The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-15

public, or give coloring to then views OF
disease. Simple as many OF them may
seem, they are the secret springs which de-
termne The views OF people, often in opposl-
lion TO The dictates Of their professional adj
yisers. On this account, therefore, they
must be treated with respect--a respect
which they deserve from their influence, il
not from theirjustness. ~ "
| have purposely, then, brought forward
the opinionl which have found to be the
most prevalent and the most influential,
without any reference totheir plausibility or
ingenuity, and in preference to the discus-
sion Of others which might have admitted Of
more scope for entertainment or for profess
sonal research. On this account must be
excused for speaking Of many things which
are simple, and perhaps ludicrous and com
mon-place, and also Tor passing by many
subjects which are rich in matter Tor cnrl-
osty and entertainment, as well as the DIS
playof such literary industry az might be
devoted TO them.
shall now proceed 10 the consideration
OF the several common errors which have
presented themselves TO my mind, making
on each few very brief remarks, but such
as imagine may be sufficient, without be-
ing tedious.
am quite aware that there are very
many (not To speak Of professional readers)
to whom all thes explanations may be alto
gether unnecessary, but ] am sure shall
have their Indulgence il the comments which
make are only acceptable 10 others. To
oil tpht..h mn n
such, be Of some interest, whatever may be
their absurdity, and the remarks made on
them may at least serve to connect Them
together. In the course Of this paper, then,
| shall have to introduce many common
places; hut this, il must be remembered, is
inseparable from the subject. may also
state that have purposely chosen 10 treat
the subject in a plain, and somewhat colo
quail style; for it seems TO me that common
ideas are best explained in familiar man
ner, and that popular notions are best EN-
bodied in the language in which they are
usually delivered.
There is common notion that lunatics
are influenced by the moon. The term
unatie was no doubt given to insane people
from tie supposed influence Of the moon in
producing madness. This opinion is in some
degree preserved by the continued employ
ment Of the term Mnaiic, as well as by that
fondness for the marvellous which is so COM
mon to mankind Even at the present day,
people will shake their heads and allude sig
nfcantly to the full OF the moon" Poor
Mr.. So-and-so," they will say, lis little
of the cock just nova little wrong in the
upper story; but then it is the full Of the
moon next Thursday" There does not
appear 10 be any real ground for the belief
that the moon exercises this baneful inhu-
ence on the human mind, although it is ac-
knowedged that insane people are usually
somewhat more than ordinarily restless at
the full Of the moon. The celebrated French
writer, Esquirol, attributes this to the effect
of the increased light, and states that the
break Of day occasions similar agitation.
!" Light" lie asserts, I" lrightens some III
natics, peases others, but agitates l."*
or SEASONS.
There is a very common, and very old
notion, that what are called cooling medi-
cines should be taken at particular periods
ofthe year, especially in the spring. Every
practitioner viii occasionally he consulted
on this subject, and very often great dis
position 10 shown by medical men to fall in
with popular views. Many poor chla
has heen condemned TO pot Of birthstone
and treaclc merely because it was apring-
time. imagine parents are not always
ready to carry oui these views IN their own
cases. Hippocrates advocates such sys-
TEN in his 47th aphorism, section vi III
bleeding or purging be requisite" says he,
" spring is the most convenient time for
either" He repeats thu same view in other
places. There was great deal Of impor
lance attached 10 seasons in the treatment
Of diseases by the old medical authorities !;
hut we find very little on this subject in our
best modern works. For my part ] don't
see why we should take physic unless we
are ILL., The public have very curious, and,
should think, very ll-defned IDEAS Of cool
I ing physic, and Of medicines for purifying
the blood. That the ancients set considera-
bic Importance on seasons, will appear from
| the most casual inspection Of their works
| Thus Etus, in his directions for the cure
Of the gout, laid down distinct regimen lor
each month. In September, the diet
should be wholly milk in October, garlic
must Re eaten; in November, bathing is
prohibited in December, cabbage; in Ja-
nuary, the patient should take a glass Of pure
wine every morning; in February, he must
not eat beet; in March, he must mix sweets
both with his eatables and drinkabes in
April, he must refrain from horse-radish /;
and in May, from the fish called polypus |;
in June, he must take cold water in the
morning; in July, abstinence must be prac-
tised in August, he must not eat NAL
lows.'+
HAIR.
That hair turns gray in single night.
In a popular but able treatise on diseases
of the skin (by Erasmus Wilson, ! this
subject is alluded to in the following terms !:
n 4. Il n ]. a. L.. L. L.