Are Old Men Impotent? On a Sparse Discourse of Early Modern Medicine and Its Forensic Implications in Paolo Zacchia’s Quaestiones medico-legales
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results
3.1. Casuistry Heard at the Rota Romana in the 17th Century
3.1.1. Consilium 23
3.1.2. Consilium 68
- (1)
- The age of sixty or even seventy was not in itself a reason for assuming impotence, but this only applied to robust old men who were not weakened under the amount of their years and should not really be called old men at all. Conversely, fifty-year-olds who are already weak by nature could be old men, for, according to Galen [22], p. 387, ages are not determined by the number of years but by the existing powers; in this respect the husband is so weak that he is older than sixty. Therefore, he must not only be called an old man (senex), but even decrepit, and impotence must be assumed in such a one.
- (2)
- The naturally existing physical weakness (debilis/imbecillis) was not pronounced as if the man was diseased (valetudinarius) in the sense of suffering against nature, but together with the age-related decrepitude it was an excellent and evident reason for impotence, especially in sexual intercourse with a virgin. Moreover, he had been plagued by long illnesses throughout his life, especially a weak stomach with poor digestion, so that he was diseased in this respect after all. A weak, cold stomach, moreover, is reckoned by all practitioners among the most prominent causes of impotence. This affliction, Zacchia said, would be aggravated in old age on account of the increasing coldness, for which reason a three years’ probationary period of marriage would be useless.
- (3)
- Concerning the allegedly immaculate condition of the genitals, Zacchia refers to the surgeon’s report. The surgeon had found (apparently on the basis of an inspection) a penis of flaccid substance and considerable length; it was possibly hardly suitable for erection and hardening (necessary for defloration). It was thus clear that the obstacle to the consummation of the marriage lay entirely on the part of the man and was unchangeable; for there was a lack of inner warmth to remove this obstacle.
- (4)
- The allegedly insignificant fistula was definitely above average; it was a remnant of repeatedly opened boils and had already tormented the man for many years. It constantly secreted foul-smelling pus in a remarkable amount, as stated in the surgeon’s report, and led to a cooling of the genitals. In view of these findings, it was superfluous to look for obstacles on the part of the bride. She had every right to reject her husband since he had tried to deflower her maliciously with his fingers [11], (pp. 295–297); [12], p. 158; [20].
3.1.3. Decisiones 22, 26 and 27
3.1.4. Decisio 59
3.1.5. Decisio 100 and Consilium 75
3.2. Framework of Canon Law
4. Discussion
4.1. Relevance and Relativisation of Tradition
4.2. Social Significance of Old-Age Impotence
4.3. Gender Roles Portrayed in Relation to Sexuality and Procreation
4.4. Discrepancy between Medical and Legal Criteria of Judgement
5. Conclusions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References and Notes
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Schäfer, D. Are Old Men Impotent? On a Sparse Discourse of Early Modern Medicine and Its Forensic Implications in Paolo Zacchia’s Quaestiones medico-legales. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 16513. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416513
Schäfer D. Are Old Men Impotent? On a Sparse Discourse of Early Modern Medicine and Its Forensic Implications in Paolo Zacchia’s Quaestiones medico-legales. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(24):16513. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416513
Chicago/Turabian StyleSchäfer, Daniel. 2022. "Are Old Men Impotent? On a Sparse Discourse of Early Modern Medicine and Its Forensic Implications in Paolo Zacchia’s Quaestiones medico-legales" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 24: 16513. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416513