Plain Facts for Old and Young

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

19924

Title

Plain Facts for Old and Young

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Dr. John Harvey Kellogg presents a straightforward, scientific guide to human reproduction, sexual health, and hygiene. Written to dispel ignorance and promote moral well-being, this 1881 text addresses sexual excesses, self-abuse, and their physical consequences while offering practical remedies and advice for boys and girls.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1881, *Plain Facts for Old and Young* by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg serves as both a medical treatise and a moral exhortation aimed at countering the widespread ignorance and moral decay regarding human sexuality. Kellogg argues that the primary drivers of physical and mental decline are sexual excesses, self-abuse (masturbation), and venereal diseases, which he starkly terms 'legalized murder' and the 'social evil.' The work begins by demystifying reproduction, comparing human anatomy and function to those of plants and animals to establish a biological basis for the subject. Kellogg details the severe consequences of violating sexual laws, listing ailments such as consumption (tuberculosis), heart disease, spinal irritation, impotence, sterility, and hysteria. He categorizes these issues into specific advice for the general public, boys, girls, and marital couples, emphasizing that early puberty and 'secret vice' lead to premature decay and the ruin of character. Kellogg strongly condemns the reliance on patent medicines, quacks, and mechanical devices like rings or pessaries, asserting they are ineffective and often harmful. Instead, he advocates for a regimen of cold sitz baths, abdominal bandages, dietary reform (avoiding stimulants like alcohol, tea, and coffee), and moral self-control. He dedicates significant space to warning young people against 'secret vice,' describing it as a 'dreadful sin' that causes local irritation, general debility, and mental instability. The book functions as a comprehensive guide to health and hygiene, urging readers to seek 'continence' and 'chastity' as the only true cures for the ailments plaguing society. Throughout the text, Kellogg maintains a tone of urgent concern, aiming to educate the public to prevent the 'race ruin' he believed was imminent. By combining scientific explanation with moral instruction, the work seeks to dispel gross ignorance and promote a lifestyle of moderation and self-discipline.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19924.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg19924.epub

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Categories

• Sexual ethics
• Sexual health