4 REMARKABLE EFFECTS OF SOL-LUNAK 



ed with the relative situations of the sun and moon. 

 In certain states of health and vigour, this influ- 

 ence has not power to shew itself by any obvious 

 effects; and iiisuch cases its existence is often not 

 acknowledged. But in certain states of debility 

 and disease'it is able to manifest itself by exciting 

 febrile paroxysms : and the propensity or aptitude 

 of the constitution, to be affected with febrile par- 

 oxysms in such cases, may be denominated the 

 paroxysmal disposition. 



From the great variety that appears in the vio- 

 lence and repetition of paroxysms, in different cases, 

 at the same juncture of time, when the exciting 

 power must act equally on all, it must be inferred, 

 that the paroxysmal disposition exists in different 

 cases in various degrees oi propensity. 



It appears also, from th^ history of fevers, that 

 there is a disposition in all of them, which gradu- 

 ally increases and advances to a state in which it 

 becomes ripe^ or prepared for that remarkable 

 change which terminates in a solution of the fever; 

 and is denominated a crisis. This tendency in 

 fevers may be called the critical disposition ; which 

 distinguishes itself in different cases, and at diffe- 

 rent times by various degrees of maturity. 



The constitutions that prevail in different kinds 

 of fever discover obvious peculiarities with respect 

 to the progress and maturation of the critical dispo- 

 sition. But that which is most important, and 

 most material for the object of the present expla- 

 nation, is a peculiarity tliat shews itself in the cri- 

 tical disposition of the common typhus. In cases 

 of this fever, which is that which prevails in crowd- 

 ed cities, and in jails, ships, and hospitals, in all 

 countries at all seasons, anci is by fur the most com- 



