PUBERAL HYGIENE 231
the importance of sexual functions upon the future of youth of both sexes that it may not be convenient to leave them in ignorance of what concerns them. It is the duty of parents, and of those who take their place, to put them upon their guard against the perils that threaten them. Kaan 1 suggests with that purpose to begin with study of sexual organs and sexual func- tions in vegetables. The physiological notions acquired in that manner are of such a nature as to awaken the desire of learning, rather than that of curiosity.
In my opinion, hygienical thoughts ought to influence con- stantly the mind of youth in regard to everything which concerns sex, and form the daily habits of young men and women.
Young people should not be permitted to stay alone and give themselves over to building castles in the air. The first danger of such a habit lies in the improper formation of mental opera- tions. Building castles in the air deteriorates itself the regular mental process of making associations. Ideas are not joined together by their real affinity, judgment does not come to rule them, and the determining power that brings action fails to be evoked to accomplish the mental process ; or, if evoked, it acts in a perverse manner.
The next danger lies in the improper direction that mental operations take when not guided to a distinct aim. By fanciful connections between impressions and images, those which possess certain qualities impose themselves upon the others, and the mind runs easily to thoughts that find their origin in the uncon- scious excitement coming from sexual organs in their course of development and in their rising activity ; and this is to be avoided for several reasons.
To these dangers we must join the unfavorable influence which solitude and taciturnity exert upon the character of youth. Solitude and taciturnity are, as a rule, noxious to youth, and they ought to inspire such an apprehension in those who superintend young people in relation to their moral wel- fare, as dislike of food or of movement inspire in regard to physical welfare.
1 Psycopathia sexualis.
