The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-11-14
STARS AND SICKNESS.

A physician resident in Mexico, Dr..
NJ. s. Knapp, has put forth q curious
theory of the influence or planets upon
disease. The powerful effect Of the
sums light and heat upon all life is, of
course trnisn. DR.. Knapp maintains
that its attractive force, when reinforc-
ed by the attraction ofthe larger plan.
cts, is almost equally powerful
Changes in that attractive force would
then produce changes, good or bad, in
is reached in different way. Health
depends, in great part, upon the grayi-
ty OF the atmosphere breathed. On q
mountain top, the respiration becomes
difficult, the head begins 10 swim, the
limbs lose their strength. a great
pressure of air produces much the same
results. Therefore, again, what affects
the gravity of the atmosphere affects
life. The attractive force Of the planet
does this. The consequences is clear.
If this theory be true, we should find
that the greatest sickness occurs at the
periods of greatest disturbance Of the
air-that is, when the planetary attrac-
tion is greatest. This happens when
the planets are nearest tho sun. Their
forces of gravitation are then combi-
ned; sudden change takes place in
one Of the most essential conditions of
life; and animals and planets die. The
snpposition explains the blights in veg
citation that usually precede and ac-
company epidemics. Some curious
statistics are submitted, in an attempt
to show that the facts of the past verify
the new theory. Jupiter is nearest the
sun-that is, reaches his perihelion--
about every twelfth year. His late
dates have been 1868, 1856, lS45, 1888,
1921, 1909, 1897 and I7S5.
Every one OF these has been cholera
year for India and time of pestilence
throughout the world. 1t is also claim
ed that every twelfth year. as far back
as 1872, has been fruitful in epidemic
sickness. Saturn revolves in a little
less than twenty-nine and half years.
He passed his perihelion in 1856, 1926,
1897, l167, etc, His disturbing influ-
ence, although less than that OF Jupi-
ter, must greatly strengthen the latter,
whenever their perihelia coincide
Every fifty-nine years this happens. II
happened in 1856 and 1877. In the
former the yellow fever did its deadli-
est work at New Orleans. In lS45, at
the time of Jupiter's perihelion, the
Irish ship-fever began its ravages. II
was succeeded by the cholera, which
eliminated in 1856. Going back to
1897, we find that the yellow fever
then visited every seaport of the Uni
ted States, while the cholera ragged in
Hindoostan, and sickness was prcva-
lent everywhere. BY such statistics
DIR. Knapp essays to prove his theory.
He comes near enough doing so to
| make us wish he had suffered us to keep
the bliss ofignorance instead Of reveal
ing the fact that Jupiter will reach his
| next perihelion in 1850; that Jupiter
and Saturn will meet in 1881; that
Uranus and Neptune will have coinci-
dent perihelion IN 1882; and that the
next perihelian passage Of Saturn will
be in 1885. The prospect for continued
change in our atmosphere, and conse-
quent continual disease, Is certainly fair
lit is very important theory
| If true. There has seemed TO be small
danger of the DAYS Of siar-worship
coming back again. But every religion
is, according to Lecky, founded on
L rear. ~ VIC muet ptTtOTCt Ut aIldlu
of the planets pcrihcliA we ut least lay
the foundation OF the long-forgotten
faith.
Chicago is to have a grand annual
Fair Industrial Exhibition. A Crystal
Palace building for the purpose, which
is to be capacious and appropriate for
a first class exhibition, Is now being
designed by one ofour architects. II
| is to cost $3.50, 900; its size win be 200
| by GOO feet it will be constructed en-.
| tirely of iron and glass. aud is to be in
the vicinity Of the Union Stock Yards
senth Of the city. II will be finished
next summer, and the first exhibition
| will take place next fall. A Joint stock
company, Of which some OF our lead
ing and most public spirited citixen'
are members, have taken this import.
ant matter In hand, and success is theil
smotto. -thi. jour.