Chapter Iv. The Influences of the Planetary Orbs

Tax Sunt is found to produce heat and moderate dryness. § His magnitude, and‘the changes which he. so evidently makes in the seasons, render his power more

* This seems to explain the origin of the old alliance between

medicine and astrology, so universally preserved until almost within © the last century.

t It will be recollected that the Ptolemaic hypothesis considers

plainly perceptible than that of the other heavenly badiess since his approach to the zenith of any part of the earth creates a greater degree of heat in that part, and proportionately disposes its inhabitants after his own nature.

The Moon principally generates moisture; her proximity to.the earth renders her highly capable of exciting damp vapours, and of thus operating sensibly upon animal bodies by relaxation and putrefaction, She has, however, also a moderate share in the production of heat, in a of the illumination she receives from the Sun. |

Saturn produces cold and dryneas, for he is most remote — both from the Sun’s heat and from the earth’s vapours, But he is more effective in the production of cold than of dryness. And he and the rest of the planets derive their energy from the positions which they hold with regard to the Sun and Moon ; and they are all seen. taalter the con~ stitution of the Ambient in various ways.

Mars chiefly causes dryness, and is also strongly heating, by means of his own fiery nature, which is indicated by his colour, and in consequefice of his vicinity to the Sun; the sphere of which ia immediately below him.

Jupiter revalyes in an intermediate sphere between the extreme cold of Saturn and the burning heat of Mars, and has consequently a temperate influence: he therefore at once promotes both warmth and moisture. Bat, owing to the spheres of Mars and the Sun, which lie beneath him, his warmth is predominant: and henee he produces fertilizing breezes. . ;

To Venus also the same temperate quality. belongs, al-_ though it exists conversely ; since the heat she produces by her vicinity to the Sun is not so great as the moisture which she generates by the magnitude of her light, and by al a een ee a Bel a

the Suu asa planetary orb, in consequence of his apparent progress through the zodiac.

Chap. V.] PTOLEMY’S TETRARIBLOS. a} appropriating to herself the moist vapours of. the earth, ‘im the same manner that the Moon does,

Mercury sometimes produces dryness, and at other times moisture, and each with equal vigour. Hie faculty of absorbing moisture and creating dryness praceede from hia six tuation with regard to the Sun, from which he is at no time far distant in longitude; and, on the ather hand, he produces - Moisture, because he borders upon the Moon’s sphere, which is nearest to the earth; and, being thus excited by the velar city of his motion with the Sun, he consequently operetes — rapid changes tending to produce alternately either quality.