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From: turpin@cs.utexas.edu (Russell Turpin)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,sci.med
Subject: Re: Eunuchs, Castration and Erections
Summary: Mr Burnam is correct.
Message-ID: <19094@cs.utexas.edu>
Date: 11 Apr 91 00:44:41 GMT
References: <1991Apr10.074024.7090@newcastle.ac.uk>
Followup-To: sci.bio
Organization: U. Texas CS Dept., Austin, Texas
Lines: 21

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In article <1991Apr10.074024.7090@newcastle.ac.uk> w.p.coyne@uk.ac.newcastle writes:
> [Tom Burnam] says that provided the castration involves removal
> only of the testicles and takes place after puberty then they
> can have them.  He also says that it was reported that in ancient
> Rome women preferred them as lovers because there was no risk of
> pregnancy and because they were able to maintain an erection
> longer than uncastrated males.
>
> I was under the inpression that castration removed sexual desire, 
> and the penis would cease to be able to erect?

You were under a common misimpression.  In some ancient cultures
where eunuchs mixed with the king's harem, it was perfectly
acceptable for them to enjoy the king's concubines.  The purpose
in their castration was to guarantee that any children and
potential heirs were really the king's.  (Of course, in other
ancient cultures, eunuchs were made by lopping off *all* the
standard equipment, and obviously, what one does not have will
never become erect.)

Russell