308 EAMBLE8 OF A NATUEAIIST. [Oh. XVIII. 



are liable to ensue. If the moon be shining with its accus- 

 tomed brilliancy in a cloudless sky, another danger is 

 encountered, concerning which, however, there is a certain 

 diflference of opinion. The ill effects of the direct rays of 

 the moon upon sleeping persons are very generally recog- 

 nised among nautical men, although of course very consi- 

 derable allowance must be made for prejudice as well as for 

 superstition, and no story should be received without care- 

 ful examination, and the most searching investigation, in 

 order to exclude all sources of error. There can be no 

 doubt whatever that thousands of persons do sleep in the 

 moonlight without experiencing "any ill effects, but though 

 that fact may be admitted, it does not foUow that everyone 

 is therefore exempt. Whatever the real cause may be, it 

 appears that young people, under 18 or 20, are most liable 

 to suffer; and naturally, as it is impossible to estimate the 

 predisposing influence which various shades of constitution 

 may imply, so also it is equally difficult to ascertain what 

 external circumstances may be most provocative of the evil 

 believed to result. All the cases, however, that I have been 

 able to coUect have been those of lads about the age men- 

 tioned above — and when a great many such lads are on 

 board, cases are proportionately frequent, though most 

 generally the inconvenience experienced is but temporary 

 and slight, and is usually best combated by the adminis- 

 tration of tonics. 



The most remarkable instance which I have been able 

 to meet with occurred in a ship with whose personnel I 

 was well acquainted; and my enquiries, made directly of 

 those who were personally cognizant of the occurrence, 

 elicited the following particulars, which are not without 

 interest ; and unless I was intentionally deceived, which I 



