Evening journal., 1896-08-14
ASTROPHOBIA NOW.
SUBJECTS OF THIS COMPLAINT ARE
HUMAN eARoMETERs.

Prevalent Among Those With Abnormally /
Sensitive organizEtions-T New Dis
ease Is Traced TO the Effects OF Atmos-
pheric Electricity.
There is new disease, and as it Is of
common, everyday, inexpensive sort we
may all indulge in its imaginary eynp-
toms and pains, If we wish, to our hearts
content. Unlike that ultra fashionable dis.
order, appendicitis, It is not an expensive
malady, nor do we have TO 20 10 hospital
and have a surgical operation performed
to be cured. The disease has been called
astrophobia, and persons suffering FROM
st are human barometers, so TO speak
They prophesy the weather and can predict
without error "a hours before the APP
proach of northeast storm. Before a
rising thunder squall they are miserable
beings. There are those indeed who are
utterly Frustrated before and during
thunderstorm, and some are oven thrown
into spasms
1t has long been, known that insects and
certain domestic animals become aware OF
approaching changes In the weather. They
understand the heralds OF coming storms,
not from visual observation but through
their nervous system. Insects fly close TO
the ground before n storm and birds fly
low to catch them. Turkeys will sniff the
air and seek cover long before coming
change in the atmosphere, and, indeed
make considerable fuss about it too. While
/ this quality Of premonition Is general
among the lower animals It does not with
them reach the perfection attained by
| some afflicted human beings--those with
| abnormally sensitive organizations, deli
cate systems and nerves attuned TO every
| physical impression.
| 1t IS to the presence of electricity In the
atmosphere and its variable effects upon
the nerves of these sensitive subjects that
may be attributed their unenviable power
of foretelling the weather and the disorder
ed state OF their systems when storm con-
ditions are present
There abour-ls IN the air what Is known
as atmospheric electricity, the existing po-
larity of which, positive or negative, indi-
Gates respectively normal and abnormal
weather conditions IL Is when the mir Is
charged with positive electricity that ono
feels good, SO to speak-that Is, one ex-
| periences the bracing stimulating effects
of pure air charged with ozone.
The presence Of negative electricity,
however, has the contrary effect and shows
one of two things, either that storm con
ditions are present OF are approaching.
1t IS now well known that there are two
regular tides Of positive electricity in the
atmosphere-the high, or maximum, which
occurs between the hours of a. m. and ~
m. and 8 and p. m, and the low, or mini
mum, between and b p. IN. and 1 and
a. IN.
There are those who almost every day
pass through tides of feeling which, II
they do not mathematically correspond tC
l I.f1 ..F 81. Ia. ..t,
follow so closely as to render certain re
lation between the variable states Of tho
system and the variable states of the air.
From s a. m. 70 II m. Is the golden time
for brain work, as all students know. From
/ TO p. IN. there are freQuentlya dullnes
and lnssitude present that make hard worl
a task. The latter part OF the aftcrnooi
the spirits revive, and between and 3 or
O'Clock is whnt might be called the silvo
period of the day for all mental labor
Irregular disturbances In tho electrical
condition of the atmosphere In storms
and especially In thunderstorns am
J northeast storms, affect the nervous sys
tenn Of these impressible temperament
most unpleasantly, often bringing on o.
aggravating neuralgia, rheumatism an,
other pains, as well as inviting mcnta
listlessness and diseouragoment
/ WHO Di us loE lhttt IlttttIf tNtu VI bu'
most robust cast, have not at times felt
sort of resonance IN the eatmosphere--a Ger
tain feel in the air, which seemed {,
take hold, " so 10 speak, and that mayb
in an unsupported rheumatic joint, thi
when the wind has been blowing livol.
from the northeast.
At one of the largest institutions In th
country for tho trcatmcnt Of nervous dis
eases it has boon established beyond al
question and by experiments extending
over n period of several years that attack
of epilepsy and mania correspond in
largo number of instances TO changes II
the electrical condition Of the air
There is nothing strange in all this, TO
all naturalists know that many plants pre-
dict storms with wonderful precision hour
before they appear Man. with his exalte
and complete nervous system, and espe
cially civilized man, is FAR more impressl
bic than any animal or flower.
1t is therefore not humane 10 dcspis
these subtle, storm anticipating pains l.
our friends, nor, indeed, may we ridicul
, the'statement of a chance inflrm weathc
prognosticator who may claim, and pcrhap
be able to prove, that he knows it's goi
20 rain, cause he can feel Il in his j'ints.
e Washington star.