Delicious Ear Nectar

A recently surfaced 1864 letter provides a glimpse into a little-discussed affliction among Civil War soldiers – chronic masturbation.

The handwritten note by Confederate Lt. William Dandridge Pitts inquires about the condition of his brother Charles, who was discharged from the army in 1862 due to an unspecified “illness.” Charles was residing at the Western Lunatic Asylum in Virginia.

According to Charles’ doctor and accounts from fellow soldiers, his illness was a relentless addiction to masturbation. “I have had some conversation with the physician who attended my brother previous to his going to the asylum,” Lt. Pitts wrote, “and he advises me…that [Charles] was addicted to masturbation, while in camp.”

The letter highlights the mental health toll of the war, even before combat began. Soldiers forced to endure their comrades’ “self-pollution” no doubt developed deep psychological scars.

While masturbation remained taboo in the Victorian era, it was pervasive enough in the military to earn the nickname “Johnny Reb.” The irony of this affliction among troops from Virginia, the “state for lovers,” was surely not lost on the Pitts family.

The letter survives in excellent condition despite its delicate subject matter. This “director’s cut” offers intimate insight into secret struggles in Civil War ranks.

A man from Italy is seeking €400,000 (£354,000) in compensation after surgeons allegedly wrongly amputated his penis, believing it to be cancerous. It was later discovered that he had a form of syphilis that could have been treated with medication. The surgery occurred in November 2018 at San Donato Hospital in Arezzo, Tuscany, and the patient, now 68 years old, intends to take the 35-year-old urologist responsible to court. A preliminary hearing in a court in Arezzo next month will determine whether the case will proceed to trial. The man has requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the situation and claims to have suffered significant physical and psychological harm. The surgeon, who is highly respected, no longer works at the Tuscany hospital but now operates in a Milan hospital. According to local newspaper Corriere di Arezzo, the man’s experience was both painful and embarrassing.

New research suggests regularly masturbating could help men reduce their risk of prostate cancer. A recent study found that men who ejaculate at least 21 times per month may lower their chances of prostate cancer by up to a third.

The study, published in European Urology, followed 31,925 men over 18 months and linked frequent masturbation with decreased prostate cancer risk, similar to the benefits of exercise and healthy eating. Researchers believe regularly clearing out toxins from the body through ejaculation offers protective effects.

This adds to a growing consensus around the health benefits of masturbation for men. Despite viral movements like No Nut November that promote abstinence, urologists argue there is no evidence that refraining from masturbation improves physical or mental wellbeing.

Dr. Rena Malik previously told Insider that research shows masturbation reduces stress and prostate cancer risk. She cited a 2016 study finding men under 50 who ejaculated over 21 times monthly had lower prostate cancer diagnoses.

While some claim masturbation hurts athletic performance, Malik dismissed this as unfounded. Instead, the newest research makes it clear that enjoying masturbation frequently could be an important part of self-care for men, with tangible impacts on health.

So while periodic abstinence challenges may seem fun, the science shows masturbating regularly well into one’s 40s could truly save lives by decreasing prostate cancer risk. For optimal health, striving for 21+ monthly masturbation sessions appears the way to go.