Whether or no it be thro' want of due Heed and Enquiry that we have not in all the Collections of Histories and Cases, any Instance of the like Nature so particular as this is, I know not; this is certain, that as the Vertigo is a Disease nearly related to the Epilepsy, and the Hysterical Symptoms do partake of the same Nature; so both one and the other are frequently observed to obey the Lunar Influence. In like manner, the raving Fits of Mad People, which keep Lunar Periods, are generally in some degree Epileptic too.
Tulpius[30] and Piso[31] afford us remarkable Instances of Periodical Palseys.
Every one knows how great a share the Moon has in forwarding those Evacuations of the weaker Sex, which have their Name from the constant Regularity they keep in their Returns; and there is no question to be made, but the Correspondency we here observe, would be greater still, and even Universal, did not many Accidents, and the infinite Varieties in particular Constitutions one way or other concur to make a difference. It is very observable that in Countries nearest to the Æquator, where we have proved the Lunar Action to be strongest; these Monthly Secretions are in much greater quantity than in those near the Poles, where this force is weakest. This Hippocrates[32] takes notice of, and gives it as one Reason why the Women in Scythia are not very fruitful.
The Case being thus with Females, it is no wonder if we sometimes meet with Periodical Hæmorrhages answering to the times of the Moon in Males also. For as a greater quantity of Blood in proportion to the bulk in one Sex, is the reason of