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.
An Ohio man faced a terrifying ordeal when he heard strange noises coming from his genital area. The 72-year-old, who remains unidentified, has been diagnosed with a unique medical condition known as a “whistling scrotum,” according to a new study published in the American Journal of Case Reports.
The man sought emergency medical attention as he was short of breath with a swollen face. An X-ray revealed excessive air in his body, which caused his lungs to collapse. If left untreated, this could have resulted in permanent damage to his heart and lungs, potentially leading to death. Doctors discovered that an open wound on the left side of his scrotum, leftover from testicle surgery, was the source of the strange whistling noise. The wound allowed trapped air to escape, causing his pneumoscrotum condition.
The man’s condition worsened, and he was transferred to another hospital for further treatment. He had two plastic tubes inserted into his chest to drain the excess air. After three days, his lungs had recovered, and he was released from the hospital. However, he still had air trapped in his scrotum and abdomen for an unusually long period of two years. The doctors were eventually forced to remove both testicles to resolve the issue.
Pneumoscrotum is a rare medical condition that occurs when air becomes trapped in the scrotum. Only 60 cases of this condition have been described in medical literature. Since the trapped air cannot escape through the body’s orifices, medical intervention is usually required. It is uncertain whether the man’s condition improved due to the “escape route” caused by the open wound. The study concluded that the pneumoscrotum was likely caused by penetrating injuries.
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.
Wellness influencers swear by the newest craze: perineum sunning. They’re getting some sun where the sun doesn’t shine.
Tanning one’s cans, also known as perineum sunning by influencers, is the hottest wellness trend.
An influencer who goes by the name Ra of Earth states, You will receive more energy from this electric node in a mere 30 seconds of sunlight on your butthole than you would in an entire day being outside with your clothes on. He makes a gesture toward the sun while three naked men lie down, point their backs to the sky, and make sounds of pleasure in a viral video that has received over 35,000 views.
A step-by-step Sun Worship exercise from The Tao of Sexology: has also been posted by Ra of Earth. According to Dr. Stephen T. Chang’s book The Book of Infinite Wisdom, the practice can aid in keeping the area healthy and germ-free.
Earth’s Chang and Ra aren’t the only ones. It appears that other influencers are similarly motivated to take in some of the most vile rays.
[Thirty] seconds of injection of direct sunlight to the anal orifice is equivalent to being outside in the sun for the entire day! Influencer Troy Casey writes.
One Californian claims that taking vitamin D supplements improves her sleep and regulates her hormones.
A picture of a woman who goes by the name Metaphysical Meagan captions it, For the past few weeks I have included sunning my bum and yoni into my daily rising routine. The picture shows the woman completely naked on a rock. Meagan claims that her study of Taoism was the first place she learned about perineum sunning, and she has recently switched from drinking coffee in the morning to sunning her anus.
The peculiarity grabbed the more extensive web’s eye after one Twitter client posted Meagan’s photograph and inscription, to the tune of in excess of 84,000 preferences.
Even celebrities are getting their bums sunbaked. Shailene Woodley, best known for her holistic lifestyle that doesn’t even include a television, has admitted that she has also done perineum sunning.
She told Into The Gloss in 2014, Another thing I like to do is give my vagina a little vitamin D. I was reading an article about yeast infections and other genital problems written by an herbalist I studied. She said that vitamin D is the best thing. If you feel tired, spend an hour in the sun to see how much energy you have. Or, if you live in a region with prolonged winters, spread your legs and enjoy the sunshine when it finally arrives.
Be that as it may, clinical experts are a long way from persuaded the training has any legitimacy.
Dr. Diana Gall of the UK-based online doctor service Doctor 4 U tells Insider, There is no evidence that sunbathing in this manner has any effect on physical well-being.
She asserts, Yes, it is beneficial for mental and physical health to practice mindfulness and meditation and get your vitamin D, but you don’t need to damage your skin in the process from sun exposure.
There are no additional benefits of doing this naked in the sun, according to Gall, who adds that there are different and safer ways to practice mindfulness.
The Federal Trade Commission is having difficulty persuading influencers to shed more light on product endorsements because they are currently letting the sun shine in their back door.
