. XXXII. 7* DISEASES OF IRRITATION. 435 



revolution of the moon, is that when the moon ap- 

 proaches neareft to the zenith or nadir ; for this 

 reafon, while the fun is in the northern ligns, 

 that is during the vernal and fummer months, the 

 greater of the two diurnal tides in our latitude is 

 that, when the moon is above the horizon ; and 

 when the fun is in the fouthern figns, or during the 

 autumnal and winter months, the greater tide is 

 that, which arifes when the moon is belo\v the 

 horizon : and as the fun approaches fomewhat 

 nearer the earth in winter than in fummer, the 

 greateft equinoctial tides are obfervcd to be a little 

 .before the vernal equinox, and a little after the 

 autumnal one. 



Do not the cold periods of lunar difeafes com- 

 mence a few hours before the fou thing of the 

 moon during the vernal and fummer months., and 

 before the northing of the moon during the au- 

 tumnal and winter months ? Do not palfies and 

 apoplexies, which occur about the equinoxes, 

 happen a few days before the vernal equinoctial 

 Junation, and after the autumnal one ? Are not the 

 periods of thofe diurnal difeafes more obftinate, 

 that commence many hours before the fouthing 

 or northing of the moon, than of thofe which 

 commence 'at thofe times? Are not thofe palfies 

 and apoplexies more dangerous which commence 

 many days before the fyzygies of the moon, than 

 thofe which happen at thofe times? See Se6l. 

 JCXXVI. on the periods of difeafes. 



VII. Another very frequent caufe of the cold 

 fit of fever is the quiefcenceef fome of thofe large 

 Congeries of glands, which compofe the liver, 

 fpleen, or pancreas; one or more of which are 

 frequently fo enlarged in the autumnal intermit- 

 tents as to be perceptible to the touch externally, 

 and are called by the vulgar ague-cakes. As thefe 

 glands are flimulated into a&ion by the fpccific 



pungency 



