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: Unmanned: An Unnatural History of Human Castration | Psychology Today
Robert D. Martin Ph.D.
How We Do It
Unmanned: An Unnatural History of Human Castration
From unkindest cut to soaring songs of praise. Posted July 14, 2016 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan
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Source: Original cartoon by Alexandra Martin
In the extensive catalogue of cruelty that humans have inflicted on others, castration surely occupies a special place, not least because permanent sterilization is the outcome. 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.