Male Continence;

Oneida, NY: Office of Oneida Circular, 1872. First Thus. Second edition. Octavo (23cm). In printed blue paper wraps; 24pp; list of other Oneida publications to rear wrapper. Gently rubbed, staining to wrappers and first two leaves, else Very Good.

A singular aspect of Noyes's Pefectionist philosophy, as practiced by his followers at Oneida, was the sanctification of the human sexual bond through the practice of "male continence," i.e. coitus reservatus, or the withholding of the male orgasm during intercourse. The current pamphlet, a much revised edition that is effectively a different work from the original of 1866, falls somewhat short of elucidating technique (at least to the satisfaction of the uninitiated reader), but does provide, at some length, Noyes's Biblical justifications and his defense of the practice. The shorter first edition appeared in 1866, with the full title, Male Continence: or, Self-Control in Sexual Intercourse. That title having drawn the attention of Noyes's censors, all of the sub-title was dropped from this expanded edition - save the semi-colon, which remained, a mysterious punctuational ghost, or vain apostle; universal symbol of something more to come. WELLS p.12. Cf. DARE 1485 for the first edition of 1866, but not this reprint.