Etiological Influences. 85 



through the operation of this principle. Any 

 condition, therefore, which may directly or 

 indirectly influence or disturb this principle, 

 may influence or disturb the actions of every 

 human organization. 



In the search for causes of disease through- 

 out the ages, this field, so fruitful in material, 

 has been left almost unexplored. The dis- 

 closures of the early future will wonderfully 

 change the sentiments entertained in regard 

 to the cause of a large proportion of our dis- 

 eases. Meteorological influence, although 

 now comparatively ignored as a disease-pro- 

 ducing power, will ere long be recognized 

 not only as a power, but as the power, 

 far overshadowing all other influences com- 

 bined. 



The character and extent of these in- 

 fluences are scarcely imagined. In estimat- 

 ing them the attention of the profession is 

 now mainly directed to thermometric and 

 hygrometric changes and conditions. These 

 form not the largest proportion of the per- 

 turbing influences constantly in operation 

 around us. 



With the verification of the meteorological 

 theory of causation, more positive and ra- 

 tional ideas will prevail ; obscurity will, in a 



