Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 2 | Page 4

is unnecessary to refer to the numerous other names which have been
proposed. (A discussion of the nomenclature will be found in the first
chapter of Hirschfeld's work, Die Homosexualität, and of some special
terms in an article by Schouten, Sexual-Probleme, December, 1912.) It
may suffice to mention the ancient theological and legal term "sodomy"
(sodomia) because it is still the most popular term for this perversion,
though, it must be remembered, it has become attached to the physical
act of intercourse per anum, even when carried out heterosexually, and
has little reference to psychic sexual proclivity. This term has its origin
in the story (narrated in Genesis, ch. xix) of Lot's visitors whom the
men of Sodom desired to have intercourse with, and of the subsequent
destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. This story furnishes a sufficiently
good ground for the use of the term, though the Jews do not regard
sodomy as the sin of Sodom, but rather inhospitality and hardness of
heart to the poor (J. Preuss, Biblisch-Talmudische Medizin, pp. 579-81),
and Christian theologians also, both Catholic and Protestant (see, e.g.,
Jahrbuch für sexuelle Zwischenstufen, vol. iv, p. 199, and Hirschfeld,
Homosexualität, p. 742), have argued that it was not homosexuality,

but their other offenses, which provoked the destruction of the Cities of
the Plain. In Germany "sodomy" has long been used to denote bestiality,
or sexual intercourse with animals, but this use of the term is quite
unjustified. In English there is another term, "buggery," identical in
meaning with sodomy, and equally familiar. "Bugger" (in French,
bougre) is a corruption of "Bulgar," the ancient Bulgarian heretics
having been popularly supposed to practise this perversion. The people
of every country have always been eager to associate sexual
perversions with some other country than their own.
The terms usually adopted in the present volume are "sexual inversion"
and "homosexuality." The first is used more especially to indicate that
the sexual impulse is organically and innately turned toward
individuals of the same sex. The second is used more comprehensively
of the general phenomena of sexual attraction between persons of the
same sex, even if only of a slight and temporary character. It may be
admitted that there is no precise warrant for any distinction of this kind
between the two terms. The distinction in the phenomena is, however,
still generally recognized; thus Iwan Bloch applies the term
"homosexuality" to the congenital form, and "pseudo-homosexuality"
to its spurious or simulated forms. Those persons who are attracted to
both sexes are now usually termed "bisexual," a more convenient term
than "psycho-sexual hermaphrodite," which was formerly used. There
remains the normal person, who is "heterosexual."
Before approaching the study of sexual inversion in cases which we
may investigate with some degree of scientific accuracy, there is
interest in glancing briefly at the phenomena as they appear before us,
as yet scarcely or at all differentiated, among animals, among various
human races, and at various periods.
Among animals in a domesticated or confined state it is easy to find
evidence of homosexual attraction, due merely to the absence of the
other sex.[2] This was known to the ancients; the Egyptians regarded
two male partridges as the symbol of homosexuality, and Aristotle
noted that two female pigeons would cover each other if no male was at
hand. Buffon observed many examples, especially among birds. He

found that, if male or female birds of various species--such as
partridges, fowls, and doves--were shut up together, they would soon
begin to have sexual relations among themselves, the males sooner and
more frequently than the females. More recently Sainte-Claire Deville
observed that dogs, rams, and bulls, when isolated, first became restless
and dangerous, and then acquired a permanent state of sexual
excitement, not obeying the laws of heat, and leading them to attempts
to couple together; the presence of the opposite sex at once restored
them to normal conditions.[3] Bombarda of Lisbon states that in
Portugal it is well known that in every herd of bulls there is nearly
always one bull who is ready to lend himself to the perverted whims of
his companions.[4] It may easily be observed how a cow in heat exerts
an exciting influence on other cows, impelling them to attempt to play
the bull's part. Lacassagne has also noted among young fowls and
puppies, etc., that, before ever having had relations with the opposite
sex, and while in complete liberty, they make hesitating attempts at
intercourse with their own sex.[5] This, indeed, together with similar
perversions, may often be observed, especially in puppies, who
afterward become perfectly normal. Among white rats, which are very
sexual animals, Steinach found that, when deprived of females, the
males practise homosexuality, though only with males with whom they
have long associated; the weaker rats play the passive part. But