Masturbation warning. 19th-century illustration of a man said to have been made ill by the effects of masturbation. The French caption translates as: 'He can't walk any more... his legs give way'. This illustration is one of a series intended to warn youths against the deadly perils of such practices, also known as onanism and considered a form of self-abuse. Though the subject can be taboo, masturbation does not cause any of the illnesses depicted. Artwork from 'Le Livre Sans Titre' (Paris, 1830). For a sequence of these artworks, see images C027/0556 to C027/0564.