The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1883-07-07
ny THE LIGHT OF THE MOON.
Does Pntr Iunn Exercise n Mystic
Influence on Mortal Man.
baltimore News.l

The statement that the moon affects
the human body may at first sight seem
nonsense, but the fact is, when we exam
inc it little, it does not appear so
absurd after all The moon certainly ex-
ercises an influence over all fluids on the
earth, and the human body is about
three.fourths water. 1t is said that if
we put human body into an oven and
make it perfectly dry, it will go down
from about $50 to 40 pounds.
People who are born when the moon is
rising are more subject to her influences
in after life 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, if near-sighted,
their eyes grow more dim at the oppo-
sition and the change. 1t is also we'll
known that there are animals-horses
for instance are moon.eyed; that
is, their sight is better or worse during
the month according to the condition of
OF the moon. The same is said of dogs.
There are certain physiological facts in
connection with the female sex and of
the lesser luninary which absolutely es-
tablish beyond 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 filled 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 that the insane are
affected by her beams at certain seasons,
and yet there are some doctors who deny
it. The famous English physician, Forbes
Winslow, who made an exhaustive inves-
tigation OF the subject, in summing up
the various theories az to how the moon
acts on the demented, says it is impossi.
BILE to ignore the evidence Of such men as
Pinel, Daquin, Guislain, and Others. The
astrological idea is that the planet acts
on the moist matter Of the brain. Some
of the French psychologists thought that
the insane were observed to be more
troublesome when the moon was full, be.
cause the light would naturally make
them so, preventing them from sleeping.
But this is a very poor explanation, for,
although the moon is at her full every
month, the light is not always bright
there may week or more of cloudiness
but the restlessness and excitement
among lunatics is observed to be just the
same, and to exist by day az well as after
dark. DR.. Winslow's suggestion was as
follows: MAY not the alleged changes
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 atmosphere, the degree Of heat,
dryness, moisture and amount Of wind
prevailing, are all more or less modified
by the state of the moon. In the gener
atty Of bodily diseases what oblivioui
changes are observed to accompany the
meteorological condition referred to
Surely those suffering from diseases o.
the brain and nervous system affecting
the brain cannot with any show Of reason
be considered as exempt from the opera
tions Of agencies that are universally ad
mitted to affect patients afflicted will
other Diseases" He gives an instanc,
further on of lady Of much intelligence
employed as matron in his establishment
for insane ladies during some five years
who informed him that the plriod Of tn
full moon invariably created grea
agitation among the patients.