Some Thoughts on the Science of Onanism (1879) by Mark Twain is a short speech on masturbation.  Twain delivered the talk to the Stomach Club, an informal fellowship of American expatriate writers and painters in Paris.  Onanism contains fictional quotes by historical personages about the benefits of masturbation and comical observations about the dangers of masturbation.  Not published during Twain’s lifetime, the piece only appeared privately in the 1940’s and was printed in a book in 1976.

Some Thoughts on the Science of Onanism is a bawdy, humorous satire, much to be enjoyed.

A link to Onanism:

https://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/2004873

                                                                                                S. Gray

January 2024