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I should preface by saying I definitely lack the expertise to contribute here, however it seems a glaring omission that there is no section dedicated to his legacy and to later and modern day views on him. Regardless of ones specific opinion of him, he's clearly a significant historic figure. So why does the commentary suddenly end with his death? It would be fascinating to be able to read about which of his inventions and methods persisted and which were abandoned. Which were proven scientific and which were proven to be snake oil. And other lasting commentaries on his legacy (i.e. high rates of circumcision in the USA still today). 176.251.175.52 (talk) 16:53, 14 June 2021 (UTC)
I was looking to see the evidence about corn flakes being an anaphrodesiac because I heard that it’s an unsubstantiated rumour. On this article, there seems to be a source for it but it makes no sense: the linked fight club reference is nothing to do with Kellogg, corn flakes or anaphrodesiacs Whereismytardis (talk) 06:57, 3 September 2021 (UTC)
This article says John's brother Will Kellogg is best known for inventing corn flakes. It should say that he is best known for developing the Kellogg's Cereal Company. Rollo August (talk) 10:49, 1 October 2022 (UTC)
He circumcised himself at age 37. His methods for the "rehabilitation" of masturbation addicts included measures up to the point of cutting off part of the genitals, without anesthetic, on both sexes; he wrote men who did should be circumcised and women that did should have carbolic acid applied to their clitoral glans.[46]
It seems that Plain facts for old and young, published in 1879, was published originally in 1877 as Plain facts about sexual life.
Plain facts for old and young 1879 edition on Project Gutenberg.
Reference 46 gives an 1888 publishing date with Ayer Publishing as the for Plain facts for old and young. He was born in 1852.
1888 - 1852 = 36
Edit from April 3, 2019. Mobile device. Stayed up for almost four years.
Is this just made up? ReadsWikiOrgForFun (talk) 14:54, 30 January 2023 (UTC)
The citation for this seems to cite the Project Gutenberg Plain Facts for Old and Young (1881 edition), but the quote given in the citation doesn't seem to actually exist beyond the first sentence, is the quote fabricated or is the continuation actually derived from another source? ペゴボド同士 (Pegboard) (talk) 05:44, 1 November 2023 (UTC)
The current writing in this section, and choice of quotation from "Plain Facts for Old and Young", could lead readers to a misleading conclusion about Kellogg's stance on both Corn flakes and Circumcision.
First, on Corn Flakes.
The current section reads: "Several popular misconceptions falsely attribute various cultural practices, inventions, and historical events to Kellogg. These include false claims that Kellogg's corn flakes were invented or marketed to prevent masturbation. In reality, they were promoted to prevent indigestion."
However, From "Abnormal Psychology 2nd Edition" (Already cited earlier in the article):
"It is a little-known fact that J. H. Kellogg invented his breakfast cereals as part of his mission to discourage sexuality in young people; he hoped that feeding them bland food in the morning would decrease their excitability."
And a primary source, From ""Plain Facts for Old and Young" (pg 302 from the copy available through National Library of Medicine) In the section relating to cures for masturbation("Unchastity"):
"Discard all stimulating food. Under this head must be included spices, pepper, ginger, mustard, cinnamon, cloves, essences, all condiments, pickles, etc.,"
Second, on Circumcision:
The current section and quotation simply mention that he doubted whether it was "salutary for all men." While this is true, it could leave the reader with the false impression that Kellogg was against the practice, when in his writing he has promoted circumcision of "small boys" as an intentionally painful deterrent for masturbation.
From ""Plain Facts for Old and Young": Regarding cures for "Self-abuse" (pg 295):
"A remedy which is almost always successful in small boys is circumcision, especially when there is any degree of phimosis. The operation should be performed by a surgeon without administering an anæsthetic, as the brief pain attending the operation will have a salutary effect upon the mind, especially if it be connected with the idea of punishment, as it may well be in some cases. The soreness which continues for several weeks interrupts the practice, and if it had not previously become too firmly fixed, it may be forgotten and not resumed."
