TABOO AND GENETICS 151 



ancient times, and remained together down to 

 the middle ages. Old herbals largely compiled 

 from the lore of ancient women form a link 

 in the chain of tradition, the first ring of which 

 may have been formed in Egypt or in Greece. 

 There is no doubt that women from an early 

 date tried to cure disease. Homer makes 

 mention of Hecamede and her healing potions. 

 There seems little doubt that there were Greek 

 women who applied themselves to a complete 

 study of medicine and contributed to the 

 advance of medical science. This traditional 

 belief in the power of women to cure disease 

 survives in the folk to-day. (10.) 



In view of the widespread veneration of a 

 peculiar psychic quality of woman, a power of 

 prophecy and a property of divinity which has 

 made her an object of fear and worship, it may 

 be well to review the modern explanations of 

 the origin of this unique feminine power. 

 Herbert Spencer was of the opinion that feminine 

 penetration was an ability to distinguish quickly 

 the passing feehngs of those around and was 

 the result of long ages of barbarism during 

 which woman as the weaker sex was obliged 

 to resort to the arts of divination and to cunning 

 to make up for her lack of physical force and 

 to protect herself and her offspring. (11.) In 

 like vein Kathe Schirmacher, a German feminist, 

 says : " The celebrated intuition of woman is 



