Courtesy of Adele Ashworth, who found this image while doing research, a warning to all ye who wank: one of a number of similar devices which were invented in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries to prevent masturbation. Judging from the plumbing fixture there, I’m not sure I want to see the device that stopped the women from jilling off.
*shudder*
Were women even thought capable of masturbation at that time? The medical establishment knew so little about women’s reproductive systems and sexuality they might not even have thought such apparatuses were necessary.
Actually, masturbation for women was considered theraputic in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and often used to get rid of anxiety, headaches and a variety of other ailments. Doctors masturbated women in their offices for decades. For a related story, and some images of early vibrators, see http://www.goodvibes.com/
Sorry, the link for the above slideshow should be http://www.slate.com/id/2174905/
although the other site is good, too:)
Is it just me, or is the idea of a doctor masturbating his patient for medicinal purposes too creepy for words? Granted, it was the “latest information” of the day, but still… *shudder*
Actually, as I was doing research for an earlier book, I read that in the middle ages, nuns were allowed to dress in only severely tight and restrictive clothing, lots of layers, and even a specific type of corset beneath their habits, to keep them from masturbation. I found that amazing, and interesting.
OK, I love living in this century. When others pine for the “good old days”, my only rsponse is “why”? Really, hot showers, safe food preservation, chocolate availability, and nobody freaks over kink (much).
L.E…what the medical establishment didn’t understand about women, they seem to have labeled “hysteria”.
Cathy…Doctors masturbating patients = sick & wrong. On the other hand, I’m suprised anybody with a hand would pay a doctor…yesh. Oh, the morality of a different era.
You think those doctors long ago weren’t getting a kick out of PRESCRIBED masturbation for their patients????
Oh come on – I bet some of those doctors had queues down the street.
Then there’s all the modern chastity devices (NOT work safe link!). Huge deal in some BDSM circles, mostly for the male subs. But that’s mostly because the male chastity devices actually work and can be left on for prolonged periods of time. Not so the female devices, even today.
Not my kink, but hey, some people love it. And that one device doesn’t look so outlandish to someone used to seeing similar at parties.
Not that I would know, or anything.
This is why period romance heroes never wank, they’re all wearing one of these.
The modern world did not invent kink…
“I’m not sure I want to see the device that stopped the women from jilling off.”
Are there any other Jills out there who are as weirded out as I am that our name is becoming a sex act? I don’t even know if I think it’s cool or not.
I guess more than a few here have missed the Boston Legal episode, “Did You Know…?” which featured the “hysteria machine.”
The story plot claimed that a doctor who was tired of easing a lady’s hysteria by hand developed a steam powered substitute. Photo at the link below 3/4 down the page.
http://www.boston-legal.org/20-chitty/ep20-chitty.shtml
Was there ever such a thing? I don’t have the time to look at the above mentioned Good Vibes Museum—maybe this weekend…
KC, that’s an interesting slide show. I never realized that vibrators were such a big business back in the day! Who would have thought they were the basis for the modern engine! I learn something new every day.
No new comment here, just reading the others and noted the submission word was “services”. Would have been more appropriate if it were “self services” 🙂
Obviously, I don’t have the right mindset for the chastity belts. The first thing that went through my mind was ‘how do you pee wearing one of those?’ Seriously.
As for the doctors masturbating their patients in the 19th century, I did see that in an Amanda Quick book. It was marketed as a cure for ‘female hysteria’, and our fictional doctor did use a machine (because his hand would get tired) and did have patients lined up around the block. Since their parents or husbands didn’t teach them how to get off, they just loooooooooooved their doctor. 🙂
To Jill Monroe—
ME. OMG. It’s freaking me out. I’d never seen the term used for female masturbation until it showed up here, and now I’m feeling more than a little squicked. Ugh. I have no problem with the act. Just the term.
I read a novel once where the author wrote that in the US and Europe in the 19th century, doctors used to remove the clitoris of women who were known to masturbate. Don’t know if this is correct because this wasn’t a primary source, but I suspect it is.
Boy, talk about a soft living – charging women to give them an orgasm with a machine! I wonder when this medical “practice” fell into disrepute? And what was the “reasonable and customary” charge?
Verification word – income11! Really!
“I read a novel once where the author wrote that in the US and Europe in the 19th century, doctors used to remove the clitoris of women who were known to masturbate.”
They don’t bother with chastity belts here in Egypt – apparently somewhere between 80-90% of local women still have their clitoris removed, likely when they hit puberty.
If you are ever in Worcester, MA go visit the Higgins Armory Museum. Perhaps the coolest place in the world. Largest collection of armor in the world and some amazing stuff for researchers and history buffs.
They have some chastity belts from the middle ages that will make your hair curl. And the tour guides are amazing!
Cool gift shop, too. Kids love the place… they have a playroom where they can actually try some stuff on.