The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-05
THE MOONS INFLUENCE.
How tho PeriodicIty of That Orb Arcct,
Affairs on Earth.

How tho PeriodicIty of That Orb Affects
Affairs Earth.
About twelve years ago, says Lieut..
Totten, in Frank Lcslic's Weekly, my
attention was attracted by little vol
ume published in Chicago. 1t was from
the pen Of DIR. nj. c. Knapp. NJ. d.. and
dealt in the discussion OF what may
now be termed scientific astrology."
As physician he was familiar with
the pcriodicity of disease and mental
disorders, and, as n literally educated
man, knew of the existence of SIMILAR
periods in the realms of other sciences
1t was not only u natural but n legitimate
exercise of inductive philosophy for
him to compare the waves of influence
that in turn buoy up and then depress
the patient on bed of sickness with
those that mark the periods of day. and
even with the changes of the sun and
moon and planets This he did and
drew conclusions which have not been
gainsaid, but which rather have gained
constant evidence to prove that he was
wholly right.
But Inc went deeper into the matter
The death hour of the human race has
long been known to oscillate around
IL. III.
Now these are the ones in which tho
magnetic vitality and warmth of earth
are at their daily minima. 1t is physi-
cal astronomy that tells us this. not
mathematical, and yet there are math-
cmatical results from which the wise"
may draw corresponding deductions
For instance, ten tons, evenly balanced
at noon, when the attractions of the
sun ard earth are in opposite directions.
weigh twenty-four pounds one ounce
two drains less than at midnight when
these attractions are cxerted in
the same direction, and every body"
upon earth must experience its pro.
portional variation in weight.
Again, the moon itself may enter into
this question of weight by adding it's
gravimetric influence whenever it is sin
conjunction" and subtracting it at the
period of Opposition" the sum of all
which will be still further altered if the
moon be in perigee, or at the nearest
approach to the earth. Now, the mere
phases" of the moon-its new" it's
quarters" 'halvcs" and "fulls"-cau
have little effect upon the dclicately
poised balance of life, but the ever
varying position of the orb itself-as an
agent of gravimctric, atmospheric,
tidal, aye and physical cffect-ths is
an element that brings periodicity into
everything, particularly into disease.
In fact, all the currents of nature
whether they be within the human sys-
tenn itself or IN the earth upon which
we live, arc subject to this varying
lunar sway. 1t passes through diurnal
as well as monthly cycles of maxima
and minima, and, as all astronomers
know, there are an indefinite number
of still higher lunar cycles cxerting
their peculiar influence.
Hence, so long as the moon continues
to lunate in months, and at some times
to lend and at others to withdraw its
potence from the solar waves SO long
will watchers Mt the bed of sickness
dread the changes of this orb which
"rules the night" 1t is not the return
of the day on which n sickness began
that makes crisis-the mere name, be
it the day of Mercury or Saturn, has no
potency in medicine, although they
were reputcd gods" thercof-it is the
fact that these days of similar name
come at the septinary periods, or quar-
tiers of lunations, begin they where
they may, and thus mark the eighth or
beginning days of new periods in the
lives of all living beings, be they i'll or
we'll. Our years and days are spanned
by the Sabbatic law and if we violate
it we shall no moro escape the ultimate
consequences than the tide can bid de-
tiancc to the sun and moon.