Under the subject of the development of virility, much time should be spent upon a discussion of various ways by which virility can be developed.  The relative values of various kinds of physical exercise, proper eating, the value of fresh air and of sufficient rest should be emphasized.  It may then be said that in addition to these things an important source of virility is the absorption of the secretions of various glands by the blood.

The speaker may make a statement similar to this:  “When our bodies were designed, we were given reproductive organs for two different and distinct purposes.  We have referred to the second and final purpose of reproduction.  You already knew more or less about that.  The earlier function of the reproductive organs is not understood by most boys.  It is this:  the rebuilding of boys into men.  The first purpose and, in some respects, the most important purpose of the reproductive organs is to rebuild a boy into a man.  It would be absolutely impossible for us to become men were it not for these organs.  I will explain this by three illustrations.”

These three illustrations are generally very effective:  an explanation of the influence of the thyroid gland upon development; a comparison of two horses, one of which was castrated when a colt; and the effect of castration upon boys in Oriental countries.

The speaker may then say that the testicles do two things:  first, manufacture the male germ cells, spermatozoa, which are the most highly potentialized and highly energized portions of matter in all living nature; and, second, secrete a substance that is absorbed by the blood, giving tone to the muscle, power to the brain and strength to the nerves.  It should be made clear that this is one of the great sources of virility.  From the illustrations referred to, a boy is likely to draw conclusions regarding the vital importance of the functions of the testicles and regarding any possible misuse of them.  It may be well at this point to use a cross-section drawing showing the scrotum, the testicle, the seminal vesicle, and the bladder.[55] Some teachers will consider it desirable to add that some boys, who do not understand the high purposes of these organs, misuse them; that when such boys realize their mistake, if they stop absolutely and at once, nature comes to the rescue and restores virility.

The talks should be essentially constructive.  To warn boys against horrible effects of masturbation and to tell them things not to do is a poor method.  It is far better to explain that by keeping clean a boy may acquire virility.  The boy can draw conclusions.

In referring to the normality of seminal emissions, it should be explained that the fluid excreted by a nocturnal seminal emission comes from the seminal vesicles up in the body.  This will show that the loss of fluid involved in a nocturnal emission is different from the loss caused by masturbation.[56] In this connection, boys should be warned against quack doctors; also against their advertisements which are often worded to scare the ignorant.