ate 
718 : 
Aer. TL. A Treatise on Tropical Diseases, on Military 0 
MEDICINE, SURGERY, ANATOMY, ke. 
ations, and on the Climate of 
the West Indies. By Bexyamin Mostey, M.D. Author of a Treatise on Coffie, Me- 
- dical Tracts, and Physician to Chelsea Hospital, Member 
the College of pierre § 
mn 
ri Lindon, of the University of Leyden, of the American Philosophical Society at Philade 
“peiy Fe. Se. Fourth Edition, with considerable Additions. . pp. G70. - N ons 
AS it is a considerable time since this 
work first appeared, we conclude that 
it is sufficiently known to the public, not 
to require any particular examination in 
2 fourth edition. 
heen convinced, that the moon exercises 
considerable influence over the human 
body, and that certain diseases are 
much more likely to return during a 
few days before and after the full and 
change, than at any other periods. This, 
he remarked in a former edition, was 
peculiarly exemplified in hemoptysis, of 
which he gave several cases in confirma- 
tion, In the present edition, he devotes 
a whole chapter to the influence of the 
moon, in which he gives a long history 
of the ideas entertained on this subject 
by ancient authors, and a great number 
of examples to prove its powerful agen- 
cy; relative to diseases and death. The 
author’s practice in the West Indies, has 
afforded him the greatest number of in- 
stances of the effects of the moon in the 
production of diseases ; but in this coun- 
try, he has also had occasion to see 
many examples of the same kind, as well 
in hemoptysis, as in paralysis, apoplexy, 
and some other complaints. In Chelsea 
hospital, the author observes, that in 
‘the course of fifteen years, he has rarely 
known an instance of eithey apoplexy or 
palsy happening at any other time than 
the tullor the change of the moon. The 
sume extensive establishment afforded 
him an opportunity of determining, that 
almost «all people in extreme age, are 
either uttacked with their death illness, 
or die, at the new or at the full moon; 
and’ in consumption and chronical dis- 
eases, the same is commonly the case. 
In the hospital for French. protestants 
and their descendants, in Old-street, the 
whole number of deaths of persons above 
the ‘age of seventy, amounted to two 
hundred sand one, and 
<«« Of these. seventy-four died at the full 
moon, and sixty-one at the new moon. The 
remaining Sixty-one, seven excepted, died at 
_ and within forty-eight hours of the quar- 
fess. atin No 
+ The anthor also, observes, :« 
©*e'That- in’ this asylam, where there are 
considerably aiore females than males—about 
. ] 7 is ; {QV¥OVe ie] lz : 
The author has long 
three to two—that the full, moon has the su- 
periority in influence. At Chelsea hospital, 
where there are none but ‘males,’ the new 
moon has the superiority.”.) 
: 
Bt 
The same inferences are supported by 
various instances, which are adduced, 
of the most remarkably aged’ people, 
who have been known in the world 
Births and conceptions are also said to 
be underthe influence of this planet. | 
With regard to the utility of the ob- 
servations which have been thus indus- 
triously collected by the author, he is’of 
opinion, that by knowing the time when 
certain causes produce uniform effects 
in generating diseases, and’ the periods 
when relapses are apt to ln, 
disorders may be palliated or preventedy 
«« The mischief,” for instanee, “ of ‘ha 
morthages from the lungs, dé dreadfal! $= 
order ‘in England, which, in‘ the °ordifiary 
methods pursued, invariably eudt in: con 
sumption, may: be’ effectuallyoprevented at 
first; by taking proper measures, three-day 
before every new and, fall moon ;,and. con- 
tinuing the regimen, and;précantions, three 
days after each period, until all. disposition 
to hemorrhage ceases. Shares ie 
** By these means T have cured in 
many people ; and have long protracted, i 
incurable eases, the lives of others) 8!) 22-9 
“© Shortnecked, © comatose,’ plethorie, 
gross people, where any mischief is latent, 
are always, affected near the new,,and fulk 
moon. Sach habits, should. be carefully, 
watched a few days previous to these periods 5 
and if any symptoua, indicative of apoplexy, 
be observed, hovw.,easily is the storm  pre- 
vented,—by bleeding, cupping, purging, te< 
vulsion, abstinence ;—or such prompt mea- 
sures as the case miay require. Pg om ke 
© Ti paralytic’ disorders, so lamely des 
fined by nasologists, the head is jeonstantly 
eonfused and giddy, for some. time before: the, 
attack; and there is, always a, weakness in. 
the knees. .. ‘This sudden failure of 1 
strength of the knees, has never been noticed’ 
in medicine before. But it is, if accompa= 
nied with any disturbance in the head, par-' 
ticularly near the new moon, ‘the ‘certain’ 
fore-warning of some great. changes, ‘whith’. 
the habit is about toexperience, and in ex- 
treme'age, it presages deathiis ini avon owe! 
‘* In people disposed to palsy, ot suely.as} 
have. already had some jparalytic affections. 
this is the time to take alarm 5,and with, yizi-r 
lance the blow may be warded off.” _ aoc 
Epilepsyand St, Vitus’s dance arealsa: 
yeh ould q 
