Benjamin Tarnowski

“ The morbid manifestations of sexual activity separate first of all into two great groups, according as they develop in such subjects as are from their birth disposed to such aberrations and to nervous disorders of all sorts, or on the other hand, show themselves in persons, relatively healthy, and who are not under the influence of hereditary infirmity. ”

“ The denomination periodical Perversion of the genesic sense in general, and periodical Pederasty in particular, appears to me best to represent the morbid disturbances in question, because they are in perfect analogy with the so-called periodical psychoses (mental disturbances) , those higher manifestations of psychical degeneracy, a degeneracy manifesting itself in occasional outbursts of mental disturbance, while there are long intervals between the attacks during which the mental powers exhibit a relatively normal activity. ”

“ The said disturbances constitute the first kind of hereditary infirmity, which we will denominate in general innate Perversion of the sexual instinct; and in this group we shall class innate Pederasty.
To the second division of the same group belong such modifications of the genesic activity as now and then show themselves nolens volens in the form of morbid attacks, which are separated by intervals, during which the sexual functions are performed in a normal manner. ”

“ In some cases they present themselves with the very first awakening of the genesic instinct, and in their development remain refractory to the influence of education or example, attain their greatest intensity in the period of sexual maturity and manhood, and subsist during the rest of the lifetime, with periodical diminution or increase. ”

“ It must needs undergo modifications as life goes on; the various kinds and types little by little dissolve into each other, becoming mutually complicated one with the other, acquire new, fresh shades of colouring and form, according to the composite forms of genesic aberration, which will be described as a separate group. ”

“ In the first group the disorder of the genesic functions is to be referred to a psychopathic or neuropathic constitution ; whereas in the second group we have to do with individuals, who from their birth have always enjoyed a properly constituted and normally acting nervous system. ”

“ Finally, I have endeavoured to determine the data which may serve to establish a differential diagnosis of the different groups and classes of sexual aberrations. We shall begin by describing the forms of sexual aberrations most frequently encountered. ”