432 DISEASES CLASS IV. 2 4. 8. 



affects the solids by its influx or stimulus. Which we believe 

 of the fluid element of heat, in which we are equally immersed; 

 and of the electric fluid, which also surrounds and pervades us. 

 See Sect. XXXVI. 2. 3. 



If the torpor of the uterine veins, which induces the monthly 

 periods of the catamenia, be governed by the increase of terrene 

 gravitation; that is, by the deficiency of the counter- influence 

 of solar and lunar gravitation; why does not it occur most fre- 

 quently when the terrene gravitation is the greatest, as about six 

 hours after the new moon, and next to that at about six hours after 

 the full moon? This question has its difficulty; first, if the ter- 

 rene gravitation be greatest about six hours after the new moon, 

 it must become less and less about the same time every lunar day, 

 till the end of the first quarter, when it will be the least; it must 

 then increase daily till the full. After the full the terrene gravi- 

 tation must again decrease till the end of the third quarter, 

 when it will again be the least, and must increase again till the 

 new moon; that is, the solar and lunar counter-gravitation is 

 greatest, when those luminaries are vertical, at the new moon, 

 and full moon, and least about six hours afterwards. If it was 

 known, whether more menstruations occur about six hours after 

 the moon is in the zenith or nadir; and in the second and 

 fourth quarters of the moon, than in the first and third; some 

 light would be thrown on this subject; which must in that re- 

 spect wait for future observations. 



Secondly, if the lunar influence produces a very small degree 

 of quiescence, suppose of the uterine veins, at first; and if that 

 recurs at certain periods, as of lunar days, or about 25 hours, 

 even with less power to produce quiescence than at first; yet 

 the quiescence will daily increase by the acquired habit acting 

 at the same time, as explained in Sect. XII. 3. 3. till at length 

 so great a degree of quiescence will be induced as to cause the 

 inaction of the veins of the uterus, and consequent venous hae- 

 morrhage. See Sect. XXXII. 6. Class I. 2. 1. 11. IV. I. 4. 4. 

 See the introduction to this Genus. 



8. Hcemorrhoidis periodus. The periods of the piles depend 

 on the torpor of the veins of the rectum, and are believed to re- 

 cur nearly at monthly intervals. See Sect. XXVII. 2. and 

 Class 1.2. 1.6. 



9. Podagra*, periodus. The periods of gout in some patients 

 recur at annual intervals, as in the case related above in Class 

 IV. 1. 2. 15. in which the gouty paroxysm returned for three 

 successive years on nearly the same day of the month. The 

 commencement of the pain of each paroxysm is generally a few 

 hours after midnight, and may thence either be induced by 



