THE INFLUENCE OF LIGHT ON LIFE. 247 



death, we are not far wrong if we presume that therefore the deli- 

 cate organisation of man and the mystic power of his mind will 

 also be influenced according to the quality or quantity of the light. 



It is common experience that a person's spirits are depressed 

 or elevated according to the weather. If the day is very dark and 

 cloudy, then with many people everything is dismal and the feeling 

 is that of oppression. It " disposes much all hearts to sadness," 

 as Cowper wrote. Gloomy clouds fill the mind, and there is a 

 general sensation of misery ; indeed, I think I have seen it stated 

 somewhere that during a long season of dark days the number of 

 suicide cases was increased. No sooner, however, does the dark- 

 ness give way and the sun once more shine forth, than its cheering 

 influence is at once manifest. Men's faces wear a more peaceful 

 and happy expression, and a feeling of satisfaction pervades their 

 being. So pleasant, indeed, is the light to man that to " bask in 

 the sunshine " is regarded by most as a high species of enjoyment. 

 If we had to live for any extended period in darkness, we should 

 no doubt become very wretched, if, indeed, we could exist at all. 

 A good hght by day and darkness by night is best suited to our 

 requirements, and when this natural order is interfered with then 

 we suffer accordingly. 



When the night is unduly prolonged, as happens during the 

 winter season in the Arctic regions, we find that it is altogether 

 objectionable. Dr. Kane, in his diary of his Arctic Expedition, 

 has given some very interesting records of his experience of the 

 long Arctic winter. He wrote : — " Noonday and midnight are 

 alike, and except a vague glimmer in the sky that seems to define 

 the hill outlines to the south, we have nothing to tell us that this 

 Arctic world has a sun. The influence of this long, intense dark- 

 ness was most depressing. Even our dogs, although the greater 

 part of them were natives of the Arctic circle, were unable to 

 withstand it. Most of them died from an anomalous form of 

 disease, to which I am satisfied the absence of light contributed 

 as much as the extreme cold." 



In contrast to the baneful influence of the absence of light, we 

 must refer to the opinion which has been expressed, that the well- 

 formed bodies of many tribes where little clothing is worn is due 

 to the large amount of sunshine which is thus allowed to operate 



