, &c., and they are sweetly per- fumed in the oriental manner, with otto and odour of roses, jessa- mine, tuberose, rich gums, fragrant balsams, oriental spices, &c.; in short, everything is done to assist the ethereal, magnetic, musi- cal and electric influences, and to make the lady look as lovely as possible in the eyes of her husband and he, in hers. But to return, in order that I might have for these important purposes, the strongest and most springy hair, I procured, at a vast expense, the tails of English stallions, which when twisted, baked, and then untwisted and properly prepared, is elastic to the highest leeree.s | ‘“¢ But the chief elastic principle of my celestial bed is produced by artificial loadstones. About fifteen hundred pounds’ weight of artificial and compound magnets are so disposed and arranged as to be continually pouring forth in an ever-flowing circle inconceiv- able and irresistibly powerful tides of the magnetic effluxion, which is well known to have a very strong affinity with the electric fire. | *« Such is a slight and indequate sketch of the grand celestial bed, which, being thus completely insulated,—highly saturated with the most genial floods of electrical fire !—fully impregnated, moreover, with the balmy vivifying effuvia of restorative balsamic medicines and of soft, fragrant, oriental gums, balsams and quintescence, and pervaded at the same time with full springing tides of the invigo- rating influences of music and magnets both real and artificial, 4 ANTI-APHRODISIACS. 125 gives such elastic vigour to the nerves, on the one hand, of the male, and on the other, such retentive firmness to the female ; and, moreover, all the faculties of the soul being so fully expanded, and so highly illuminated, that it is impossible, in the nature of things, but that strong, beautiful, brilliant, nay, double-distilled children, if I may use the expression, must infallibly be be- gotten.” A digression may, perhaps, be here pardonable, in order to give some notice of the latter and last days of the beautiful, highly- accomplished and fascinating woman mentioned above. She had been presented to Nelson by her husband, who had pre- viously told her that he was about to introduce her to a little thread- paper of a man, who could not boast of being very handsome, but who would become, some day, one of the greatest men that Eng- land ever produced. . After the battle of the Nile he again visited Naples, and was now little better than a perfect wreck. At Calvi, in 1794, he had lost an eye. At Teneriffe his right arm was shat- tered and amputated close to the shoulder. At the battle of the Nile he was severely wounded in the head. Incessant anxiety and watchfulness for his country’s honour and welfare had blanched his brow, and shattered the “little thread-paper of a man” at the outset, till, on his return in triumph to his mistress, he seemed to be on the verge of an early grave. Yet she proved herself a true woman, if an erring one, in her reception of the man she loved, and unhesitatingly and unequivo- cally forsook her all, to attend upon and worship him. Not far from Merton turnpike stood the house of Nelson and his mistress. It was left with all its liabilities to Lady Hamilton, but she was obliged to take a hasty departure, and, harassed by cre- ditors, in sickness of heart and without funds, the unhappy woman escaped to Calais. 126 | II. APHRODISIACS AND Now for the sad, sad finale. From the portal of a house, as cheerless and dreary as can be imagined, in the month of January, — Ee with a black silk petticoat stretched ona white curtain thrown over her coffin for a pall, and a half-pay Irish dragoon to act as chaplain q over the grave, which was in a timber-yard, were the remains of Nelson’s much-adored friend removed to their final resting place, _ under the escort of a sergent de ville. She died without the common necessaries of life, and was base at the expense of the town, notwithstanding Nelson’s last words, “* Blackwood, take care of my poor Lady Hamilton |” “* Whatever the errors of Lady Hamilton may have been,” says Doran, “let us not forget that, without her aid, as Nelson said, the battle of the Nile would never have been fought, and that, in spite of her sacrifices and services, England left her to starve, because the government was too virtuous to acknowledge the benefits rendered to her country by a lady with too loose a zone.” The remarks of honest old Burton * upon Aphrodisiacs, though quaint, are so judicious and pertinent, that we cannot better con- clude this part of our essay than ay quoting them :— “