A Treatise on the Diseases Produced By Onanism, Masturbation, Self-Pollution, and Other Excesses

In "A Treatise on the Diseases Produced By Onanism, Masturbation, Self-Pollution, and Other Excesses," L. Deslandes explores the historically contentious topic of masturbation and its alleged psychological and physiological consequences. Written in an era when public discourse on sexuality was fraught with moral and medical implications, Deslandes employs a rigorous, didactic tone, blending scientific inquiry with moral argumentation. The work scrutinizes the purported connections between self-pleasure and various health issues, accompanied by anecdotal evidence and case studies reflective of 19th-century medical thought, thus revealing societal anxieties surrounding bodily autonomy and sexual morality. L. Deslandes, a figure situated in the broader spectrum of early medical practitioners, was likely motivated by prevailing beliefs about sexuality and health during his time, which conflated moral failing with physical ailments. His engagement with both contemporary medical discourse and the socio-cultural atmosphere of the period sheds light on the stigma surrounding sexual practices, as well as the urgent need for a treatise that addressed these matters within an evolving scientific landscape. This provocative text is recommended for scholars and readers interested in the intersections of sexuality, health, and socio-cultural discourse. Deslandes‘s treatise not only contributes to the history of medical thought concerning sexually related topics, but also invites a reflection on the evolving attitudes towards personal autonomy and the stigmatization of sexual expression.