These facts established, let us consider their consequences; do they not prove, that an artificial climate may develope the venereal sense prematurely or too vividly? That on the coming of winter a young man ought not to be clothed too warm? That too many quilts should not be put on the bed at night? That the cold should be braved? That we should forbid too long a continuance in warm rooms? These principles are deduced naturally from observations on the seasons. It is unnecessary to say, that these rules, good as they are, are more particularly applicable to those who are suspected or convicted of masturbation. In our preceding remarks we have paid regard only to the temperate zones of the two hemispheres, that is, to those countries where there are four distinct seasons nearly equal in length. But if we approach the equinoctial line, those regions of the globe where the year is divided into a very long summer and a very short winter, the influence of seasons is effaced by that of _climate_. We shall not repeat in this place all that has been said in regard to the precocity of the inhabitants of warm countries, their ardor in love, the excesses to which they are addicted, the rapidity with which they grow old; all these facts are well known. But we will make a remark which seems to us important: if the habitual and long continued action of solar heat, hastens the appearances of the venereal sense, and gives it so much power, why will not the continued action of any other heat, for instance of clothing, dwellings, baths, &c., produce a similar result? It seems to us that the admission of the first fact necessarily implies the other. Thus whether we regard the influence of seasons exerted around us, or that of climates which are far distant, we always arrive at the conclusion that by a delicate education, and by taking care to preserve children from the slightest cold, we hasten the excitement of their sensual feelings, to which they are more liable to become victims. Hence in prescribing a change of scene for a young man addicted to onanism, we should be careful not to expose him to hot climates.
Are there any emanations which have the power of deadening the venereal sense? From a case already mentioned, and which we owe to M. Villermé, we might suspect that emanations from stagnant waters have this effect: but it is probable that if procreation is less active in marshy countries during the most unhealthy seasons, it is because the number of sick is greater. It is well known that notwithstanding all emanations, the venereal sense may be very precocious, and may lead whole communities to indulge in excesses: we might cite as instances the inhabitants of the marshy parts of the Landes of Bordeaux, and the Solognese.