He also writes on pg. 298: "In Females, the author has found the application of pure carbolic acid to the clitoris an excellent means of allaying the abnormal excitement, and preventing the recurrence of the practice..."
@Catfurball
Perhaps, we could retain an improved section on misconceptions, but add a section for "Views on Masturbation"? As He has written quite extensively about the topic. Yortman1 (talk) 07:52, 22 February 2024 (UTC)
I just removed the claim that Kellogg opposed circumcision. The quoted wording does not appear in the source. The citation contains a screenshot again including the wording that does not appear in the source. I thus suspect it was deliberately fabricated. I have screenshots and this can be verified by searching the source which is in the public domain. Robert Brockway (talk) 08:40, 1 April 2024 (UTC)
User:Captainthomas insists on removing the text, which states that the belief that Kellogg was responsible for popularizing male circumcision is a misconception. This journal source states that it was Lewis Sayre, not Kellogg, who popularized male circumcision in the US. Kellogg, in "Plain Facts" questions whether routine circumcision did more harm than good, though as noted in the "Misconceptions Section needs update or removal?" section above he did recommend it for "Self-abuse." OhNoitsJamie Talk 16:36, 2 May 2024 (UTC)
As others have stated before me, the section on popular misconceptions has once again been changed to state that Kellogg opposed circumcision, 'quoting' from the text that it's salutary benefit is very doubtful.However, the cited text itself from Gutenberg reads completely differently. There is no:
This is found nowhere in the cited Gutenberg source "Plain Facts for the Old and Young", and looking on Reddit, might be traced to a single bad actor who seemed to view the entire work by Kellogg as satirical, who's comments were downvoted and who's account is now deleted.
Reading through Kellogg's own text, it seems very clear that this Wikipedia article greatly glosses over several of his opinions on sexual health in boys and girls... Where are the sections relating to his opinions on 'self-abuse', or his confessed stories on treating "sinful indulgence" in young women sent to his sanitarium?
I think that this article might do well to receive just about a full edit and then be locked down. There are multiple Talks above this one relating to this article being edited to fix this 'misconception' section, and yet here it is again. It's also very clear that the "Kellogg's views on Health" section seems to omit his opinions on sexual health and take an almost favourable stance on the man.
There's likely a single or small group of users continually editing the article with false quotes and malicious citations. . Cvewatson (talk) 00:44, 18 June 2024 (UTC)
My attention was brought to this page by another where we seem to contradict ourselves (see Talk:Castration anxiety) and concur that the misconceptions section needs work. It currently appears to whitewash Kellogg's views. Without a doubt he advocated circumcision in some cases to cure boys of self abuse, and advocated doing so without anaesthetic. His earlier works also speak well of circumcision without the later caveat found in his 1888 work.
Laderman & Leon repeat what we say on this page is a misconception, in a suitably reliable source. They cite Gollaher (2000) who provides some poorly referenced but genuine primary sourced material saying, inter alia, "A remedy which is almost always successful in small boys is circumcision, especially when there is any degree of phimosis" (Kellogg, 1884:114). So Kellogg did advocate circumcision, despite the quote found on our Kellogg page. But the Kellogg page adds a caveat from Kellogg. This caveat is in the 1888 edition but not in the 1879, 1881 or 1884 editions. In that later edition he says
It is doubtful, however, whether as much harm as good does not result from circumcision, since it has been shown by extensive observation among the Jews that very great contraction of the meatus, or external orifice of the urethra, is exceedingly common among them, being undoubtedly the result of the prolonged irritation and subsequent cicatricial contraction resulting from circumcision in infancy.
(Kellogg, 1888:107). I have just added a verification failed to the page, which links to, and cites the 1881 edition but quotes the 1888 edition.
So Kellogg certainly appeared to be pro circumcision as a masturbation cure, but later came to oppose the general circumcision of the whole population. We need something more nuanced here.