PHYSICAL ABNORMALITIES.—­The circumstances under which many of my cases were investigated often made information under this head difficult to obtain, or to verify.  In at least 4 cases the penis is very large, while in at least 3 it is small and undeveloped, with small and flabby testes.  It seems probable that variations in these two directions are both common, but it is doubtful whether they possess as much significance as the tendency to infantilism of the sexual organs in inverted women seems to possess.  Hirschfeld considers that the genital organs of inverts resemble those of normal people.  He finds, however, that phimosis is rather common.[211]

More significant, perhaps, than specifically genital peculiarities are the deviations found in the general conformation of the body.[212] In at least 2 cases there are well-developed breasts, in 1 the breasts swelling and becoming red.[213] In 1 case there are “menstrual” phenomena, physical and psychic, recurring every four weeks.  In several cases the hips are broad and the arms rounded, while some are skillful in throwing a ball.  One was born with a double squint.  At least 2 were 7 months’ children.  In the previous chapter I have referred to the tendency to hypertrichosis and occasionally oligotrichosis among inverted women; among the men it is the latter condition which seems more common, and in several cases the bodies are hairless, or with but scanty hair.  A few are left-handed, though not perhaps an abnormal proportion.[214] The sexual characters of the handwriting are in some cases clearly inverted, the men writing a feminine hand and the women a masculine hand.[215] A high feminine voice is sometimes found.[216]

A marked characteristic of many inverts, though one not easy of precise definition, is their youthfulness of appearance, and frequently child-like faces, equally in both sexes.  This has often been remarked,[217] and is pronounced among many of my subjects.

The frequent inability of male inverts to whistle was first pointed out by Ulrichs, and Hirschfeld has found it in 23 per cent.  Many of my cases confess to this inability, while some of the women inverts can whistle admirably.  Although this inability of male inverts is only found among a minority, I am quite satisfied that it is well marked among a considerable minority.  One of my correspondents, M.N., writes to me:  “With regard to the general inability of inverts to whistle (I am not able to do so myself), their fondness for green (my favorite color), their feminine caligraphy, skill at female occupations, etc., these all seem to me but indications of the one principle.  To go still farther and include trivial things, few inverts even smoke in the same manner and with the same enjoyment as a man; they have seldom the male facility at games, cannot throw at a mark with precision, or even spit!”