Psychopathia sexualis : with especial reference to antipathic sexual instinct a medico-forensic study / by R. v. Krafft-Ebing ... The only authorised English translation of the tenth German edition.

  • Richard von Krafft-Ebing
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Psychopathia sexualis : with especial reference to antipathic sexual instinct a medico-forensic study / by R. v. Krafft-Ebing ... The only authorised English translation of the tenth German edition. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Certain it is that so fur as sexual crimes are concerned (-IT--iieuus ideas prevail, unjust decisions arc given, ;in<l the luw as well as public opinion are prima facie prejudiced againM the <»llen<ler. The scientific study of the psychopathology of sexual life necessarily deals with the miseries of man and the dark sides of his existence, the shadow of which contorts the sublime image of the deity into horrid caricatures, and leads astray a?stheticism and morality. It is the sad privilege of medicine, and especially that of psychiatry, to ever witness the weaknesses of human nature and the reverse side of life. The physician finds, perhaps, a (satisfaction) solace in the fact that he may at times refer those manifestations which offend against our ethical or aesthetical principles to a diseased condition of the mind or the body. He can save the honour of humanity in the forum of morality, and the honour of the individual before the judge and his fellow-men. It is from the search of truth that the exalted duties and rights of medical science emanate. The author adopts the saying of Tardieu (Dcs at- tentats aux moeurs): Aucune misere physique oil morale, aucune plaie, quelque corrompue qu'clle soit, ne doit effrayer celui qui s'est voue a la science de Thomme, et le ministere sacre du medecin, en 1'obligeant a tout voir, lui ]>ermet aussi de tout dire. lie appeals to men engaged in serious study in the domains of natural philosophy and medical jurisprudence. A scientific title has been chosen, and technical terms are used throughout the book in order to exclude the lay reader. For the same reason certain portions are written in Latin.