following are a few examples of sexual anaesthesia:

(1). A normally built man, of high culture and moral sense, was
affected with complete sexual anaesthesia since birth. He
occasionally had nocturnal emissions, and also matutinal
erections, but no erotic images. When he arrived at mature age
he had no idea of sexual intercourse, and was completely
indifferent to everything concerning sexuality. He did not even
comprehend anything relating to sexual affairs, and his replies
reminded me of conversations with color-blind persons on the
distinction between red and green! According to his ideas,
marriage was an intellectual and sentimental union in which
children came by themselves!

He eventually married a young girl, well educated but extremely
prudish. One can imagine the revelations which followed! The
wife, who had a strong desire for children, soon perceived the
sexual blindness of her husband. She became very unhappy and
bitterly reproached him. The husband then became aware that
there should be something in marriage which he had not taken
into account; but the explanations of coitus by the medical man
were useless, and hypnotic suggestion was incapable of producing
the least sexual sensation.

In spite of all this, the husband was full of respect and
affection for his wife, but was incapable of simulating the
least sexual appetite. As regards the wife, what she required
was not coitus, which was simply a means to an end, but
children. However, her prudery made her prefer this state of
things to a divorce, which would create scandal. We may notice
that in such cases erections are only produced mechanically
during sleep, which renders coitus impossible.

(2). A timid but vain young man of retiring habits, sexually
cold, had occasional nocturnal emissions sometimes accompanied
by slightly erotic dreams. Although better informed than the
preceding case on sexual relations, his sexual appetite was
almost entirely absent, and he regarded marriage as a purely
intellectual alliance. He married an intelligent and passionate
young girl whose sexual appetite was strongly developed, and at
once began to treat her with great coldness, as a kind of
domestic servant.

The wife's family were in favor of divorce, but having pity on
the husband, sent him to me for advice.