Page:Fielding - Sex and the Love Life.pdf/139

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SEX HYGIENE IN MARRIAGE
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excessive lust. Dubois writes: "The moderate exercise of the sexual functions can create a salutory euphoria and calm the nerves, even in sick people; it favors sleep, and sometimes causes painful mental states of anxiety and vague unrest to cease."

Mosso, in his work on "Fatigue," alludes to intercourse as both a stimulus and a sedative. Haig gives a physiological basis to the benefit derived from the sexual act by stating that it lessens bad temper by withdrawing blood pressure from the brain.

In the works of numerous sexologists, including Ellis, Robinson, Gallichan, Robie, Long, Stone, and others, the benefits—physical and mental of normal sex expression are stressed.

After all, the relationship between health and the exercise of an important biological function like sex should be perfectly obvious. Mankind is equipped with special sets of sexual nerves, very complex in their ramifications. This organization of nerve structure was meant to be utilized. As the response to all nerve stimulus is either pleasure or pain—never indifference among normal people—it follows that pleasure is a legitimate result to be expected of sexual expression.

When the mental attitude of a couple is in harmony in regard to the function of sex, when there is insight and understanding, sympathy and mutuality, the physical consummation of love is the highest expression of ecstasy and sublimity.

That this evidence of supreme bliss, or anything approaching it, reacts in enduring happiness, well-being and mental and physical health, should be as clear as the connection between cause and effect can be.

The preparation of the husband for marriage has already