Let's be clear from the start: this is one of the strangest reading experiences I've had in a long time. Published in 1845, this second volume concludes Julius Rosenbaum's massive study, which he presents as a serious medical and historical analysis of sexual diseases and behaviors throughout history.

The Story

There isn't a plot in the traditional sense. Instead, Rosenbaum acts as a tour guide through what he sees as humanity's darkest medical history. He piles example upon example from ancient Greece, Rome, the Middle Ages, and his own time. He details supposed treatments, from herbal remedies to brutal surgeries, and discusses famous historical figures he believes were afflicted. The 'story' is really his relentless argument that what he terms 'lust' is a destructive, plague-like force that has shaped civilizations. He blends real (if outdated) medical observation with moral judgment, creating a text that feels both scholarly and deeply sensational.

Why You Should Read It

You don't read this for a gripping narrative. You read it as a fascinating, uncomfortable window into the 19th-century mind. The value is in the collision of intentions. Rosenbaum wants to warn and educate, but his method—listing countless explicit anecdotes from history—often has the opposite effect. It becomes a catalog of human obsession. The book's power lies in its sheer audacity and its role as a cultural artifact. It shows us how people in the 1840s tried to make sense of sexuality, disease, and morality, using the tools they had: a mix of emerging science, classical history, and strong religious sentiment. It's less about the 'plague' he describes and more about the worldview that could produce such a book.

Final Verdict

This is a niche read, but a compelling one. It's perfect for readers fascinated by the history of medicine, Victorian-era social history, or the weird corners of antiquarian literature. If you enjoy books that make you think about why they were written as much as what they say, you'll find this oddly gripping. Approach it not as a factual guide, but as a primary source—a revealing snapshot of the fears, fascinations, and flawed science of another era. Just be prepared for a very bumpy, and often shocking, ride through the past.