Title: Unmanned: An Unnatural History of Human Castration | Psychology Today
Headings: Unmanned: An Unnatural History of Human Castration
Robert D. Martin Ph.D.
Unmanned: An Unnatural History of Human Castration
From unkindest cut to soaring songs of praise.
Effects of castration
Skeletons of castrati
Castrati in the Sistine Chapel
Castration and lifespan
References

Content: As in all other male primates, at birth a baby boy’s testes have descended from the belly cavity into a purse-like scrotum alongside the base of the penis. It is hence a simple matter to slice away the descended testes (orchidectomy) and maybe the penis as well. In addition to inevitable infertility, castration also greatly reduces production of the male hormone testosterone . Emasculation has been variously employed to make male slaves more docile, to punish enemies or criminals, and to reduce the noxious urges of sex offenders. In modern medical practice, orchidectomy is most commonly employed to treat testicular cancer, and is generally confined to removing only one testis. But removal of both testes may be performed to counter prostate cancer by lowering testosterone levels, or following major physical injury. Image from an English Mediaeval bestiary (dated at circa 1235) showing beavers pursued by a group of hunters. One hunter is already holding the “testicles” of one beaver, while a second beaver at bottom right is shown biting off its own “scrotum”. Source: ©The British Library Board, Harley 4751 f.9v, reproduced with permission.