43* DISEASES CLASS IV. 2. 4. & 



affefts the folids by its influx or ftimulus. Which we believe 

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

 and of the electric fluid, which alfo furrounds and pervades us. 

 See Sea. XXXVI. 2. 3. 



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

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

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

 of folar and lunar gravitation ; why does not it occur mod fre- 

 quently when the terrene gravitation is the greateft, as about fix 

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

 the full moon ? This queflion has its difficulty -, firft,if the ter- 

 rene gravitation be greateft about fix hours after the new moon, it 

 muft become lefs and lefs about the fame time every lunar day, till 

 the end of the firft quarter, when it will be the leafl ; it muft then 

 increafe daily till the full. After the full the terrene gravitation 

 muft again decreafe till the end of the third quarter, when it will 

 again be the leaft, and muft increafe again till the new moon ; 

 that is, the folar and lunar counter-gravitation is greateft, when 

 thofe luminaries are vertical, at the new moon, and full moon, 

 and leaft about fix hours afterwards. If it was known, wheth- 

 er more menftruations occur about fix hours after the moon is 

 in the zenith or nadir , and in the fecond and fourth quarters of 

 the moon, than in the firft and third ; fome light would be 

 thrown on this fubjeft ; which muft in that refpel wait for 

 future obfervations. 



Secondly, if the lunar influence produces a very fmall degree 

 of quiefcence, fuppofe of the uterine veins, at firft ; and if that 

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

 even with lefs power to produce quiefcence than at firft ; yet 

 the quiefcence will daily increafe by the acquired habit acting 

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

 fo great a degree of quiefcence will be induced as to caufe the 

 inaction of the veins of the uterus, and confequent venous haem- 

 orrhage. See Sel. XXXII. 6. Clafs I. 2. i. n. IV. i. 4. 4. 

 See the introduaion to this Genus. 



8. Hamorrhoidis periodus. The periods of the piles depend 

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

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

 Clafs I. 2. i. 6. 



9. Podagra periodus. The periods of gout in fome patients 

 recur at annual intervals, as in the cafe related above in Clafs 

 IV. i. 2. 15. in which the gouty paroxyfm returned for three 

 fucceflive years on nearly the fame day of the month. The 

 commencement of the pain of each paroxyfm is generally a few 

 hours after midnight, and may thence either be induced by di- 

 urnal 





