Note 149 — Second Part. (continued 2)

Virey, De la Femme, 2nd. edition, Brussels 1826., p. 70., En effet, dans la chaleur, lorsque les excrétions de la peau, des glandes sébacées, des cryptes du vagin, augmentent en abondance et en fétidité, il n’est pas étonnant que le sang menstruel, pour peu qu’il séjourne en ces parties voisines de l’anus, qui sont dans un état d’orgasme, acquière bientôt de l’odeur. (Indeed in a hot climate, when the secretions from the skin, from the sebaceous glands, from the recesses of the vagina, increase in abundance and in foulness, it is not surprising that the menstrual blood, remaining for a time as it does in the regions contiguous to the anus, these regions being in a state of sur-excitation, quickly acquires an evil smell). So Haller too says (Elem. Physiolog. Vol. VII. pt. II. p. 146.), Ex Asia videtur opinio de menstrui sanguinis foetida et venenata natura ad nos pervenisse, et per medicos potissimum Arabes ad Europaeos transiisse. In calidissimis certe regionibus, si ad aestuosum aerem immundities accesserit, non repugnat, sanguinem in loco calente, in vicinia faecum alvinarum retentum, acrem fieri et foetire.... Lentorem aliquem possit mucus admistus addidisse. (It is from Asia that the opinion as to the fetid and poisonous character of menstrual blood would seem to have come to us, being transmitted mainly by the Arab physicians to those of Europe. No doubt in very hot climates, if dirty habits be added to the extreme heat of the atmosphere, there is nothing at all unlikely in the blood, retained as it is in a hot locality, in close proximity to the faeces in the bowels, growing sour and smelling foul.... A certain viscous quality may very well have been added by the admixture of mucous discharge). What has been observed as to the injuriousness of menstrual blood by our predecessors since Pliny (Hist. Nat. VII. 15. XIX. 10. XXVIII. 7.) may be found partially collected in Schurig, Parthenologia 227-240. Comp. Frank de Frankenau, Satyrae Medicae (Medical Satires), p. 89. Comp. pp. 54. sqq.—Hensler, Geschichte der Lustseuche, (History of Venereal Disease), Vol. I. pp. 204. sqq., where it is demonstrated that a great proportion of the Writers on Venereal disease at the beginning of the XVIth. Century attribute its rise to intercourse with women during menstruation.