PLANTING IN THE MOON. 53 



have given, to this day, the name lunatics to persons 

 suffering from serious mental disorders. Akin to 

 the supposed influence of the moon in producing 

 disease, is that of its effect on recovery from disease. 

 How often even now do watchers at the bedside of 

 the sick anxiously wait " until the moon changes " 

 to learn the fate of the objects of their care! It is 

 believed by some that wounds of all kinds are 

 especially susceptible to the influence of the moon, 

 a full moon having the tendency to prevent their 

 healing rapidly. Similar to this is the supposed 

 effect of moonlight on meat of all kinds, causing it 

 to decay more quickly than it otherwise would. 

 Fish, particularly, when hung out of doors in moon- 

 light are thought to be rendered unwholesome 

 thereby, and instances are recorded where persons 

 have manifested the most alarming symptoms as the 

 result of eating fish which had been so exposed. 



Coming now to the more practical operations of 

 the farm, we learn that pork killed in the new or 

 increase of the moon will not shrink in the pot as 

 it will if killed in the old of the moon. Calves or 

 other animals born in the new of the moon may be 

 expected to live and thrive, while if born in the old 

 of the moon the chances are all against them. A 

 rail fence built in the old of the moon will soon 

 sink into the ground, while if built at any other 

 time it will not sink. Shingles nailed upon a roof 



