The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-05-02
MOONSTRUCK.
How Those Who Have Suffered From IL Ar,
Affected.

" The sun shall not smite thee by day nor
the moon by night" This beautiful verse
expresses the belief, common in ancient
days, that the moon exercises baleful in-
huence upon those exposed to her direct
rays. In modern times the pernicious in
fuenee of the moon has been doubted and
even denied. But whatever the influence of
the moon in temperate zones, within the
tropics ii is very injurious to sleep exposed
to its rays, especially when at the full. On
voyage to the antipodes, when near the
line, Maltese sailor, who was most conf
cal fellow, slept for some hours on the boom
with his face toward the full moon. On
waking in the morning tho muscles on the
right side of his face were contracted, so
that every attempt to speak was attended
with the most ludicrous contortons Feel
ing sure that something was seriously
wrong, he spoke to another sailor, who sup
posing that as usual he was at his odd tricks,
burst out into laughter. OF he went to
another, with exactly the same result The
poor fellow now got into rage, thereby
adding not little to the righteousness of
the scene. After while the truth dawned
upon the captain and officers of the vessel.
The doctor gave him some medicine, the
muscles gradually relaxed, and in the course
of week our Maltese friend was well again.
Some five or six years ago, when sailing
from Tahiti to Mangia, a little boy of mine,
in perfect health, was thoughtlessly placed
by his nurse in his berth, the slanting beams
of the moon falling on his face. Next morn
ing he was feverish and i'll, and it was two
or three days before he was himself again.
On the Island of Aitutaki native woman
was watching night after night for the return
of her husband from the Island of Atiu.
While doing so one night she fell asleep, the
moons rays pouring upon her face. On
awakening she felt i'll, and her eyes were
drawn on one side. Considerable interest
was felt by the islanders in her case. Event
ually, however, her eyes were restored
These facts illustrate the injury done to hui
man beings by the moon in the tropics.
Yet never heard of insanity or death re-
sulting from this cause. II is well known,
however, in tropical countries that the
moons rays occasion the rapid decomposi-
ton of flesh and fish. number of bon
itas having been caught one evening near
the line by a friend of mine, the spoil was
hung up in the rigging of the ship, aud was
thus exposed to the moon during the night.
Next morning it was cooked for breakfast.
Symptoms of poisoning were soon exhibited
by all who partook of it-their heads swell.
ing TO great size, &c. Emetcs were
promptly administered, and, happily, no
one died. The natives of the South Pacific
are careful never to expose fish Ga constant
article of diet in many islands) to the moons
rays by any chance. They often sleep by
the seashore after fishing. but never with
the face uncovered. The aboriginals OF
Australia do the same az well rs they can
with their fishing nets, &c. A fire answers
the same purpose. May not the injurious
influence ofthe moon Gin addition TO her
beauty and utility account for tho almost
universal worship of that orb throughout
the heather world 2-Suaday Home.