Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-05-30
fRnHOUh
baltimore Sunday News.


The statement that the moon affects
the human body may at first sigh
seem nonsense, but the fact is. wheE
we examine little, it does not seen
so absurd after all. The moon Ger
tainly exercises an influence over al
fluids on the earth, and the human
body is ACCOMPLISHMENTS waller i
is said that il ye put . human body
into an oven and make 1t perfectly
dry, it will go down trem 100 10 for1
pounds. - ts.a 9 $40 tm I
People who are born when the moon
is rising are more subject to her in.
fuence in after lite than others. They
frequently have the habit of walking
in their sleep, and about the time Of
her fulling they are greatly subject to
dreams. Another curious thing is
that, il near sighted. their eyes grow
more dim at the opposition and the
changes. 1t is also we'll known that
there are animals-horses, for instance
which are moon eyed; that is, their
sight is better or worse through
the month, according to the
condition of the moon. The same is
said OF some dogs. There are certain
physiological facts in connection with
the female sex and the lesser lumina-
ry which absolutely establish beyond
any question the direct and powerful
influence OF the moon over the human
body. They cannot be described in
print, nor is the relationship generally
understood by physicians except those
familiar with the very ancient lore Of
their science.
A whole volume might be filed
with the literature of the moon-not
only the astrological notions attached
to her, but the curious myths and
legends. Nothing is better known
than the insane are affected by the
beams at certain seasons, and yet
there are some doctors who deny it..
The famous English physician, Forbes
Winslow, who made an exhaustive
investigation of the subject, in sum
ming up the various theories as to
how the moon acts upon the dement's
ed, says it is impossible TO ignore the
evidence of such men as Pinol, Da-
quin, Guislam and others. The as.
THEOLOGICAL idea is that the planet acts
upon the. moist matter of the brain.
Some of the French psychologists
thought the insane we're observed to
be more troublesome when the moon
was full because the light would natu>
rally make them so, preventing them
from sleeping But this
is very poor examination, for al
though the moon is at her full every
month, the nights are not always
bright-there may be week or more
of cloudiness-but the restlessuess and
excitement among the lunatics is seen
to be just the same, and to exist by
day as we'll as after dark. DR.. Wins
lows suggestion was as follows May
not the alleged change observed among
the insane at certain phases of the
moon arise, not from the direct, but
the indirect influence of the planet?
1t is well known that the rarity of the
air, the electric conditions of the at.
mosphere, the degree Of heat, dryness,
moisture, and amount of wind prevail
ing, are all more or less modified by
the state of the moon. In the gener-
atty of bodily diseases what obvious
changes are observed to accompany
the meteorological condition referred
to? Surely those suffering from dis
eases of the brain and nervous system
affecting the mind can not with any
show of reason be considered exempt
from the operations of agencies that
are universally admitted to affect
patients afflicted with other diseases. I"
He gives an instance further on of a
lady Of much intelligence employed az
matron in his establishment for insane
ladies during some FIVE years, who in
formed him that the period of the
full moon invariably created great
agitation among the patients.
a-on