In 1829, Sylvester Graham, a Presbyterian minister, developed Graham Crackers….to curb the masturbatory impluses in young boys.
Graham believed sexual activity such as erotic dreams, masturbation or sexual intercourse more than once a month was unhealthy. He also associated foods such as meat and fat with excessive sexual behavior and warned that mustard and ketchup led to insanity.
Graham wasn’t alone. Dr. John Harvey Kellogg developed Corn Flakes to curb masturbation. Think about that next time you have a bowl for breakfast.
Betwen 1856 and 1932 the U. S. Patent Office approved 33 patents for “anti-masturbation devices”.
We’re sure they were all wildy successful. And that’s the truth, s’more or less.
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England’s Education Department carefully selects all weekly questions. All questions are actual inquiries made to PPNNE by college-aged students.
