Psychopathia sexualis: With especial reference to contrary sexual instinct
24. It was discovered that she was of masculine sex. E. had worn female
1012 words | Chapter 31
clothing from her fourteenth year, and also been an actress. The hair
was worn long after the manner of females, and parted in the middle. The
form of the face was feminine, but otherwise the body was masculine. The
beard was carefully pulled out. The masculine, well-developed genitals
were fixed in an upward position by an artful bandage. The condition of
the anus indicated passive pederasty.
Case 127. An official of middle age, who for some years had been happy
in family life, and was married to a virtuous woman, presented a
peculiar manifestation of contrary sexual feeling.
One day, through the indiscretion of a prostitute, the following scandal
became public: About once a week X. would appear in a house of
prostitution, and there dress himself up as a woman, always requiring,
as a part of his costume, a coiffure. When his toilet was completed, he
would lie down on the bed, and have the prostitute perform
manustupration. But he very much preferred to have a male person (a
servant of the house). This man’s father was hereditarily tainted, had
been insane several times, and was afflicted with hyperæsthesia and
paræsthesia sexualis.
Case 128. C. R., maid-servant, aged 26, suffered from the time of her
development with original paranoia and hysteria. As a result of her
delusions, her life had been somewhat romantic, and in 1884, in
Switzerland, where she had gone as a result of delusions of persecution,
she came under the observation of the authorities. On this occasion, it
was ascertained that R. was affected with contrary sexual instinct.
Concerning her parents and relatives there is no information at hand. R.
asserted that, with the exception of an inflammation of the lungs at the
age of sixteen, she had never been severely ill.
First menstruation at fifteen, without any difficulties; thereafter it
was very often irregular and abnormally excessive. The patient declared
that she never had had inclinations toward the opposite sex, and had
never allowed the approach of a man. She never could understand how her
friends could describe the beauty and amiability of men. But it was
charming and inspiring for her to imprint a kiss on the lips of a
beloved female friend. She had a love for girls that was
incomprehensible to her. She had passionately loved and kissed some of
her female friends, and she would have given up her life for them. Her
greatest delight would have been to have constantly lived with such a
friend and absolutely possessed her.
In this she felt toward the beloved girl like a man. Even as a little
child, she had an inclination only for the play of boys, and she loved
to hear shooting and military music, was always much excited by them,
and would gladly have gone as a soldier. The chase and war have been her
ideals. In the theatre only feminine performers interested her. She knew
very well that the whole of this inclination was unwomanly, but she
could not help it. It had always been a great pleasure for her to go
about in male clothing, and in the same way she had always preferred
masculine work, and had shown unusual skill in it; while with reference
to feminine occupations, especially handiwork, she had to say the
contrary. The patient had also a weakness for smoking and spirits. On
account of persecutory delusions, in order to rid herself of her
persecutions, the patient had often gone about in male attire, and
played the part of a man. She did this with such (congenital) skill
that, as a rule, she was able to deceive people concerning her sex.
It is authoritatively established that in 1884, for a long time, the
patient went about in male attire, now in the garments of a civilian,
now in the uniform of a lieutenant; and in August of the same year,
dressed as a male servant, she fled to Switzerland as a result of
delusions of persecution. There she found service in a merchant’s
family, and fell in love with the daughter of the house, “the beautiful
Anna,” who, on her side, not recognizing the sex of R., fell in love
with the handsome young man.
Concerning this episode the patient makes the following characteristic
statement: “I was madly in love with Anna. I don’t know how it came
about, and I cannot put myself right concerning this impulse. In this
fatal love lies the reason why I played the _rôle_ of a man so long. I
have never yet felt any love for a man, and I believe that my love is
for the female and not the male sex. I can in nowise understand my
condition.”
From Switzerland R. wrote letters home to her friend, Amelia, which were
produced at the examination. They are letters showing passionate love,
which goes beyond the bounds of friendship. She apostrophizes her
friend, “My flower, sun of my heart, longing of my soul.” She was her
greatest happiness on earth; her heart was hers. And in her letters to
her friend’s parents she wrote: “You, too, should watch your flower,
for, if she should die, you also would be unable to endure life.”
For the purpose of investigating her mental condition, R. remained for
some time in an asylum. On one occasion, when Anna was allowed to pay R.
a visit, there was no end of passionate embraces and kisses. The visitor
acknowledged freely that they had before secretly embraced and kissed in
the same way.
R. is a tall, slim, stately person, of feminine form in all respects,
but with masculine features. Cranium regular; no anatomical signs of
degeneration. Genitals normal and indicative of virginity. All the
circumstances indicate that she has only indulged in platonic love.
Glance and appearance are indicative of a neuropathic person. Severe
hysteria, occasional cataleptoid attacks, with visionary and delirious
states. The patient is very easily brought into a state of somnambulism
by hypnotic influence, and in this condition is susceptible to all
possible suggestions. (Personal case. _Friedreich’s Blätter_, 1886, Heft
1.)
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