It is
fair to add that Dr. Blackwell's opinion is merely the survival
of a view which was widely held a century ago, when various
writers (Bordeu, Roussel, Duffieux, J. Arnould, etc.), as Icard
has pointed out, regarded menstruation as a device of Providence
for safeguarding the virginity of women.
FOOTNOTES:
[75] Thaddeus L. Bolton, "Rhythm," _American Journal of Psychology_,
January, 1894.
[76] It is scarcely necessary to warn the reader that this statement does
not prejudge the question of the inheritance of acquired characters,
although it fits in with Semon's Mnemic theory. We can, however, very well
suppose that the organism became adjusted to the rhythms of its
environment by a series of congenital variations. Or it might be held, on
the basis of Weismann's doctrine, that the germ-plasm has been directly
modified by the environment.
[77] Thus, the Papuans, in some districts, believe that the first
menstruation is due to an actual connection, during sleep, with the moon
in the shape of a man, the girl dreaming that a real man is embracing her.
(_Reports Cambridge Expedition to Torres Straits_, vol. v, p. 206.)
[78] Darwin, _Descent of Man_, p. 164.
[79] While in the majority of women the menstrual cycle is regular for the
individual, and corresponds to the lunar month of 28 days, it must be
added that in a considerable minority it is rather longer, or, more
usually, shorter than this, and in many individuals is not constant.
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