If mists rise to the hilltops, rain in a day or

two.

A general mist before the sun rises, near the full moon, fair weather.

If mists in the new moon, rain in the old. If mists in the old, rain in the new. Observe that in eight years time there is as much Southwest wind, as Northeast, and consequently as many wet years as dry.

When the wind turns to Northeast, and it continues two days without rain, and does not turn South the third day, nor rain the third day, it is likely to continue Northeast, for eight or nine days, all fair; and then to come to the South again.

If the wind turns again out of the South to the Northeast with rain, and continues in the Northeast two days without rain, and neither turns South, nor rains the third day, it is likely to continue Northeast for two or three months.

After a Northerly wind for the most part two months or more, and then coming South, there are usually three or four fair days at first, and then on the fourth or fifth day comes rain, or else the wind turns North again, and continues dry.

If the wind returns to the South within a

day or two without rain, and turn Northward with rain, and return to the South, in one or two days more, two or three times together, after this sort, then it is likely to be in the South or Southwest, two or three months together, as it was in the North before.

Fair weather for a week, with a Southern wind, will produce a great drought, if there has been much rain out of the South before. The wind usually turns from North to South, with a quiet wind without rain, but returns to the North with a strong wind and rain. The strongest winds are when it turns from South, to North, by West.

Clouds. In summer or harvest, when the wind has been South two or three days, and it grows very hot, and you see clouds rise with great white tops like towers, as if one were upon the top of another, and joined together with black on the nether side, there will be thunder and rain suddenly.*

If two such clouds arise, one on either hand, it is time to make haste to shelter.

If you see a cloud rise against the wind or side wind, when that cloud comes up to you,

*This is the formation of cumulostratus.

the wind will blow the same way that the cloud came. And the same rule holds of a clear place, when all the sky is equally thick, except one clear edge.

Sudden rains never last long: but when the air grows thick by degrees, and the sun, moon, and stars shine dimmer and dimmer, then it is likely to rain six hours usually.

If it begin to rain from the South, with a high wind for two or three hours, and the wind falls, but the rain continues, it is likely to rain twelve hours or more, and does usually rain till a strong North wind clears the air. These long rains seldom hold above twelve hours, or happen above once a year.

If it begin to rain an hour or two before sun rising, it is likely to be fair before noon, and so continue that day: but if the rain begin an hour or two after sun rising, it is likely to rain all that day, except the rainbow be seen before it rains.

If the last eighteen days of February and ten days of March be for the most part rainy, then the spring and summer quarters will probably be so too: and I never knew a great drought but it entered in that season.

If the latter end of October and beginning

of November be for the most part warm and rainy, then January and February are likely to be frosty and cold, except after a very dry

summer.

If October and November be snow and frost, then January and February are likely to be open and mild.

His omnibus ex ingenio suo quisque demat vel addat fidem.

CHAPTER V.

OF THE

INFLUENCE OF PECULIARITIES OF WEATHER ON THE FUNCTIONS OF ORGANISED BODIES.*

It is generally believed that atmospheric changes have considerable influence on the state

* I may advert, in commencement of these observations on atmospheric disorders of health, to certain sudden cures of violent diseases, said to have been miraculously effected by the invocation of Saints and the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, by prayers and by other supernatural means, since some philosophers have referred these cures to fortuitous changes in the atmosphere, which may have occurred coincidentally with the pretended crative operations; while others have ascribed them to the physical efficacy of the powerful sentiment of Faith exerted on the body by a mode of sympathetic influence, similar to that whereby the senti-' ment of Fear causes paleness, Shame blushing, and Hope exhilaration and encreased muscular action. I have introduced these observations in order to confute the above notions, the former of which is not borne out by a referrence to Meteorological Journals which I have made; and the latter is unphysiological and totally devoid of all medical analogy. For, though Fear may depress the spirits and cause melancholy and hypochondriasis, though Hope may exhilirate and produce