JSbct. XXXVI. 3. 5. OF DISEASES. 3S7 



that the torpor or cold fit is produced by lefs external influence ; 

 and therefore that it is more liable to degenerate into a fever 

 with only remiflions ; fo when menftruation recurs fooner than 

 the period of lunation, it (hews a tendency of the habit to tor- 

 por or inirritability. 



5. The periods of quartan fevers return at folar intervals of 

 feventy-two hours, or at lunar ones of about feventy-four hours 

 and a half. This kind of ague appears moft in -moid cold au- 

 tumns, and in cold countries replete with marfhes. It is at- 

 tended with greater debility, and its cold accefs moi?e difficult 

 to prevent. For where there is previously a deficiency of fenfo- 

 rial power the conftitution is liable to run into greater torpor 

 from any further diminution of it ; two ounces of bark and fome 

 fteel (hould be given on the day before the return of the cold 

 paroxyfm, and a pint of wine by degrees a few hours before its 

 return, and thirty drops of laudanum one hour before the cx- 

 peeled cold fit. 



6. The periods of the gout generally commence about an 

 hour before fun-rife, which is ufually the coldeit part of the 

 twenty-four hours. The greater periods of the gout feem alfo 

 to obferve the folar influence, returning about the fame feafon 

 of the vear. 



7. The periods of the pleurify recur with exacerbation of the 

 pain and fever about fun-fet, at which time venefecStion is of moft 

 iervice. The fame may be obferved of the inflammatory rheu- 

 matifm, and other fevers with arterial ftrength, which feem to 

 obey folar periods ; and thofe with debility feem to obey lunar 



-ones. 



8. The periods of fevers with arterial debility feem to obey 

 the lunar day, having their accefs daily nearly an hour later ; 

 and have fometimes two accefles in a day, refembling the lunar 

 •efrecls upon the tides. 



9. The periods of rhaphania, or convulfious of the limbs from 

 rheumatic pain, feem to be connected with folar influence, re- 

 turning at nearly the fame hour for weeks together, unlefs dis- 

 turbed by the exhibition of powerful dofes of opium. 



So the periods of tuffis ferina, or violent cough with flow 

 pulfe, called nervous cough, recur by folar periods. Five grains 

 of opium given at the time the cough commenced difturbed the 

 period, from feven in the evening to eleven, at which time it 

 regularly returned for fome days, during which time the opium 

 -was gradually omitted. Then 120 drops of laudanum were 

 given an hour before the accefs of the cough, and it totally ecafed- 

 The laudanum was continued a fortnight, and then gradually 

 -difcontinued. 



10. The 



