24 REMARKABLE EFFECTS OF SOL-LUNAR 



ther it manifests itself by the signs of any obvious 

 effect or change in the human constitution. 



With respect to this important question, I shall 

 content myself with stating in a very few words, 

 that all the observations I have made myself, to- 

 gether with those that have been communicated 

 by other gentlemen, concur to prove, not merely 

 that sol-lunar influence manifests itself by evident 

 effects upon the human constitution, but that the 

 attacks, exacerbations, remissions, postponings, and 

 relapses, of the paroxysms of fevers, which com- 

 prehend the whole of the evidence that is neces- 

 sary to constitute a complete demonstration, are, 

 in a wonderful manner, coincident in time, and 

 correspondent in degree, with the periodical 

 changes that take place in the power of sol-lunar 

 attraction. To reject, therefore, those accumula- 

 ted proofs of its actual operation and efficiency, is 

 to violate the principles and rules, by which we 

 infer the existence of a connection or cause, in 

 every question of philosophy, or common occur- 

 rence of life. 



The proof of regular changes in the atmosphere 

 corresponding with the revolutions of lunar attrac- 

 tion, being now established by the discovery of a 

 regular diurnal, and a septenary flux and reflux in 

 the mercury of the barometer, coincident with the 

 diurnal and septenary revolutions of the same 

 power, the theory of sol-lunar influence in fevers 

 receives from this event all the support that can be 

 derived from ^ fair analogy : and it may be infer- 

 red with reason, that changes such as these in the 

 element in which we breathe and move, are not 

 likely to take place without corresponding pertuiv 

 bations in the human frame. 



