Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-01-29
MOONSTRUCK.

1.-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 pernicious
influence of the moon has been doubt
ed and even denied. But whatever
the influence of the moon in the tenn
perate zones, within the tropics it
is very injurious to sleep exposed to
its rays, especially when at the full.
On voyage to the antipodes, when
near the line, a Maltese sailor, who
was a most comical fellow, slept for
some hours on the boom with his
face toward the full moon. On wax
ing in the morning the muscles on
the right side of his face were con-
tracted, so that every attempt to
speak was attended with the most
ludicrous contortions. Feeling 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.
Off he went to another. with exactly
the same result. The poor fellow
now got into rage, thereby adding
not little to the ludicrousness 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 Tahati to Mangaia.
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
morning he was feverish and i'll. and
it was two or three days before he
was himself again. On the island of
Aitutaki a native woman was watch
ing night after night for the return of
her husband from the island of Atiu.
While doing so one night she fell
asleep, the moon rays pouring upon
her face. On awaking, she felt i'll,
and her eyes were drawn on one side.
Considerable interest was felt by the
islanders in her case. Eventually,
however, her eyes were restored.
These facts illustrate the injury done
to human beings by the moon in the
tropics Yet / have never heard of
insanity or death resulting from this
cause 1t is well known, however,
in tropical countries that the moons
rays occasion the rapid decomposi-
ton of flesh and fish. A number of
bonitas having been caught one even
ing near the line by friend of mine,
the spoil was hung up in the rigging
of the ship, and was thus exposed to
the moon through the night. Next
morning it was cooked for breakfast
Symtoms of poisoning were soon ex-
hibited by all who partook of it
their heads swelling to a great size,
etc. Emetics were promptly admin
istered, and happily no one died.
The natives of the South Pacific are
careful never to expose fish ia con-
slant article of diet in many islands)
to the moons rays by any chance.
They often sleep by the sea-shore
after fishing, but never with the face
uncovered. The aboriginals of Aus
tralia do the same as well as they
can with their fishing-nets, etc. A
fire answers the same purpose. May
not the injurious influence of the
moon (in addition to her beauty and
utility account for the almost uni
versal worship of that orb throughout
the heather world !-iSunddy at Home.