TABOO AND GENETICS 77 



breasts to assist in lactation. Bell states that 

 there is a noticeable connection between early 

 menstruation and short stature, and vice versa. 

 What is commonly known as menstruation lasts 

 only a few days, and is merely the critical period 

 in a monthly cycle or periodicity which goes 

 with the female sex specialization. This period 

 involves the gradual preparation of the uterus 

 or womb for a guest, together with the maturing 

 of the ova. Then the Graafian follicles con- 

 taining the ova break and these latter enter the 

 uterus for fertilization. 



If fertilization takes place, the fertilized egg 

 buries itself in the wall and development of the 

 embryo proceeds. Menstruation stops, the 

 calcium salts being required for the growing 

 embryo. There is likely to be no menstruation 

 for a considerable time after delivery if the child 

 is nursed, as is normal. This gives the uterus 

 time for devolution to the normal, before a 

 surplus of calcium salts sets the periodicity 

 going again. If the egg which passes from the 

 ovary to the uterus is not fertilized, it is excreted, 

 the uterus goes through another monthly cycle 

 of preparation for the period of intra-maternal 

 environment, and so on indefinitely until the 

 climacteric. 



This climacteric or decay of sexuality is a 

 rather critical time, especially in women. It 

 marks the period at which the metabolism can 



