152 
pliny's katueal history. 
[Book yii. 
brass and iron will instantly become rusty, and emit an offensive 
odour ; while dogs which may have tasted of the matter so dis- 
charged are seized with madness, and their bite is venomous 
and incurable. 
In addition to this, the bitumen which is found at certain 
periods of the year, floating on the lake of Judsea, known as 
Asphaltites, a substance which is peculiarly tenacious, and 
adheres to everything that it touches, can only be divided into 
separate pieces by means of a thread which has been dipped 
in this virulent matter. It is said that the ant, even an 
insect so extremely minute, is sensible of its presence, and 
rejects the grains which it has been carrying, and will not re- 
turn to them again.^^ 
This discharge, which is productive of such great and sin- 
gular effects, occurs in women every thirty days, and in a 
greater degree every three months. In some individuals 
it occurs oftener than once a month, and in others, again, 
it never takes place. Women of this nature, however, are not 
capable of bearing children, because it is of this substance that 
the infant is formed.^^ The seed of the male, acting as a sort 
of leaven, causes it to unite and assume a form, and in due 
time it acquires life, and assumes a bodily shape. The conse- 
quence is, that if the flow continues during pregnancy, the 
child will be weak, or else will not live ; or if it does, it will 
be full of gross humours, Mgidius says. 
(16.) The same author is also of opinion, that the milk of a 
woman who is giving suck will not become impure, if she should 
happen to become pregnant again by the same man.^^ 
89 Both Josephus, Bell. Jud. B, iv. c. 9, and Tacitus, Hist. B. v. c. 6, 
give an account of this supposed action of this fluid on the bitumen of 
Lake Asphaltites ; the statement is no doubt entirely unfounded, but it is a 
curious instance of popular credulity. — B. 
There are still somewhat similar superstitions in existence, even in 
this country among others ; it is not uncommonly believed that meat will 
not take salt from the hands of a female during the discharge of the 
catamenia. 
^1 This statement is without foundation. — B. 
92 The fact is true, that females in whom the menstrual discharge does 
not take place, are seldom, if ever, capable of conception ; but it does not 
depend on the cause here assigned. See the remarks of Cuvier, Lemaire, 
vol. iii. p. 82, and Ajasson, vol. vi. p. 173. — B. 
9* Pliny clearly alludes to an opinion expressed by Galen, in which he says, 
