Masturbation was a dangerous game in the late 1800s and early 1900s. According to the experts of the time, it could cause all sorts of diseases and could even get you locked up for life.
A Sign of Insanity
In an article titled “Insane Statistics” published in 1886, “Of those admitted to the asylum during the year, the supposed cause of insanity was as follows:”
- Domestic trouble
- Death of husband
- Death of child
- Disappointed affections
- Disease of uterus
- Epilepsy
- Excessive work
- Financial trouble
- Ill health
- Ill treatment
- Intemperance
- Heredity
- Loss of property
- Menopause
- MASTURBATION
- Pubescence
- Religious excitement
- Suppressed menses
- Syphilis
- Typhoid fever
That’s right. It was believed that masturbation caused insanity, which probably means that we should all be in the nuthouse. [1]
He Practiced Masturbation
John Cooper, aged 20, was a resident of Dodge City, Kansas back in 1879. He was taken to court because he was “subject to fits.” He admitted, also, to masturbating. For these two reasons, he was deemed unfit by trial and sent to the local insane asylum. [2]
Lost Manhood
In ads published in newspapers during the early 1900s, we see masturbation listed as the cause of impotency. These ads sold magic pills claiming to cure masturbating men of their “lack of manhood.” [3]
Self Abuse
During the 1800s, masturbation was often referred to as self abuse.
Blame it on Idleness
In 1901, an article about breeding horses was published in a Washington state newspaper. The article claimed that idleness caused bad habits among stallions. Among those bad habits was masturbation. [4]
Arizona Insane
In 1904, it was reported that of the 93 patients committed to the Arizona insane asylum during the previous year, four of those patients were committed to the asylum for masturbating. [5]
North Dakota Insane
The statistics from the Jamestown hospital in North Dakota, 1911, showed that 15 inmates were committed to the asylum for masturbation. [6]
Further Explanation
How exactly masturbation caused insanity was explained in 1916:
“Alleged cause, such as worry, religion, MASTURBATION, excesses in alcohol, venery, drugs, etc., are usually considered by our modern psychiatrists as a result of hereditary tendencies or congenital defects. No doubt these may aggravate or be the exciting causes of insanity, but in most cases a remote cause pre-exists, such as hereditary or neurotic tendencies.” [7]
