ON THE

CASUAL AND PERIODICAL

INFLUENCE

OF

PARTICULAR STATES OF THE ATMOSPHERE

ON

HUMAN HEALTH AND DISEASES,

PARTICULARLY

INSANITY.

WITH

A TABLE OF REFERENCE TO AUTHORS.

BY THOMAS FORSTER, M. B. F. L. S. Corresp. Memb. Acad. Nat. Sciences at Philadelphia, &c. &c. &c.

SECOND EDITION.

LONDON:

ΤΟ

F. G. SPURZHEIM, M.D.

AUTHOR OF " OBSERVATIONS ON THE DERANGED MANIFESTATION OF THE MIND,"

&c. &c.

I

HAVE no fondness for Dedications, as you well know ; since I have always been of opinion with yourself, that the seeking for patronage, and the sheltering oneself under the authority either of renowned individuals, or of societies, were things very hurtful to the cause of Science. Nevertheless have I taken this plan in the present work, for the sake of acknowledging my debt to yourself for what I think the most useful part of these observations.

During our walks in the mountainous countries through which we travelled together, we had often opportunity of talking over the subjects of our inquiries. And I was much struck with the curious things you told me about the Periods observed by many diseases of the Brain, as well by those of what is called the automatic Life. I began from this time to remark the Periods of Diseases with new views. I had long noticed the effects of the atmosphere on the body; but I had not till now thought that this influence from without could be periodical. I began also to find other sorts of Periods, besides those which happen once in twenty-eight days, on which you made such curious remarks. I went on with these observations, and made them my chief employment ever since I left you at Capel Cürig, in August, 1815. I have taken various occasions to gather information from persons subject to fits of insanity, and of other periodical nervous complaints, respecting these afore-mentioned periods. And I have strengthened in my own mind, by numberless facts, the justness of your belief respecting the being of some periodical influence from without, on the functions of the Brain and Nerves. In none of the many Madhouses which I have seen, have I found many useful observations already made on the Periods

of the Diseases of the Mind. But these establishments, as you well know, are often so shamefully neglected, that no good systematic plan of observation has as yet been set on foot in them respecting the disease, for the care and cure whereof they were planned. Already are you too well aware of the truth of this remark, having brought into view, by your new Work on Insanity, the sorrowful state of those who are bound in fetters in the cells of these houses. I neglected, however, no opportunity which offered itself, to satisfy myself of the regular operation of this periodical influence, which you have since mentioned in your works, and which I regard as the only useful part of the hasty observations that I have given out here with the view that we may be helped in our investigations by the assistance of others, who may luckily be placed in situations which give them the range of a wider field of inquiry.

Although you have left Great Britain without establishing so fully in the minds of British Anatomists the truth of the doctrines respecting the Organs of the Brain, as the clearness of the proofs seemed to warrant, you have successfully contended against those who have opposed them. Your opponents have shown that their knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology was too inferior to your own, to assist them in the attack, and have resorted to ridicule and other means, which the weak have always had recourse to, in the absence of argument. But though it will be some time before the doctrine of the Organs of the Brain will be fully established among the multitude, yet the valuable observations on Insanity, and its periodical exacerbations, which you have given the world in your late work, will give rise to a better knowledge and treatment of that disease. Already have I foreseen that your book has called forth inquiry. And different practitioners have taken hints from various parts of that useful volume, and science and medicine will consequently be improved. I have paid particular attention to the Periodicity both of diseases in general, and of Insanity in particular, since some atmospherical phænomena which I have observed during the times of these Periods, made me think that we shall be able, by repeated observations, to unfold the cause of many periodical illnesses, so as to foreknow their coming, and guard against their effects.

Many of these opinions, like those of Dr. Gall and yourself, may be opposed and ridiculed by persons who have not been attentive enough to this part of the subject. But we must call to mind, that all new doctrines have been opposed at first, and Science has ever been slow and wavering in her march. Fair opposition, and real argument, are to be wished for, as they bring out the truth; but the attacks of those who, with the ratiocinatio verbosa, stigmatised

by Darwin as the unphilosophical jargon of ignorance and want of philosophy, exercise the vis verborum against whatever they cannot understand, must be left unnoticed and unanswered. A celebrated author says on a similar occasion,-The Moon pursues her course unmindful of the dogs that bay at her :-we must pursue our inquiries, and recollect, that-Mit der Zeit kommt die Wahrheit an den Tag.

Yours ever,

THE AUTHOR.

P. S. I may add, that even since the printing of these sheets, I have found passages in the works of many celebrated physicians relating to the monthly periods of diseases, which were discovered too late to be referred to in the Index of Reference at the end: we cannot, therefore, be accused of inventing a theory, by the publication of observations which must excite inquiry, and thereby verify or confute our opinions.

OBSERVATIONS, &c.

SECTION I.

The Human Health is influenced by Atmospherical Causes.

IT has been a popular notion, time out of mind, that atmospheric changes have an influence on the state of human health. And such a belief appears to be founded on reason: for, since a number of persons, of various ages, of dissimilar constitutions and habits of life, and at different places, often become the subjects of disorder at the same time, so is it rational to attribute their malady to some general cause which then prevails. And the occurrence of disorder in particular kinds of weather, or at stated seasons of the year, which some persons experience, naturally suggests the idea that such cause resides in the air.

But it appears to me, that it is not the heat or cold, dampness or drought of the air, which is chiefly concerned in causing disorders, nor the sudden change from one to another of these states; but that it is some inexplicable peculiarity in its electric state. The pain felt in limbs which have been formerly broken, previous to a change of weather, and the disturbed state of the stomachs of many persons before and during thunderstorms, are sufficient, I think, to warrant such a conjecture.

I have observed people with weak health complain of irritability and uneasy feelings, when, after fair weather, the wane-cloud