_Somni periodus._ The periods of sleeping and of waking are shortened or
prolonged by so many other circumstances in animal life, besides the minute
difference between diurnal and nocturnal solar gravitation, that it can
scarcely be ascribed to this influence. At the same time it is curious to
observe, that vegetables in respect to their times of sleeping more
regularly observe the hour of the day, than the presence or absence of
light, or of heat, as may be seen by consulting the calendar of Flora.
Botanic Garden, Part II. Canto 2. l. 165. note.

Some diseases, which at first sight might be supposed to be influenced by
solar periods, seem to be induced by the increasing sensibility of the
system to pain during our sleeping hours; as explained in Sect. XVIII. 15.
Of these are the fits of asthma, of some epilepsies, and of some
haemoptoes; all which disturb the patient after some hours sleep, and are
therefore to be ascribed to the increase of our dormant sensibility. There
may likewise be some doubt, whether the commencement of the pain of gout in
the foot, as it generally makes its attack after sleep, should be ascribed
to the increased sensibility in sleep, or to solar influence?

M. M. When asthmatic or epileptic fits or haemoptoe occur after a certain
number of hours of sleep, the patient should be forcibly awakened before
the expected time by an alarm clock, and drink a cup of chocolate or
lemonade.--Or a grain of opium should be given at going to bed.--In one
case to prevent the too great increase of sensibility by shortening the
time of sleep; and in the other by increasing the irritative motions, and
expending by that means a part of the sensorial power.

2. _Studii inanis periodus._ Class III. 1. 2. 2. The cataleptic spasm which
preceded the reverie and somnambulation in the patient, whose case is
related in Sect. XIX. 2. occurred at exactly the same hour, which was about
eleven in the morning for many weeks; till those periods were disturbed by
large doses of opium; and must therefore be referred to some effect of
solar gravitation. In the case of Master A. Sect. XXXIV. 3. as the reverie
began early in the morning during sleep, there may be a doubt, whether this
commenced with torpor of some organ catenated with solar gravitation; or
was caused by the existence of a previous torpid part, which only became so
painful as to excite the exertions of reverie by the perpetual increase of
sensibility during the conti