criminal psychology-第103章
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n influence； it is not too much to ask directly； to re…examine； and； if necessary； to call in medical aid in order to ascertain the truth。 The direct question is in a characteristically great number of cases answered falsely。 If in such cases we learn that the observation was made or the testimony given at the menstrual period； we may assume it probably justifiable to suspect great exaggeration； if not pure invention。
The menstrual period tends； at all ages from the youngest child to the full…grown woman； to modify the quality of perception and the truth of description。 Von Reichenbach＇1a＇ writes that sensitivity is intensified during the menstrual period； and even if this famous discoverer has said a number of crazy things on the subject； his record is such that he must be regarded as a clever man and an excellent observer。 There is no doubt that his sensitive people were simply very nervous individuals who reacted vigorously to all external stimulations； and inasmuch as his views agree with others； we may assume that his observation shows at least how emotional； excitable； and inclined to fine perceptions menstruating women are。 It is well… known how sharpened sense…perception becomes under certain conditions of ill…health。 Before you get a cold in the head； the sense of smell is regularly intensified； certain headaches are accompanied with an intensification of hearing so that we are disturbed by sounds that otherwise we should not hear at all； every bruised place on the body is very sensitive to touch。 All in all； we must believe that the senses of woman； especially her skin sensations； the sensations of touch； are intensified during the menstrual period； for at that time her body is in a ‘‘state of alarm。'' This fact is important in many ways。 It is not improbable that one menstruating woman shall have heard； seen； felt； and smelt； things which others； and she herself； would not have perceived at another time。 Again； if we trace back many a conception of menstruating women we learn that the boundary between more delicate sensating and sensibility can not be easily drawn。 Here we may see the universal transition from sensibility to acute excitability which is a source of many quarrels。 The witness； the wounded； or accused are all； to a considerable degree； under its influence。 It is a generally familiar fact that the incomparably larger number of complaints of attacks on women's honor； fall through。 It would be interesting to know just how such complaints of menstruating women occur。 Of course； nobody can determine this statistically； but it is a fact that such trials are best conducted； never exactly four weeks after the crime； nor four weeks after the accusation。 For if most of the complaints of menstruating women are made at the period of their menses； they are just as excited four weeks later； and opposed to every attempt at adjustment。 This is the much…verified fundamental principle！ I once succeeded by its use in helping a respectable； peace…loving citizen of a small town； whose wife made uninterrupted complaints of inuriam causa； and got the answer that his wife was an excellent soul； but； ‘‘gets the devil in her during her monthlies； and tries to find occasions for quarrels with everybody and finds herself immediately much insulted。''
＇1a＇ Der sensitive Mensch。
A still more suspicious quality than the empty capacity for anger is pointed out by Lombroso；＇1＇ who says that woman during menstruation is inclined to anger and to falsification。 In this regard Lombroso may be correct； inasmuch as the lie may be combined with the other qualities here observed。 We often note that most honorable women lie in the most shameless fashion。 If we find no other motive and we know that the woman periodically gets into an abnormal condition； we are at least justified in the presupposition that the two are coordinate； and that the periodic condition is cause of the otherwise rare feminine lie。 Here also； we are required to be cautious； and if we hear significant and not otherwise confirmed assertions from women； we must bear in mind that they may be due to menstruation。
＇1＇ C。 Lombroso and G。 Ferrero。 The Female Offender。
But we may go still further。 Du Saulle＇1＇ asserts on the basis of far…reaching investigations； that a significant number of thefts in Parisian shops are committed frequently by the most elegant ladies during their menstrual period； and this in no fewer than 35 cases out of 36； while 10 more cases occurred at the beginning of the period。
＇1＇ La Folie devant les Tribunaux Paris 1864。 Traitgale。 Paris 1873。
Other authorities＇2＇ who have studied this matter have shown how the presentation of objects women much desire leads to theft。 Grant that during her mensis the woman is in a more excitable and less actively resisting condition； and it may follow she might be easily overpowered by the seductive quality of pretty jewelry and other knickknacks。 This possibility leads us； however； to remoter conclusions。 Women desire more than merely pretty things； and are less able to resist their desires during their periods。 If they are less able to resist in such things； they are equally less able to resist in other things。 In handling those thefts which were formerly called kleptomaniac； and which； in spite of the refusal to use this term； are undeniable； it is customary； if they recur repeatedly； to see whether pregnancy is not the cause。 It is well to consider also the influence of menstruation。
＇2＇ Les Voleuses des Grands Magazins。 Archives d'Anthropologie Criminelle XVI； 1； 341 （1901）。
Menstruation may bring women even to the most terrible crimes。 Various authors cite numerous examples in which otherwise sensible women have been driven to the most inconceivable thingsin many cases to murder。 Certainly such crimes will be much more numerous if the abnormal tendency is unknown to the friends of the woman； who should watch her carefully during this short； dangerous period。
The fact is familiar that the disturbances of menstruation lead to abnormal psychoses。 This type of mental disease develops so quietly that in numerous cases the maladies are overlooked； and hence it is more easily possible； since they are transitive； to interpret them commonly as ‘‘nervous excitement；'' or to pay no attention to them； although they need it。＇1＇
＇1＇ A。 Schwob： Les Psychoses Menstruelles au Point du Vue Medico…legal。 Lyon； 1895。
Section 67。 （c） Pregnancy。
We may speak of the conditions and effects of pregnancy very briefly。 The doubt of pregnancy will be much less frequent than that of menstruation； for the powerful influence of pregnancy on the psychic life of woman is well…known； and it is hence the more important to call in the physician in cases of crimes committed by pregnant women； or in cases of important testimony to be given by such women。 But； indeed； the frequently obvious remarkable desires； the significant conduct； and the extraordinary； often cruel； impulses； which influence pregnant women； and for the appearance of which the physician is to be called in； are not the only thing。 The most difficult and most far…reaching conditions of pregnancy are the purely psychical ones which manifest themselves in the sometimes slight； sometimes more obvious alterations in the woman's point of view and capacity for producing an event。 In themselves they seem of little importance； but they occasion such a change in the attitude of an individual toward a happening which she must describe to the judge； that the change may cause a change in the judgment。 I repeat here also； that it may be theoretically said； ‘‘The witness must tell us facts； and only facts；'' but this is not really so。 Quite apart from the fact that the statement of any perception contains a judgment； it depends also and always on the point of view； and this varies with the emotional state。 If； then； we have never experienced any of the emotional alteration to which a pregnant woman is subject； we must be able to interpret it logically in order to hit on the correct thing。 We set aside the altered somatic conditions of the mother； the disturbance of the conditions of nutrition and circu
