ON THE SUBJECT OF LUNACY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 746, 20 August 1929, Page 8

ON THE SUBJECT OF LUNACY

Sir.— As the word implies, lunacv was commonly thought to be caused by the moon, or to be in some way closelv associated with it. the full-moon being supposed to exert a particularly baseful influence upon us. That a very large percentage of the feeble-minded are specially upset at the time of fullmoon none can doubt. But, observers must have noticed that some fullmoons appear to be more disturbing than others, and that marked periods of aggravated mental derangement are very apt to occur at new-moon also, (Continued in next column.)

and, less frequently, at other indefinite stages of the moon. No one seems to have realised the importance of the subject or the possibility of inves»igating it. The' seriousness of the matter prompts one to again address The Sun upon it- All agree that the moon exerts very considerable physical force upon the earth. Many will have recognised, as Darwin did. that it plavj a great part in the affairs of all animal life. Some—notably the Chinese—have found that it exerts great influ. ence upon plant life also. But, no one has realised how all-important, how all-pervading, and how beneficent the moon's influence really is. Ail harm that it seems to do arises from our ignorance of Nature's provisions. Would that space would permit of my dealing with the subject at greater length. The workings of the solar system are infinitely more wonderful that those of any man-made machine. The sun is the primary source and support of all life. But the moon and all other members of the system are indispensable parts of the vast machine. In a way they may be regarded as a most intricate combination of pendulums or regulators. We are subject to their individual and concerted influences. Yet, all the time each one of us seems to have it in his power to avail himself of such things as be needs, and to protect himself from such as are. for the time being, injurious to him. My records of the past five years all go to show that vital conditions i f all sorts may be prognosticated ar.d met. During the last two months the conditions have been uncommonly interesting, in many ways. The unusual condition of the sun and planetary and lunar interferences have produced a strange succession of prolonged disturbances, culminating in that of the last new-moon (August 51. Deranged mentality has produced a dreadful crop of shocking crimes and tragedies, their members fluctuating just as one would suspect them to do. And along with these we find, as we always do, that horses, cattle, rats and other animals display more ferocity at those times when human mentality is most deranged. At certain times we are far more susceptible to ill effects from any form of shock—from distress, exertion, accident, injury, anaesthetic, operation, etc. Under this head, we find such cases as those of a witness collapsing in court, and a singer dying suddenly after finishing his song, and a boy being electrocuted by a comparatively mild electric shock, and cases of death under or after simple operatior.s. Little would he gained from the ability merely to prognosticate such happenings, except that in some cases steps might be taken to avoid them. The advantage lies in knowing lust what causes such happenings. I feel no doubt that this knowledge can enable us to place lunacy upon the down grade, mainly by preventing it. Mid it occasions me much anxiety to feel that such knowledge, which it is not easy to impart, and which seems not to be wanted by those who ought to have it, is likely to go to the grave with me. F. It. FIELD. NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENT J.C.—Your letter iss worded too vehemently.—Ed. The Sun.