202 TABOO AND GENETICS 



their normal nature and activity. The thyroid 

 and adrenal glands are deeply affected. In 

 times of intense emotion, the thyroid gland 

 throws into the system products which cause 

 a quickened pulse, rapid respiration, trembling, 

 arrest of digestion, etc. When the subjects 

 of experiments in the effect of the emotions of 

 fear, rage, etc., are examined, it is found that 

 the physical development, especially the sexual 

 development, is retarded. Heredity, age, sex, 

 the nervous system of the subject, and the 

 intensity and duration of the shock must all 

 have consideration. Griesinger, Amard and 

 Daguin emphasize especially the results of pain, 

 anxiety and shock, claiming that they are 

 difficult or impossible to treat. 



To the bride brought up under the old taboos, 

 the sex experiences of early married life are 

 apt to come as a shock, particularly when the 

 previous sex experiences of her mate have been 

 gained with women of another class. Indeed, 

 so deeply has the sense of shame concerning 

 the sexual functions been impressed upon the 

 feminine mind that many wives never cease 

 to feel a recurrent emotion of repugnance 

 throughout the marital relationship. Especialty 

 would this be intensified in the case of sexual 

 intercourse during the periods of gestation and 

 lactation, when the girl who had been taught 

 that the sexual functions existed only in the 



