Page:Gods Glory in the Heavens.djvu/97

Rh theory is that the barometer influences the weather, or the weather the barometer, the pleasure is still great of tracing a coincidence. So, in regard to the moon, the human mind has derived great pleasure in tracing the coincidence between the moon's phases and the mental and physical phenomena on the surface of the globe. From the bias of this love of coincidence, the many adverse facts were overlooked, and the few favourable ones were allowed to have more than their due weight. The influence of the moon in insanity is now entirely discredited, but many cling to its influence on the weather. Many who have a half conviction that their belief is a mere superstition, still have a pleasure in speaking of a change of weather at the new or full moon. And there are always a sufficient number of coincidences to give colour to their belief. Almost every different country has its own rules for prognosticating the weather from the phases of the moon, but however different they may be, they all serve equally well to cherish the conviction that there is some real influence. Many scientific researches have been made to settle the point, but no decisive result has been arrived at. Sometimes a preponderating effect has been ascribed to particular phases, but it has been as often against the popular belief as in favour of it.

There is no a priori reason why the moon should not influence the weather. It is simply a question of fact, and as yet no appreciable effect has been