TELESCOPIC VIEW OP HALLEf's COMET OK 5TH XOVEMBEB, 18S5, BT STRTTVE. 



COMETARY INFLUENCES. 



CHAPTER II. 



10. The birtli and death of heroes, &c. 11. Questions discussed as to whether 

 the dry fog of 1783 or that of 1831 was produced by the immersion of 

 the Earth in the tail of a Comet. 12. Influences of atmospheric 

 disturbances and currents in producing extraordinary effects on 

 epidemic diseases The periodical wind called Harmattan from the 

 interior of Africa. 13. Question discussed as to whether the Earth 

 at any former epoch has been struck by the solid nucleus of a Comet 

 Its consequences. 14. Questions discussed as to whether the geogra- 

 phical condition of the Earth has ever been disturbed by the near 

 approach of a Comet, and whether the Biblical Deluge can have been 

 produced by such a cause. 15. Probability of the terrestrial equili- 

 brium being injuriously deranged by near approach of a Comet reduced 

 to nothing. 16. Opinions of Laplace. 17. Curious phenomena of 

 Biela's comet. 



10. As we go further back in history, the moral and political 

 influences impnted to comets are multiplied in proportion to the 

 darkness of these times. These objects have been supposed more 

 especially to have portended the birth and the death of heroes. 

 Thus a comet which appeared in 43 B.C., and which was stated to 

 he so brilliant as to he visible to the naked eye in the day time, 

 LARDNER'S MUSEOI OP SCIENCE. o 81 



No. 24. 



