...the list of dangers apprehended from menstruation is longer than any furnished by mere barbarians. According to Pliny, the touch of a menstruous woman...from their hives, caused mares to miscarry, and so forth.1 Similarly, in various parts of Europe, it is still believed that if a woman in her courses...

...extremely negative. From Frazer's The Golden Bough, we learn of the following European folk taboos: The touch of a menstruous woman turned wine to vinegar,...the moon|, killed bees, or at least drove them from the hives, caused mares to miscarry, and so forth. Similarly, in various parts of Europe, it is still...

...George Frazer wrote in the late nineteenth century about menstrual mythology in European folklore: "The touch of a menstruous woman turned wine to vinegar,...dimmed mirrors, blunted razors, rusted iron and brass, killed bees . . . , caused mares to miscarry, and so forth" (Frazer 1890/1951:702). These are among...