SOME THINGS THAT ALL SANE PEOPLE OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUTSEX NATURE AND SEX FUNCTIONING; ITS PLACE IN THE ECONOMY OF LIFE,ITS PROPER TRAINING AND RIGHTEOUS EXERCISE
TO MY FELLOW-MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION INTO WHOSEHANDS THIS BOOK MAY COME, AND TO ALL WHO MAY READ IT UNDER THEIRDIRECTION, THIS VOLUME IS MOST SINCERELY DEDICATED BY THEAUTHOR.
IN ORDER TO GAIN A CORRECT IMPRESSION OF THE BOOK, IT ISESSENTIAL THAT IT BE READ FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END WITHOUTANY SKIPPING WHATSOEVER. ONCE READ, IT CAN BE RE-READ, HERE ANDTHERE, AS THE READER MAY DESIRE. BUT FOR A FIRST READING, IT ISTHE EARNEST WISH OF THE AUTHOR THAT EVERY WORD BE READ, FOR IN NOOTHER WAY CAN THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOK BE REALIZED.
As we have moved down the ages, now and then, from thereligious teacher, the statesman, the inventor, the socialworker, or from the doctor, surgeon, or sexologist, there hasbeen a "vox clamantis in deserto." Usually these voiceshave fallen on unheeding ears; but again and again some delver inbooks, some student of men, some inspired, self-effacing, oraltruistic one has taken up the cry; and at last unthinking,unheeding, superficial, self-satisfied humanity has turned tolisten.
Aristotle by the sure inductive method learned and taughtmuch, concerning the sex relations of men and women, that itwould profit us today to heed. Balzac, Luther, Michelet, Spencer,and later, at our very doors, Krafft-Ebbing, Forel, Bloch, Ellis,Freud, Hall, and scores of others have added their voices. Allthese have seen whither we were drifting, and have made vigorousprotests according to their lights. Many of these protests shouldhave been heard, but were not, and only now are just beginning tobe heeded. Such pioneers in the field of proper, healthful,ethical, religious, sane daily sex living, have been Sturgis andMalchow, who talked earnestly to an unheeding profession of thesethings, and now, I have the honor to write an introductory wordto a book in this field, that is sane, wise, practical, entirelytruthful, and unspeakably necessary.
I can endorse the teachings in Dr. Long's book more fullybecause I have, for nearly a quarter of a century, been holdingsimilar views, and dispensing similar, though perhaps lessexplicit, information. I know from long observation that theteaching is wholesome and necessary, and that the results areuniversally uplifting. Such teachings improve health, prolonglife, and promote virtue, adding to the happiness and lesseningthe burdens of men, on the one hand; on the other, reducing theircrimes and vices. A book like this would have proved invaluableto me on my entrance to the married state; but had I had it, Imight not have been forced to acquire the knowledge which enablesme now to state with all solemnity, that I personally knowhundreds of couples whose lives were wrecked for lack of suchknowledge, and that I more intimately know hundreds of others towhom verbal teaching along the lines he has laid down, hasbrought happiness, health and goodness.
Dr. Long advanc