Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-12-12
g'crihcIiOm and Pc>tiicuce,
(From the Science of Health. ]

II tilSi = 10 0ll y NliliI IS III aSlIOiOSlCOl
crloIogy," we are approaching one of
the most pcstiiential periods of the
earth's history. Since the commence
ment of the Christian era the perhelia
of the four great planets of the solar
systen-Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn aud
/ NeptUne-haye not been coincidcnt
But this is about to OccHr, and, in
the language of DR.. Knapp. who has
traced the history of The greatest epi-
/ denies that ever afflicted the human
race to the perhelia of these planets,
there will soon be <'liveIy times for
the doctors" The theoYy Is that when
one or more of the large planets is
nearest to the sun the temperature and
condition of our atmosphere are so
disturbed as to cause injuI ious vicis-
situdes, terrible rains, prolonged
! drouths, etc, resulting in the DIES ruc-
ti0n Of crops. and pestlence among
humon beings ard do.hestic animals.
DR.. Knapp has collected mass of
statiscal data, all going to show that
perihelion dates have always been
marked by unusual mortality, and
that sickness and death have Invaria-
bly, correspondent with the planets in
perihelion at the same time. The
revolution of Jupiter round the sun Is
accomplished in a little less thal
twelve years; Of Saturn in little
less than thirty years Of Uranus in
about eighty-four years. II it be
true, therefore, that the perihela of
these planets occasion atmospheric
conditions unfavorable to life, pcsti-
lential periods should occur once in a
dozen years, and aggravated and still
more widespread epidemics at longer
intervals In tracing the history OF
epidemics for more than 1000 years,
DR.. Knapp finds the facts in all eases
to validate the theory. Thus in the
sixth, and again in the sixteenth CEN
turies, three of these plagnes were
coiLcident in perihelion, and those
were the most pestilen'ial times of
the Christian era. But soon we are
to have, for the first time in two
thousand years, all four of these
planets against US. They will be at
their nearest approach to the sun in OF
soon after 1880, SO that for a few
years, say from 1880 to 1888, the Vi
tality of every living Thing VIII be put
10 severe and trying ordeal. Some
persons think lhoy see in the signs of
the times evidences of the great dis
asters in the immediate future. The
excessive heat, the unexampled cold,
the prevalence of flood and disaster ut
sea, the general failure of the potatoe
crop, the widespread chill fever
among human beings, and the equal
presence of the epizoo'ic among ami
mails, are mentioned among the pre-
momtions OF the rapidly approaching
perihclion. Well, ITO be forcwarneG
is to be forearmc,i" Accidents ex-
pected. we know very we'll that per
sons Of more vigorous constitutions
and more IIygeinic habits will have
the better chance to survive whatever
adverse influences the extraordinary
pcrihclia will occasion. 1t is wei!
known to physicians that in all pes
thence, plague, typhus, smallpox,
cholera, murrain, etc, the intempcr-
ate and dissipated, and those whose
sanitary conditions were bad, fur
nished the victims We do rot write
to al urn any one, nor TO make sen-
satiou. We state the facts which all
history attests. Readers can judge
for themselves what Importance &c
attach to the subject. That the con.
Joint pcrihelion Of all the large plan
cts of the solar system, one of which
Jupiter, is thousand times as large
as the earth, must disturb our atmos
phere and temperature very consider
ably, is probable that this diotnr-
: bancc must be injurious to healtl. ant
, life is certain and, that these period:
have heretofore been pestilential, is :
5 matter of record. How much we shal
suffer during the next dozen or fifteer
years depends very much upon how
nearly we live life in accordanc,
! with the laws Of life.
, People seldom remain the same
! On the contrary, most people ar
! constantly changing growing, lc
) rs hope, but still changing-il
character, feelings, opinions. If W
: took this into account, we shoul,