The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-11
FOR HOT WEATHER
THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN THE
NEXT HEATED SPELL BEGINS.
Cause and Effect of P~rostratiOns-
What to Eat and Drink, and What
Should BE Let Alone.

Fielding Mansfield. in st. Louis Republic.
During my boyhood, a man experienced
in astronomy and the sciences directed my
attention to the fact that in very cold
weather in December and January the
nights were particularly cold when the
moon was full, provided the skies were
clear. My observations, extending over a
period of forty-hve years. nave confirmed
this condition.
And my observations during the past
thirty years have established another fact
as to the influence of the moon upon the
temperature during the period from May l
to Oct. 1. From the middle of the second
quarter TO the middle Of the third quarter
of the moon there is a heated term, which
reaches it's highest temperature during the
three or four days Immediately before and
Immediately after the moon is full; the
full moon being the eliminating time for
the highest temperature; provided the at
mosphere is clear during the day, and pro-
vided further that. at the middle of the
second quarter the moon rises between 5
and z o'clock p. m.
1 do not propose to advance any theories
as to the cause of these conditions of ex-
cessive heat and cold at the times stated,
because it is sufficient TO announce the fact,
WHICH 10 conclusive 10 HE WITHOUT any ln6-
cries whatever on the subject. / do not
Intimate that heated terms do not, or can
not, occur at other times, but | do mean
to say that they always do occur at the
times stated and under the conditions speci-
fed. As, Of course, the heated terms may
be moderate or excessive, of short or long
duration, according TO the prevailing at
mospheric conditions within the limit of
the time specified.
Experiments have shown that the concen-
tration CT the rays of the full moon. by
means OF a powerful sun glass and brought
to a focus upon the bulb of a thermometer
NIL effect a slight rise Of the mercury.
This indicates that the moons rays con-
tain some small degree of latent heat. The
same experiment with the suns rays would
ignite wood or melt a piece of stone.
Now, while this slightly perceptible heat
OF the moons rays may be concluded to eX-
ert some influence toward increasing the
temperature in daytime during the sum
mer, this contention falls fiat when il is
known that the effect of the rays of a full
moon in winter intensifies the cold at night.
1t would appear impossible TO reconcile the
diametric effect OF the moon upon the sum-
mer heat and winters cold unless refer
ence Is had TO the theory unwittingly sug-
gested in one of the old fables. wherein it
is stated that two travellers met on the
road on a cold day. One man blew on his
hands TO warm them. AT dinner the same
man blew on the hot soup to cool il.
Whereupon the second man drove the first
nothing 10 do with a man who could blow
hot and cold from his mouth, which he con-
SlOtTeO OlS0ODtSI however. the TdcfS are
that the hot breath warns the hands by
direct heat, and the same hot breath blown
on 10 the soup cools IL. not as IL would be
cooled by adding cold water. but because
the hot breath blows away from the soup
the greater heat contained therein. The sa-
wants viii have TO explain on some SINH
lar theory the fact that a full moon in
creases the cold at night in December and
January. Possibly electricity may be re-
sponsible for these conditions. but ] con-
sign the theories TO the savants.
EFFECTS OF PROSTRATIONS.
Aside from the probability of sudden
death. heat prostrations are particularly
distressing, and usually are followed by
complications which may interest either Of
the organs Of the human system. The Sc
quelae often appear late in life in conjunc-
ton with other affections or alone. and
with disastrous results. Professional men
declare that heat prostrations Immediately
affect and violently disturb the brain. the
heart. respiratory organs and the nerves.
s~uspending perspiration, and are followed
by complete relaxation OF muscular force
and a general collapse.
OF course. this shock Will leave its effect
always for a long period and often for
life. This Is especially true where the