LUNAE INFLUENCES. 



they break the shell at the full of the moon. The experiments and 

 observations of M. Girou de Buzareingues have given counte- 

 nance to this opinion. But such observations require to be 

 multiplied before the maxim can be considered as established. 

 M. Girou inclines to the opinion that during the dark nights 

 about new moon the hens sit so undisturbed that they either kill 

 their young or check their development by too much heat ; 

 while in moonlight nights, being more restless, this effect is not 

 produced. 



12. Supposed Lunar Influence on Mental Derangement and 

 other Human Maladies. The influence on the phenomena of 

 human maladies imputed to the moon is very ancient. Hippo- 

 crates had so strong a faith in the influence of celestial objects 

 upon animated beings, that he expressly recommends no physician 

 to be trusted who is ignorant of astronomy. Galen, following 

 Hippocrates, maintained the same opinion, especially of the 

 influence of the moon. Hence in diseases the lunar periods 

 were said to correspond with the succession of the sufferings of 

 the patients. The critical days or crises (as they were afterwards 

 called), were the seventh, fourteenth, and twenty-first of the 

 disease, corresponding to the intervals between the moon's 

 principal phases. While the doctrine of alchymists prevailed, 

 the human body was considered as a microcosm ; the heart, 

 representing the vital principle, was placed under the influence 

 of the sun ; the brain was regulated and controlled by the moon. 

 The planets had each its proper influence ; Jupiter presided 

 over the lungs, Mars over the liver, Saturn over the spleen, 

 Venus over the kidneys, and Mercury over the organs of gene- 

 ration. Of these grotesque notions there is now no relic, except 

 the term lunacy, which still designates unsoundness of mind. 

 But even this term may in some degree be said to be banished 

 from the terminology of medicine, and it has taken refuge in that 

 receptacle of all antiquated absurdities of phraseology the law. 

 Lunatic, we believe, is still the term for the subject who is 

 incapable of managing his own affairs. 



Although the ancient faith in the connexion between the 

 phases of the moon and the phenomena of insanity appears in 

 a great degree to be abandoned, yet it is not altogether without 

 its votaries ; nor have we been able to ascertain that any series 

 of observations conducted on scientific principles, has ever been 

 made on the phenomena of insanity, with a view to disprove this 

 connexion. We have even met with intelligent and well- 

 educated physicians who still maintain that the paroxysms of 

 insane patients are more violent when the moon is full than at 

 other times. 

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