It is simply a matter of training, I suppose,--a
sort of mental gymnastics,--which draws the attention away from
the physical feelings." This lady has never had any sexual
relationships, and, since she is ambitious, and believes that the
sexual emotions may be transformed so as to become a source of
motive power throughout the whole of life, she wishes to avoid
such relationships.
OBSERVATION V.--Unmarried, aged 31, in good health, with,
however, a somewhat hysterical excess of energy. "When I was
about 26 years of age," she writes, "a friend came to me with the
confession that for several years she had masturbated, and had
become such a slave to the habit that she severely suffered from
its ill effects. At that time I had never heard of self-abuse by
women. I listened to her story with much sympathy and interest,
but some skepticism, and determined to try experiments upon
myself, with the idea of getting to understand the matter in
order to assist my friend. After some manipulation, I succeeded
in awakening what had before been unconscious and unknown. I
purposely allowed the habit to grow upon me, and one night--for I
always operated upon myself before going to sleep, never in the
morning--I obtained considerable pleasurable satisfaction, but
the following day my conscience awoke; I also felt pain located
at the back of my head and down the spinal column.
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