The morning call., 1891-12-06
TEE MOONS INFLUENCE.
How The Periodically Of The Orb Of Night Affects
Affairs ON Earth

About twelve years ago my attention was
attracted by little volume published in
Chicago 1t was from the pen of DR.. NJ. g.
Knapp NJ. D., and dealt in the discussion of
what may now be termed scientific astrol-
ogy." AS q physician lie was familiar with
the periodicity of disease and mental disor-
ders. and. as a literally educated man.
knew of the existence of similar periods in
the realms of other sciences. ltwas not only
natural but legitimate exercise of induc-
tive philosophy for him to compare the
waves of influence that in turn buoy up and
then depress the patient on bed of sick
ness with those that mark the periods of the
day. and even with the changes of the sun
and moon and planets. This he did, and
drew conclusions which have u OF been gain
said. but which rather have gained constant
evidence to prove that he was wholly right.
But he went deeper into the matter. The
death hour of the human race has long been
known to oscllate around the fatal hours
of and 3 o'clock in the morning; now
these are the hours at which the
magnetic vitality and warmth of the earth
are at their daily minima. 1t is physical
astronomy that tells us this, not mathe-
maticai; and yet there are mathematical re-
suits from which the wise" may draw cor
responding deductions. For instance. ten
tons, balance at noon, when the attractions
of the sun and earth are in opposite direc-
tons. weigh twenty-four pounds. one
ounce, 2 drahms less than at midnight.
when these attractions are exertrd in the
same direction, and every body" upon
earth must experience Its proportional varl-
alton in weight.
Again, the moon Itself may enter into this
question OF weight by adding its gravimetric
influence whenever it is lin conjunction"
and substracting 1t at the period OF 'oppo1
SitOn," the sum of all which will be still
further altered ii the moon be in pergee, or
at the nearest api roach 10 the earth. Now,
the mere phases" Of the moOn-tS new,
its quarters" "haves" and "fullS'-can
have little effect upon the delicately poised
balan e of life, but the ever varying posi-
ton OF the orb itself-as an agent of gravi-
metric, atmospheric, tidal. aye, and physi-
cal etf-ct-this is an elem2nt that brings
perlodlcily into everything particularly
Iuto disease. In fact, all the currents of
nature, whether they be within the human
system Itself or in the earth on which we
live. are subject TO the varying lunar sway.
Ii PASSES through dlurnal as well rs monthly
cycles OF mnXlma ana mlnima' and, as all
astronomers know, there are au infinite
number Of stlil higher lunar cycles exer.ing
their peculiar influence.
Hence, so long as the moon continues to
Innate Ill months. and at some times to lend
and at others to withdraw its potence from
the solar waves, So long will watchers at the
bed OF sickness dread the changes of this
orb which rules tie night" Il is not the
return If the day on which sickness began
that makes a criSis-the mere name be it
the day Of Mercury or Saturn, has no po-
teucy in medicine, although they we're re-
puted gods" thereof-it is the fact that
these days OF similar name come at the sep
tnary periods, OF quarters OF lunations, be-
gin they where they may, ana thus mark
the eighth or beginning DAYS OF new periods
in the lives of all living beings, be they i'll
or well. Oar years and days are spnnned by
the Sabbatic law, and il we violate it we
shall no more escape the ultimate c0nse-
Quences than the tide can bid defiance to
the sun and moon.-Lieuienant Totem in
Frank Ieslie's Weekly