s9 6 DISEASES Class IV. 1.4.4* 



quantity of heat in fpring, than they had undergone in the lat- 

 ter part of autumn, which may however be afcribed to their 

 previous torpid (late, and confequent accumulation of fenforial 

 power, or irritability ; as explained in Botanic Garden, Part II. 

 Cant. I. 1. 322. note. Other circumftances, which counte- 

 nance the idea, that vegetation is affected by folar gravitation, as 

 well as by heat, may be obferved in the ripening of the feeds of 

 plants both in thofe countries where the fummers are (hort, 

 and in thofe where they are long. And by fome flowers clof- 

 ing their bells at noon, or foon after *, and hence feem to fleep 

 rather at folar diurnal periods, than from the influence of cold, 

 or the deficiency of light. 



4. Orgafmatis venerei periodus. The venereal orgafm of birds 

 and quadrupeds commences or returns about the vernal or au- 

 tumnal equinoxes, and thence feems in refpect to their great 

 periods to be governed by folar influence. But if this orgafm 

 be difappointed of its object, it is faid to recur at about month- 

 ly periods, as obferved in mares and bitches, in this refpect re- 

 fembling the female catamenia. See Seel. XXXVI. 2. 3. and 

 Sea. XVI. 13. 



5. Brachii concnjfio eleBrica. The movement of the arm, 

 even of a paralytic patient, when an electric fhock is palled 

 through it, is owing to the ftimulus of the excefs of electricity. 

 When a piece of zinc and another of filver, each about the fize 

 of a crown-piece, are placed one under the upper lip, and the 

 other on the tongue, fo as the outer edges may be brought into 

 contact, there is an appearance of light in the eyes, as often as 

 the outer edges of thefe metals are brought into contact or fep- 

 arated ; which is another inftance of the ftimulus of the paffage 

 of electric fhocks through the fibres of the organs of {^nky as 

 well as through the mufcular fibres. See Sect. XII. 1. 1. But 

 in its natural ftate electricity feems only to act as an influence 

 on animal and vegetable bodies ; of the falutary or injurious ef- 

 fects of which we have yet no precife knowledge. 



Yet if regular journals were kept of the variations of atmof- 

 pheric electricity, it is probable fome difcoveries of its influence 

 on our fyftem might in time be discovered. For this purpofe a 

 machine on the principle of Mr. Bennet's electric doubler might 

 be applied to the pendulum of a clock, fo as to manifeft, and 

 even to record the daily or hourly variations of aerial electricity. 

 Which has already been executed, and applied to the pendu- 

 lum of a Dutch wooden clock, by Mr. Bennet, curate of Wirkf- 

 worth in Derby mire. 



Befides the variations of the degree or kind of atmofpheric 

 electricity, ib'me animals, and fome men, feem to pc fiefs a great- 

 er 



