Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1883-02-08
MOonstruck.
Experience Of Those lVho Have
Suffered,

"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 a baleful influence
upon those exposed to her direct
rays. In modern times the perni-
cious influence of the moon has been
doubted, and even denied. But
whatever the influence Of the moon
in temperate zones. within the trop-
les it is very injurious to sleep ex-
posed to its rays, especially when at
the full. On a voyage to the anti
podes, when near the line, Maltese
sailor, who was a most comical fell
low, slept for some hoars on the
boom with his face towards the full
moon. On waking in the morning,
the muscles in the right side of his
face were contracted So that every at
tempt to speak was attended with the
most ludicrous contortions: Feeling
sure that something was seriously
wrong, he spoke to another sailor
who supposing that as usual he was
at his old tricks, burst into laughter,
Off he went to another with exactly
the same result. The poor fellow
now got into rage, thereby adding
not a little to the IIWrrousness Of
the scene. After while the truth
dawned upon the captain and officers
of the vassel: The doctor gave him
game medicine, the muscles gradual
ly relaxed, and in the course Of a
week our Maltese friend was well
again. Some five or six years ago,
when sailing fram Tahiti to Manga
Ia, a little boy Of nine, in perfect
health, was thQughtlessly placed by
!, his nurse in his birth, the slanting
beams of the moon falling on his
face. Next morning he was teverish
and i'll, and it was two or three days
: before he was himself again. On
the Islgnd Of Aitqtaki, native wo-
man was watching night after night
; for the retgrn 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. Consider
able interest was felt by the islanders
J in her case. Eventually, however,
J her eyes were restored. These facts
illustrate the injury done to human
beings by the moon in the tropics.
/ Yet, [ never heard of fdeath or insanity
resulting from this cause. 1t is well
known, however, in tropical countries
: that the moons rays occasion the
rapid decomposition of flesh and fish.
: A number Of benitas haying been
]. caught one evening near the line by
!. friend Of mine, the spoil was hung
t up in the rigging of the ship, and
. was thus exposed to the moon dur
ing the night. Next morning it was
j cooked for break fast, Symptoms of
t poisoning were soon exhibited by all
f who partook Of it,-their heads
i swelling to great size, etc. Eme=
0 tics were promptly administered, and
happily, DO one died. The natives
of the South Pacific are careful not
to expose fish, Ia constant article of
: diet in many islands) to the moons
r rays by any chance. They often
e sleep by the seashore after fishing,
e but never with the face uncovered.
:. The aboriginals of Australia do the
e same as well as they can with their
t fishing nets, etc. 4 fire answers the
(? same purpose. May not the injuri-
: Gus influence Of the moon in addi-
d ton to her beauty and utility ac=
n count for the almost universal wor=
ship Of that orb throughout the
+ heather world?
e