A Treatise of the Use of Flogging in Venereal Affairs

First published in the seventeenth century, A Treatise of the Use of Flogging in Venereal Affairs by John Henry Meibomius, M.D. stands as one of the most curious and controversial medical works of its age. In an era when the boundaries between medicine, morality, and desire were often blurred, Meibomius examined the supposed therapeutic—and erotic—applications of flagellation in the treatment of venereal diseases and disorders of the passions.

Drawing upon classical sources, case studies, and contemporary reports, the author explores how pain and pleasure, discipline and desire, intersect in the human body. What began as a medical inquiry into the use of whipping for health and fertility became a window into the psychology of sensuality and restraint—subjects that would intrigue physicians, theologians, and libertines alike for centuries to come.

More than a medical curiosity, Meibomius’s treatise reflects the early modern struggle to reconcile bodily impulses with moral order, standing at the crossroads of medicine, philosophy, and forbidden pleasure.

Complete edition of Meibomius’s rare 17th-century medical treatise

Examines historical beliefs about flagellation, sexuality, and health

A key text in the study of early erotic medicine and medical superstition

Essential for readers of medical history, psychology, and the literature of desire