The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-01-07
THE MOONS INFLUENCE.
How che Periodicity OF That Orb A6scts
Affalrs on Earth.

How the PertOdlcaty OF Tnat OrD AH0Cso
Analrs on Earth.
About twelve years ago. says Lieut.
Totten, in Frank Leslie's Weekly. my
attention was attracted by little vol
ume published in Chicago. It was from
the pen OF DR.. M. c. Knapp. NJ. D., and
dealt in the discussion of what may
now be termed scientific astrology."
AS q physician he was familiar with
the periodicity of disease and mental
disorders, and, as literally educated
man, knew of the existence of similar
periods in the realms Of other sciences.
It was not only a 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
gainsald, 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 oscillate around
the fatal hours of two and three a. IN.
Now these are the ones in which the
magnetic vitality and warmth Of earth
are at their daily minima. 1t is nhysi-
cal astrononomy that tells us this, not
mathematical, and yet there are math-
ematical 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 eXerted in
the same direction, and every body"
upon earth must experience it's pro-
portional variation in weight.
Again, the moon itself may enter into
this question of weight by adding its
gravimetric influence whenever it is ''in
conjunction" and subtracting it at the
period of opposition" the sum of all
which will be still further altered if the
moon be in pcrigee, or at the nearest
approach to the earth. Now. the mere
"phases" of the moon-its new" it's
quarters" 'hnlves" and "fulls"--cau
have little effect upon the delicately
| poised balance of life, but the ever
varying position of the orb itself-as an
agent of grravimetric, atmospheric,
tidal, aye and physical cffect-this 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, are subject to this varying
lunar sway. 1t passes through diurnal
as well as monthly cycles of InaXima
and minina, and, as all astronomers
know, there are an indefinite number
of still higher lunar cycles exerting
their peculiar influence.
Hence, SO long as the moon continues
to lunatc in 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 the night" 1t is not the return
of the day on which a sickness began
that makes crisis-the mere name, be
it the day of Mercury or Saturn, has nc
potency in medicine, although they
were reputed gods" thereof-it is the
fact that these days of similar name
come at the septinary periods or quar-
ters of lunations, begin they where
they may, and thus mark the eighth OIL
beginning days of new periods in the
lives of all living beings, be they i'll Oh
well. Our years and days are spanned
by the Sabbatic law and if we violate
it we shall no more escape the ultimate
consequences than the tide can bid de