The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-11-11
Modern Superstitions.

A few examples will illustrate with what
ease and friyoity things are believed which
the simplest investigation resolves into air.
One of them Is related of BesseL In st.
Malo, In France. whcre the tide rises to
an uncommon height, 1t was regarded as
settled that deaths took place ut the time
Of the waters falling. Opportunities con-
tinually offered TO put this remarkable
phenomenon to proof, but It was never
doubted. At length the French Academy
sent commission 10 convince themselves,
then and there, Of the truth Of this singu-
lar fact, when 1t was found that people
died during the waters rise rs well rs
during its fall, and that for a hundred
years according to the parish registers.
neither ebb nor flow had anywise affected
the mortality. no ...
|, It IL well known assertion that vOs-
sci filed with water does not increase In
weight If live fish Is put into 1t. King
George Of England. being desirous to
learn the cause of 50 extraordinary phe-
nomenon, requested an explanation from
the learned men of the country. This oc-
casioncd several very profound disserta-
tions, to which all sorts of strange hy-
potheses were advanced. Only ono Of the
gentlemen hit upon tho queer idea Of try
| inc the experiment before delivering an
opinion. and. 10! he discovered the vessels
weight to be increased by exactly the
weight of the fish.
But what of that mysterious disease,
somnambulism? Can It be disputed that
the moon causes somnambulists to walk
In their sleep? I answer, no! but let us
sec how the nom acts, In order to con-
vince ourselves that It has no wish to
fraternize with mysticism. II may be rs
sumed that sleep walking Is an abnormal
ly vivid state of dreaming, not only OF the
reproductive. but of the yolitive faculty.
Now It is established that such vivid
dreams are promoted by everything caus-
ing unquet sleep, o. e, heavy supper,
stimulating drinks, and other causes. 1t
Is fact which has been frequently OBJ
served that. owing to these Influences,
somnambulists or sleep-walkers, often
make their perambulations ut times when
moonlight is not marked In the almanac.
and we all know that there are many
persons, quite healthy too, who cannCt
sleep at all. or only badly. when q light
Is burning In their bedrooms, by reason
of being unused to II. Precisely the same
influence Is exercised by tho moons light
on the persons inclined to somnambulisn.
Hence some have hit upon the excellent
idea to prevent tho moonlight from enter
ing the somnambulist's sleeping-ro0m by
means Of shutters or thick curtains, and
behold! the somnambulist remained quiet
ly in his bed, not troubling himself about
the full moon that shono brightly outside.
The experiment was reversed. and, Mt q
time when there was no moonlight, bright
ly burning candles having been brought
into the somuambulist's room, he was seen
to walk In his sleep rs though the finest
full moon were ruling in the sky.
As has already been said. things are the
more readily believed the more they tickle
the fancy, and hence 1t is no sufficient rca-
son to regard u thing rs true because 1t has
been accepted for years or even for CEN
turtles. Unprejudiced observation must
decide. and it proves by thousands of cases
that the condition of the intestinal tube
and the effect of vermifugc, Is precisely
I, the same at the increasing rs at the wan
ing moon. III therefore. there are physi-
clans who to this day administer q ver,Gi-
fuge during the moons wane tho consol.
ing assurance Is theirs that its action will
be the same rs II administered during the
moons increase.
The belief in special lunar influence
upon tho growth of planets results from
very defective observation and Is altogeth-
er unfounded. 1t Is said, for instance,
that wood cut during the moons increase
rots faster than that fellcd during the
moons wane; but mt no time and nowhere
has this assertion over been tested by q
single and sensibly made experiment.
One person echoes this absurdity nfter tho
other, vet Il has never entered anyb0dys
head to fell two trees, equally sound and
of the same kind, TO keep them under the
like circumstances, and then to watch the
changes. The same remarks arc applica-
BILE TO the assertion that certain plants
thrive only when planted during the wan
Ing moon, while the contrary Is tho case
with others. We all know that not every
thing which Is planted. or sown. thrives.
nevertheless these people arc very careful
In noting every instance where plant.
put into the ground ut the wrong time OF
The moon. did not thrive rs new confir-
nation of their rule; the instances, how
ever. where plant planted nj the right
time. did not thrive, are attributed to the
weather.
And the weather! Does not experience
teach us that the moon surely has an inn
portant influence upon It? My answer Is;
No! The moon has not only no important
influence upon the weather, but not even
any which Is in the least dcmonstrable; !;
and II experience be appealed to, reply
that il Is that very experience which con-
tradicts the opinion Of the moons weather
making, do not, It Is true, mean that
experience which Is gained by the indi-
vidual and mex xperienced observer; who
occasionally notes when rainy weather
happens IN set In about the time OF the
new moon or fair weather at the moons
full; but that experience which Is nc
quired IN observations and ut meteorologi.
cal stations where the general nature OF
the weather, the state Of the barometer,
the direction Of tho wind. and tho degroe
Of the moisture In tho atmosphere arc 10
corded twice or three times every day.
Now tho tables ut the Munich observatory,
kept moro that 40 years. and with the
greatest care, inform us that on the days
of the full moon, Of the new moon, and
OF tho two quarters respectfully, the
weather does not change moro often, or
moro rarely than on any other day. Only
such experience Is entitled TO considcra-
ton. II
saa End There is None.
Light trnvcrscs space at the nate Of q