the very evil they are intended to prevent by invoking in its aid the impulse to disobedience natural to every child of Adam and Eve, and the observation has often been repeated by teachers since.  We probably have to recognize that a way to render such manifestations wholesome, as well as to prepare for the relationships of later life, is the adoption, so far as possible, of the method of coeducation of the sexes,[246]—­not, of course, necessarily involving identity of education for both sexes,—­since a certain amount of association between the sexes helps to preserve the healthiness of the sexual emotional attitude.  Association between the sexes will not, of course, prevent the development of congenital inversion.  In this connection it is pointed out by Bethe that it was precisely in Sparta and Lesbos, where homosexuality was most ideally cultivated, that the sexes, so far as we know, associated more freely than in any other Greek State.[247]

The question of the treatment of homosexuality must be approached with discrimination, caution, and skepticism.  Nowadays we can have but little sympathy with those who, at all costs, are prepared to “cure” the invert.  There is no sound method of cure in radical cases.

At one time the seemingly very radical method of castration was advocated and occasionally carried out, as in a case I have recorded in a previous chapter (History XXVI).  Like all methods of treatment, it is sometimes believed to have been successful by those who carried it out.  Usually, after a short period, it is found to be unsuccessful, and in some cases the condition, especially the mental condition, is rendered worse.  It is not difficult to understand why this should be.  Sexual inversion, is not a localized genital condition.  It is a diffused condition, and firmly imprinted on the whole psychic state.  There may be reasons for castration, or the slighter operation of vasectomy, but, although sexual tension may be thereby diminished, no authority now believes that any such operation will affect the actual inversion.  Castration of the body in adult age cannot be expected to produce castration of the mind.  Moll, Fere, Naecke, Bloch, Rohleder, Hirschfeld, are all either opposed to castration for inversion, or very doubtful as to any beneficial results.

In a case communicated to me by Dr. Shufeldt, an invert had himself castrated at the age of 26 to diminish sexual desire, make himself more like a woman, and to stop growth of beard.  “But the only apparent physical effect,” he wrote, “was to increase my weight 10 per cent., and render me a semi-invalid for the rest of my life.  After two years my sexuality decreased, but that may have been due to satiety or to advancing years.  I was also rendered more easily irritated over trifles and more revengeful.  Terrible criminal auto-suggestions came into my head, never experienced before.”  Fere (Revue de Chirurgie, March 10, 1905) published the