Evening star., 1896-06-27
ASTROPHODIA. 4
Subjects of This Strange ComDIafnt
Are Human BarOmeters

There is a new disease, and as il is of a
common everyday inexpensive sort. we
nay all indulge in its ina CIR airy symptoms
and pains if We wish to our hearts content
Unlike that ultra -f4shioua BILE disorder ap-
pendicitis, IL is not an expensive ma!ady
Ior do We have go to a hospital and
have surgical operation performed to be
cured. The disease has been callel Astro-
phobia. and persons suffering from it are
human barometers, so 10 speak They
prophesy the weather and can predict
without error twenty-four hours before
hand the approach of a northeast storm
Before a rising thunder sqUaH they are
miserable beings. There are those indeed
who are utterly prostrated before and dur
thrown into spasms.
1t has long been known that insects and
certain domestic animals tecC NE aware of
approaching changes in the weather They
understand the hei aids of oomir e storms
not from visual observation, hut through
their nervous system. Insects fly close 10
the ground before a storm ard birds fiy
low to catch them. Turkeys Will sniff the
air and seek cover long before a comin:.
change in the atmosphere, and indeed,
make considerable fuss about it. too,
While this quality of prem onition is gen
eral among the lower animals it does NOT
with them reach the perfection attained
with some afflicted human beings. those
with abnormally sensitive organizations
delicate systems and nerves attunei 10
every physical impression
Due to Electricity.
1t is to the Presence of electricity in the
atmosphere and its variable effect ,,non
the nerves of these sensitive subjects that
may be attributed their unenyiable power
CT foretelling the weather and the dis
ordered state of their systems when storm
conditions are present
Thara h.r, 6s in
as atmospheric electricity the exjsting
polarity OF which, positive or negative in
dicates respectively normal and abnormal
weather conditions. 1t is when the air is
charged with positive electricity that one
leeis good. SO to speak; that is. one ex-
perienceS the bracing, stimula ting effects
of pure air charged with ozone.
Ihe presence OF negative electricity how
ever has the contrary effect. and shows
one OF two things. either that storm con-
dltions are present or are approaching
1t is now we'll known that there are two
regular tides of positive electricity in the
atmosphere, the high, or maximum. which
occurs between the hours Of . and II a. m.
and q and y p. m. and the low, or mini
mum, between and p m. and l and :
a. m
There are those who almost every day
pass through tides of feeling. which, if they
do not mathematically correspond to these
daily tides of electricity in The air, follow
so closely as to render certain a relation
pet"teh the varlaDle states or the system
and the variable states of the air
From to II a. m. is the golden time for
brain work, as all students know; from 1
TO p m. there are frequently a dullness
and lassitude present that make hard work
a task. The latter part of the afternoon
the spirits revive, and between and or
o'clock is what might be called the silver
period Of the day for all mental labor
Storm. and the Nerves.
Irregular disturbances in the electrical
condition of the atmosphere in storms. and
especially in thunder storms and northeast
storms, affect the nervous system of these
impressible tempernents most unpleasant
ly, often bringing on or aSgravating neu-
| ralgia, rheumat tism and other pains, as well