CHAP. 5. ON VITAL FUNCTIONS. 179 



broken, previous to a change of weather, and the 

 disturbed state of the stomachs of many persons 

 before and during Thunderstorms, are sufficient, 

 I think, to warrant such a conjecture.* 



During what has been denominated unhealthy 

 weather, when medical practitioners have spoken 

 of the general ill health of their patients, I have 

 remarked circumstances which appeared to de- 

 note an irregular distribution of the atmospheric 

 electricity. The manner of the distribution, 

 and the continual multiform changes of the 

 Curlcloud, ramifying about and extending its 

 fibres in every direction; the rapid formation 

 and subsidence of the Sondercloud and the 

 Wanecloud in different places, and the irregular 

 appearance of the compound modifications ; the 

 intermitted action of De Luc's Aerial Electro- 

 scope ; strong and varying winds ; and the 

 abundance of luminous Meteors by night ; are 

 the circumstances to which I allude. A kind 

 of weather too which appears to be remarkably 

 unwholesome is characterised by all the clouds 

 having confused indefinite edges. f 



* I must beg leave to refer the reader to my Observations 

 on Periodical and Atmospheric Diseases, Underwood, London, 

 1817- 



t In people of what are called nervous and susceptible 



N 2 



