Onania; or, the heinous sin of self-pollution, and all its frightful consequences, in both sexes, consider'd. With spiritual and physical advice to those who have already injur'd themselves by this abominable practice : to which are added, divers remarkable letters from such offenders ... as also letters from eminent divines, in answer to a case of conscience ... as likewise a letter from a lady ... and another from a married-man ... and two more from two several young gentlemen ... and another surprizing one, from a young married lady, who by this detestable practice became barren and diseas'd.

Date:
1722
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Onania; or, the heinous sin of self-pollution, and all its frightful consequences, in both sexes, consider'd. With spiritual and physical advice to those who have already injur'd themselves by this abominable practice : to which are added, divers remarkable letters from such offenders ... as also letters from eminent divines, in answer to a case of conscience ... as likewise a letter from a lady ... and another from a married-man ... and two more from two several young gentlemen ... and another surprizing one, from a young married lady, who by this detestable practice became barren and diseas'd. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ( *7 ) are not of a good Complexion, fwarthy and bagged- It frequently is the Caufe of Hyjlerick Fits, and fome- times, by draining away all the radical Moifture, Con- fumptiovs. But what it more often produces than ei¬ ther, is Barrennefs, and at length a total ineptitude to the A<ft of Generation it felf, Misfortunes very af¬ flicting to them, becaufe feldom to be redrels'd. ■ . The Reafbn why I am not more particular in de- fcribing the many Calamities and bodily fuflerings, which this Practice may be the Occafion of in Women, I hope will be obvious to every Reader that is capable of making Reflections. It would be impoliible to rake into fo much Filthinefs, as I Ihould be oblig’d to do without offending Chaftity. One thing I fhall add, addreflmg my felf to young Women, who have any E* fteem for their Honour,and would keep their Reputation unfpotted, which is, that many of them who thus de¬ file their Bodies, by being heedlefs,or perhaps more fill’d with impure Defires than ordinary, actually deflower themfelves, and fooliihly part with that valuable Badge of their Chaftity and Innocence, which when once loft, is never to be retriev’d. This may be the fatal Caufe whenever they marry, of endlefs Jealoufles and Fami¬ ly- Quarrels, and make their Husbands fufpeCt more than they have deferv'd, wrongfully imagining, that there is but one Way by which Maids may torfeit their Virginity. The next evil Confequendts to be apprehended from Self-Pollution, are all thofe other Vices which it may lead the way to, and in time be the Occafion of: Let us oncefuppofe, what feme raw ignorant Peo¬ ple imagine, that this is only a filly Practice, that there is no filch great harm in it, and, if it be a Sin, it is at leaft lefs criminal than Fornication. Let us, I fay, fuppofe this, tho5 not grant in, and after that, D ferioufly j