( 37 1 ) 



A Difcoirfe concerning the A&ion 

 of the Sun and Moon on Animal 

 Bodies 5 and the Influence which 

 This may have in many Difeafes. 

 By Richard Mead, M. D. 

 F. R. S. 



PART I. 



THATfome Difeafes are properly the Effeclj 

 of the Influence of the Heavenly Bodies, 

 and that others do vary their Periods and Sym- 

 ptoms according to the different Pofmons of one 

 or other of thofe Luminous Globes, is a very an* 

 cient and certain OWervation. Upon this fcore 

 Hippocrates (a) advifes his Son Thejjalus to the 

 ftudy of Geometry and Numbers, becaufe the 

 knowledge cf the Stars k of very great ufe in Phy~ 

 fick (b). And the earlieft Hiftories of Epidemic 

 Diftempers, particularly do all turn upon the 

 alterations made in our Bodies by the Heavens. 



But when in later Times Medicine came to be 

 accommodated to the Reafonings of Philofophers; 

 no body being able to account for the manner 

 of this Celeftial Action, It was allowed no far- 

 ther (hare in affecting our Health, than what 

 might be imputed to the changes in the manifeft 

 Conftitution of the Air, excepting perhaps fome- 

 B b thing 



(a) Epift. ad Thejfalum Filium. 

 •/* *\m%mv> De Aere Aquis & Locis* 



