That story led to my doing a google on the subject and one of the articles pointed out that, when the whole "castrati" phase started, there was no prevailing consensus that every human being was entitled to a fulfilling sexual life. On the contrary, it was considered very noble to renounce sex. In the latter part of that era it did become viewed as a questionable practice and the story would be that the child had been "injured" in an accident.   I still think it was horrific and sad.