to preserve the virginity of our daughters; but is there any limit to the precautions with which a jealous husband will fence about his wife? In short, virginity concerns alone her who loses it; is any man's for the taking. Chastity is another person's property.
This slight survey of virginity would be incomplete without a reference to the operation of infibulation[1]—the artificial adhesion of the labia majora by means of a ring or stitches with a view to the prevention of sexual intercourse. Kisch, (The Sexual Life of Woman: translated by M. Eden Paul: London: Wm. Heinemann), quotes the authority of Ploss-Bartels for saying that this operation is practised by many peoples, among them the Bedschas, the Gallas, the Somalis, the inhabitants of Harrar, at Massaua, etc.
"The purpose of this practise," he adds, "is to preserve the chastity of the girls until marriage, when the reverse operative procedure is undertaken. It the husband goes away on a journey, in many cases the operation of infibulation is once more performed upon his wifes. Slave-dealers also make use of this operation so as to prevent their slaves from becoming pregnant. It is reported, however, that the operation does not invariably produce the desired effect."
- ↑ C.f. the Latin infibulare=to clasp, buckle, or button together. (Smith's Latin-English dictionary.) The noun fibula can be translated: (1) a clasp, bcukle, pin, latchet, brace; (2) a surgical instrument for drawing together the edges of gaping wound; (3) a ring drawn through the prepuce to prevent copulation. Celsus, Martial and Juvenal use the word in this sense. "The ancient Romans prevented actors from copulating, with the object of preserving their voices. Martial speaks of singers who sometimes broke the ring, and whom it was necessary to bring back again to the blacksmith." (Jacobus X——, op. cit.)
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