Thanks, Mike-and-Will. I found out that my library has New York Times on microfilm all the way back to the 19th century, so I plan on starting my own research eventually.<g> Unfortunately, it isn't as convenient to do original source research as it is to surf the 'net.
But, I read something yesterday that reminded me how important original source research is. A woman historian just published a history of vibrators. I kid you not. Well, I am not kidding, although I still suspect a hoax. And, what is really amazing, women used to go to doctors to be masturbated, it was a recognized medical treatment for "hysteria," the physicians or their nurses would induce so-called "hysterical paroxysm" (orgasm) as a health measure. No one thought it was sexual, not exactly sure why. Then when electricity became common, physicians invented vibrators to do the work for them. The historian hypothesizes that it was not until stag films came out in the 1920's, and everyone could see what was really going on, that this whole thing fell into disrepute.
If this is true, and not a hoax, then I can't think of a clearer example of mass hysteria or brainwashing. Weird.
Edit: I read it in "Wired." |
