ed, I think, by the friction
of the glands against the vaginal walls, and are supplemented by
other sensations from the urethra, whose nerves are stimulated by
pressure of the vaginal walls and sphincter. The specific
sensation of the orgasm begins, I believe, with a strong
contraction of the muscles of the urethral walls along the entire
length of the canal, and is felt as a peculiar ache starting
from the base of the penis and quickly becoming diffused through
the whole organ. This sensation reaches its climax with the
expulsion of the semen into the urethra and the consequent
feeling of distention, which is instantly followed by the
rhythmic peristaltic contractions of the urethral muscles which
mark the climax of the orgasm.

"The most careful introspection possible under the circumstances
seems to show that these sensations arise almost wholly from the
urethra and in a far less degree from the corona. During periods
of great sexual excitement the nerves of the urethra and corona
seem to possess a peculiar sensitivity and are powerfully
stimulated by the violent peristaltic contractions of the muscles
in the urethral walls during ejaculation. It seems possible that
the intensity and volume of sensation felt at the glans may be
due in part to the greater area of sensitive surface presented in
the fossa as well as to the sensitivity of the corona, and in
part to the fact that during the orgasm the glans is more highly
congested than at any other time, and the nerve endings thus
subjected to additional pressure.

"If the foregoing statements are true, it is easy to see why the
pleasure of the man is much increased when the orgasm occurs at
the same time in his partner and himself, for the contractions of
the vagina upon the penis would increase the stimulation of all
the nerve endings in that organ for which a mechanical stimulus
is adequate, and the prominence of the corpus spongiosum and
corona would ensure them the greatest stimulation. It seems not
improbable that the specific sensation of orgasm rises from the
stimulation of the peculiar form of nerve end-bulbs which Krause
found in the corpus spongiosum and in the glans.

"The characteristic massiveness of the experience is probably due
largely to the great number of sensations of strain and pressure
caused by