San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-11-30
p.RIHELION AND PEsrILEycr
Whot Nav Easue During the Merit Sc~..
Yroyr- i Irrisd Of suffering aud Ile0ti'
From III. Science OF Health

criology," We are approaching one of
the most presidential periods Of earth's
history. Since the commencement Of
the Christian era, the perihelia Of the
four great planets of the solar system
Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn and Neptune
have not been coincident. But this is
about to occur, and, in the language of
DR.. Knapp, who has traced the history
of the greatest epidemics that ever al.
ficted the human race to the perihelia
of these planets, there will soon be "live.
" times for the doctors" The theory
is that when one or more of the large
planets is nearest to tho sun, the TEN.
perature and condition of our atmos.
phere are so disturbed as to cause iniu.
rious yicissitudes, terrible rains, pro.
longed droughts, etc, resulting in the
destruction of crops and pestilence
among human beings and domestic ami
mails.
DR.. Knapp has collected mass Of
statistical data, all going to show that
perihelion data have always been mark.
ed by unusual mortality, and that sick.
ness and death have invariably CORES.
pended with the planets in perihelion at
the same time. The revolution of Jupi-
ter round the sun is accomplished in
little less than twelve years, of Saturn
in little less than thirty years, and of
Neptune in about 1854 years. If it be
true, therefore, that the 'perihelia of
these planets occasion atmospheric con-
ditions unfavorable to life, Presidential
periods should occur once in dozen
years, and aggravated and widespread
epidemics at longer intervals. In trac.
ing the history of epidemics for more
than 1000 years, DR.. Knapp finds the
facts in all cases to validate the theory.
Thus, in the sixth, and again in the six
teenth centuries, three of these planets
were coincident in perihelion, and those
we're the most presidential times Of the
Christian era.
But soon we are to have, for the first
time in 1000 years, all four of these
planets against us. They will be at their
nearest approach to the sun in, or soon
after, 1880, so that for few years, say
from 1880 to 1885, the vitality of every
living thing will be put to a severe and
trying ordeal. Some persons think they
see, in the signs of the times, evidences
of the great disasters in the immediate
future. The excessive heat, the uneX-
ampled cold, the prevalence of food and
disasters at sea, the general failure OF
the potato crop, the widespread chill
fever among human beings, and the
equal prevalence of the epizootic among
animals, are mentioned as among the
premonitions of the rapidly-approaching
perihelion.
Well, "to be forwarned is to be fore
armed" Accidents excepted, we know
very well that the persons of more vlg'
orous constitutions and more hygienic
habits will have the best chance to sur
vive whatever adverse influences the ex-
traordinary perihelia will occasion. 1t
is we'll known to physicians that, in all
pestilences, plague, typhus. smallpox
cholera, murrain, etc, the intemperate,
the dissipated, and those whose sanitary
: conditions were bad, furnished the VIC
tins.
, We do not write to alarm anyone, nor
to make a sensation. Readers can Judge
, for themselves what Importance to at
, tach to the subject. That the conloln'
} perihelion of all the large planets OF the
solar system, one of which, Jupiter, Is
| 1000 times as large as the earth, must
, disturb our atmosphere and tempera-
/ ture very considerably, is probable; that
this disturbance must be injurious 10
health and life is certain: and that these
periods have hitherto been pestllentlai
/ is matter of record. How much We
shall suffer during the next dozen or III
5 teen years, depends very much upon
, how nearly We live life in accordance
: with the laws of life.
CONSCIENTIOUS Greek professor, II
: monstrating with sophomore for crea
ting a disturbance in the class room,
=. lays his hand insinuatingly upon u.