430 DISEASES CLASS IV. 2. 4. 2. 



solar gravitation, that it can scarcely be ascribed to this influence. 

 At the same time, it is curious to observe, that vegetables, in re- 

 spect to their times of sleeping, more regularly observe the hour 

 of the day, than the presence or absence of light, or of heat, as 

 may be seen by consulting the calender of Flora. Botanic Gar- 

 den, Part II. Canto 2. 1. 165. note. 



Some diseases, which at first sight might be supposed to be in- 

 fluenced by solar periods, seem to be induced by the increasing 

 sensibility of the system to pain during our sleeping hours; as 

 explained in Sect. XVIII. 15. Of these are the fits of asthma, 

 of some epilepsies, and of some haemoptoes; all which disturb the 

 patient after some hours sleep, and are therefore to be ascribed 

 to the increase of our dormant sensibility. There may likewise 

 be some doubt, whether the commencement of the pain of gout 

 in the foot, as it generally makes its attack after sleep, should be 

 ascribed to the increased sensibility in sleep, or to solar influ- 

 ence ? 



M. M. When asthmatic or epileptic fits, or haemoptoe, occur 

 after a certain number of hours of sleep, the patient should be 

 forcibly awakened before the expected time by an alarm clock, 

 and drink a cup of chocolate or lemonade. Or a grain of opium 

 should be given at going to bed. In one case to prevent the too 

 great increase of sensibility by shortening the time of sleep; and 

 in the other by increasing the irritative motions, and expending 

 by that means a part of the sensorial power. 



2. Studii inanisperiodus. Class III. 1. 2. 2. The cataleptic 

 spasm which preceded the reverie and somnambulation in the pa- 

 tient, whose case is related in Sect. XIX. 2. occurred at exactly 

 the same hour, which was about eleven in the morning for many 

 weeks; till those periods were disturbed by large doses of opium; 

 and must therefore be referred to some effect of solar gravitation: 

 In the case of Master A. Sect. XXXIV. 3. as the reverie began 

 early in the morning during sleep, there may be a doubt, whether 

 this commenced with torpor of some organ catenated with solar 

 gravitation; or was caused by the existence of a previous torpid 

 part, which only became so painful as to excite the exertions of 

 reverie by the perpetual increase of sensibility during the conti- 

 nuance of sleep, as in some fits of epilepsy, asthma, and haemop- 

 toe, mentioned in the preceding article. 



3. Hemicranice periodus. Periods of hemicrania. Class IV. 

 2. 2. 8. The torpor and consequent pain of some membranes 

 on one side of the head, as over one eye, are frequently occa- 

 sioned by a decaying tooth, and are liable to return every day, 

 or on alternate days at solar or lunar periods. In this case large 

 quantities of the bark will frequently cure the disease, and 



