SECT. XXXVI. 3. 5. OF DISEASES. 357 



that the torpor or cold fit is produced by lefs external influence; 

 and therefore that it is more liable to degenerate into a fever 

 with only retniflions j fo when menftruation recurs fooner than 

 the period of lunation, it (hews a tendency of the habit to tor- 

 por or inirritability. 



5. The periods of quartan fevers return at folar intervals of 

 feventy-two hours, or at lunar ones of about feventy-four hours 

 and a half. This kind of ague appears moft in moid cold au- 

 tumns, and in cold countries replete with marlhes. It is at- 

 tended with greater debility, and its cold accefs more difficult 

 to prevent. For where there is previoufly a deficiency of fenfp- 

 rial power the conflitution is liable to run into greater torpor 

 from any further diminution of it ; two ounces of bark and fome 

 fteel mould be given on the day before the return of the cold 

 paroxyfm, and a pint of wine by degrees a few hours before its 

 return, and thirty drops of laudanum one hour before the ex* 

 peeled cold fit. 



6. The periods of the gout generally commence about an 

 hour before fun-rife, which is ufually the coldeft part of the 

 twenty-four hours. The greater periods of the gout feem alfo 

 to obferve the folar influence, returning about the fame feafon 

 of the year. 



7. The periods of the pleurify recur with exacerbation of the 

 pain and fever about fun-fet, at which time venefeclion is of 

 mod fervice. The fame may be obferved of the inflammatory 

 rheumatifm, and other fevers with arterial ftrength which feem 

 to obey folar periods ; and thofe with debility feem to obey lu- 

 nar ones. 



8 The periods of fevers with arterial debility feem to obey 

 the lunar day, having their accefs daily nearly an hour later ; 

 and have fometimes two acceflfes in a day, refembling the lunar 

 effects upon the tides. 



9. The periods of rhaphania, or convulfions of the limbs from 

 rheumatic pain, feem to be connected with folar influence, re- 

 turning at nearly the fame hour for weeks together, unlefs dif- 

 turbed by the exhibition of powerful dofes of opium. 



So the periods of tuflis ferina, or violent cough with flow 

 pulfe, called nervous cough, recur by folar periods. Five grains 

 of opium given at the time the cough commenced difturbed the 

 period, from feven in the evening to eleven, at which time it 

 regularly returned for fome days, during which time the opium 

 was gradually omitted. Then 120 drops of laudanum were 

 given an hour before the accefs of the cough, and it totally 

 ceafed. The laudanum was continued a fortnight, and then 

 gradually difcontinued. 



is. The 



