tions at a premature stage. It must be added
that precocious sexual energy is likely to remain feeble, and that a
feeble sexual energy adapts itself more easily to homosexual
relationships, in which there is no definite act to be accomplished, than
to normal relationships. It is difficult to say how many of my cases
exhibit sexual weakness. In 6 or 7 it is evident, and it may be suspected
in many others, especially in those who are, and often describe themselves
as, "sensitive" or "nervous," as well as in those whose sexual development
was very late. In many cases there is marked hyperesthesia, or irritable
weakness. Hyperesthesia simulates strength, and, while there can be little
doubt that some sexual inverts (and more especially bisexuals) do possess
unusual sexual energy, in others it is but apparent; the frequent
repetition of seminal emissions, for example, may be the result of
weakness as well as of strength. It must be added that this irritability
of the sexual centers is, in a considerable proportion of inverts,
associated with marked emotional tendencies to affection and
self-sacrifice. In the extravagance of his affection and devotion, it has
been frequently observed, the male invert resembles many normal women.

SUGGESTION AND OTHER EXCITING CAUSES OF INVERSION.--In 18 of my cases it
is possible that some event, or special environment, in early life had
more or less influence in turning the sexual instinct into homosexual
channels, or in calling out a latent inversion. In 3 cases a
disappointment in normal love seems to have produced a profound nervous
and emotional shock, acting, as we seem bound to admit, on a predisposed
organism, and developing a fairly permanent tendency to inversion. In 8
cases there was seduction by an older person, but in at least 4 or 5 of
these there was already a well-marked predisposition. In at least 8 other
cases, example, usually at school, may probably be regarded as having
exerted some influence. It is noteworthy that in very few of my cases can
we trace the influence of any definite "suggestion," as asserted by
Schrenck-Notzing, who believes that, in the causation of sexual inversion
(as undoubtedly in the causation of erotic fetichism), we must give the
first place to "accidental factors of education and external influence."
He records the case of a little boy who innocently gazed in curiosity at
the penis of his father who was urinating, and had his ears boxed, whence
ar