In my own case, I recollect acts performed by older persons in ignorance and thoughtlessness which undoubtedly tended to foster and strengthen my algolagnic instinct.

“Little or nothing was done to prevent, discover, or remedy the pernicious habit into which I was falling unknowingly.  Circumcision was perhaps little thought of in those days as a preventive of juvenile masturbation; at any rate, it was not resorted to in my case.  I remember, indeed, that a nurse discovered that I was practicing masturbation, and I think she made a few half-hearted attempts to stop it.  It was probably these attempts which gave me a growing feeling that there was something wrong about masturbation, and that it must be practiced secretly.  But they were unsuccessful in their main object.  The practice continued.

“I went to school at the age of 10.  There I came in contact almost without warning, with the ordinary lewdness and grossness of school conversation, and took to it readily.  I soon became conversant with the theory of sexual relations; but never got the opportunity of sexual intercourse, and probably should have felt some moral restraint even had such opportunity presented itself, for coitus, however interesting it might be to talk about, was a bigger thing to practice than masturbation.  I masturbated fairly frequently, occasionally producing two orgasms in quick succession.  I seldom masturbated with the hand; my method was to lie face downward.  There was probably little or no homosexuality at my first school.  I never heard of it till later, and it was always repugnant to me, though surrounded with a certain morbid interest.  Masturbation was discountenanced openly at the school, but was, I believe, extensively practiced, both at that school and at the two others I afterward attended.  The boys often talked about the hygiene of it; and the general theory was that it was somehow physically detrimental; but I heard no arguments advanced sufficiently cogent to make me see the necessity for a real moral effort against the habit, though, as I neared puberty, I was indulging more moderately and with greater misgivings.

“The fact of becoming acquainted with the theory of sexual intercourse tended to diminish the algolagnia, and to impel my sexual instinct into an ordinary channel.  On one occasion circumstances brought me into close contact with a woman for about three or four weeks, I being a mere boy and she very much my senior.  I felt sexually attracted by this woman, and allowed myself a degree of familiarity with her which I have since recognized as undue and have deeply regretted.  It did not, however, go to the length of seduction, and I trust may have passed away without leaving any permanent harm.  It should, indeed, be remarked here that I never knew a woman sexually till my marriage; and with the one exception mentioned I do not recall any instance of conduct on my part toward a woman which could be described