THE INFLUENCE OP THE REPRODUCTIVE GLANDS ON THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL
As a proof that it is the sexual organs whose growth and development produce the most profound dynamic changes in the physical and mental qualities of males and females, it is only necessary to refer to those cases in which either the ovaries or testicles have been early removed, or where they have been congenitally deficient, or vitiated in their functions before maturity; in which case the sex of the individual becomes so distorted that it tends to assume the physical and psychical type of the opposite sex. Castration or premature senility in girls gives them a masculine quality of voice, and while affixing to them many of the coarser male characteristics deprives them of the typical feminine attributes.
Similarly, if an undeveloped male is emasculated the secondary sexual characteristics fail to appear, so that he does not display the superior size and muscular development, the depth of chest, the pugnacity, or courage, or ruggedness which the virile man does. Familiar to us all are the mental and physical differences which exist between the youth and the old man; the girl and the woman who has passed the "change of life"; the potent and impotent man; the castrated man and the man in possession of his testicles; the bull and the steer; the gelding and the stallion, etc.
With the precocious development of the testicles in boys i.e., earlier than the usual time of puberty there is a rapid growth of body to the manly type, with hair on the pubes and face, roughness of voice, and unusual stature; while, on the contrary, eunuchs are natural slaves and cowards, unsuited for the pursuit of war, unfitted to be the guardians of undegraded women, and weak in every element of their moral natures.
At his master's bidding the eunuch unfeelingly executes the harshest punishments on others, being without mercy or consideration, and utterly lacking the finer sensibilities of either the masculine or feminine type.
The eunuch, as seen in Constantinople for instance, is at once recognizable by his peculiarities, which may be briefly summarized as follows: he is taller than the average man, though not powerful; his countenance is distinctive; the chest is narrow; the hips are broad; the gait is peculiar, owing to the feminine tendency to knock-knee; the voice is shrill, inclining to falsetto, and about an octave above tbe masculine register; the face and pubes are almost devoid of hair; the skin is delicate; the penis is small and shrivelled, and the disposition is harsh, unmerciful, and servile. They age rapidly, and then become thin and terribly wrinkled.
On the other hand, among certain women, especially prostitutes, whose sexual glands have been destroyed or much damaged by disease, it is not rare to find real viragoes, i.e., women who have the masculine physique, voice, strength, quality of mind, pugnacity, etc.
Thus we see that complete or partial deficiency in the generative functions brings about a strong resemblance to the characteristic type of the opposite sex, and invariably in a manner which excites disgust and contempt.
The same peculiarities which are observable in castrated animals apply to evirated men, making them deficient in virile sports and occupations, lazy, good-for-nothing individuals contented with their lot, utterly indifferent to the society of the opposite sex, of no force morally or mentally, and of course lacking the intelligence to be discontented with their doom.
It is thus evident that none of our functions should be more carefully conserved than those of the generic sphere, for, irrespective of complete effemination or eviration, any impairment or vitiation, or loss of power, or excess of activity in them, unquestionably produces a most profound effect on the physical and cerebral processes, invariably in iearfully undesirable manner.