e month, gave
occasion to men to believe, that this disease was lunar. For that
planet has such a real influence on this disease, that it frequently
happens to some patients, never to be seized with the fit but about
the new and full moon; which seems to join its energy to those causes,
that are adapted to produce this evil. But the manner of accounting
for this I have delivered in another place; where I have plainly shewn
that our atmosphere has its tides as well as the sea.[130]

[129] _Matthew, Chap. iv. v. 24._

[130] _De morbo sacro._

And indeed the great Hippocrates has long since taught, that this
disease is owing to natural causes, and consequently, by no means
divine.[131] For altho' in his time, neither the inward parts of the
animal body, nor the properties of the blood and humors, especially of
the nervous fluid, were sufficiently known; yet by his great sagacity
and experience, he has left us several useful observations, in
relation both to the nature of the disease, and to its cure. For he
has shewn, that it arises from too great a quantity of humors in the
brain; and therefore that the best method of cure is to dry up, and
lessen the quantity of this peccant matter; without having recourse to
incantations and juggling tricks, so much in use in those days.

[131] _See influence of the sun and moon, Chap. i. and ii._

But when in succeeding ages, the use of medicines became more common,
a great number of remedies for this dreadful disease were invented,
some of which indeed were too filthy and shocking: such as drinking
the warm blood of a gladiator just slain; eating human or horse's
flesh, the testicles and penis of some animals, and other things of
the same kind;[132] as if matters so repugnant to nature, could be
contrary to such grievous defects of it. For so it often happens, that
when a rational medicine is not to be found, any improper and rash one
is attempted. But such experiments are to be abandoned to itinerant
quacks, and credulous old women. Though even in our days our art is
not sufficiently purged of this filth in these cases; seeing the dung
of some birds, and the hoofs of quadrupeds are still ordered to be
swallowed down by the sick. But whereas chemistry has furnished us
with the means of extracting the salts, and other most active
principles from bodies; to me it is matter of admiration, why
physicians do not choose to order these principles to be taken pure
into the b