indeed is found to mark the Mosaic system, in the regu- lations concerning diet, the " divers washings," and the pollution imputed to a corpse — nay, even in circumci- sion itself. These served not only the ceremonial pur- pose of imparting self-consciousness to the Hebrew, and keeping him distinct from alien admixture, but had a sanitary aspect of rare wisdom, when we regard the country, the climate, and the age. The laws of diet had the effect of tempering, by a just admixture of the or- ganic substances of the animal and vegetable kingdoms, the regimen of Hebrew families, and thus providing fur the vigor of future ages, as ^veU as checking the stimu- lus which the predominant use of animal food gives to the passions. To these effects may be ascribed the im- munity often enjoyed by the Hebrew race amid epi- demics devastating the countries of their sojourn. The best and often tlie sole possible exercise of medicine is to prevent disease. Moses could not legislate for cure, but his rules did for the great mass of the people what no therapeutics, however consummate, could do — they gave the best security for the public health by provi- sions incorporated in the public economy. Whether we regard the la-\\'S which secluded the leper as designed to prevent infection or repress the dread of it, their wisdom is nearly equal, for of all terrors the imaginary are the most terrible. The laws restricting marriage have in general a similar tendency, degeneracy being the pen- alty of a departure from those which forbid commixture of near kin. Michel Levy remarks on the salubrious tendency of the law of marital separation (Lev. xv) im- posed (Levj^, Traite de Hygiem, p. 8). The precept also concerning purity on the necessary occasions in a desert encampment (Dent, xxiii, 12-14), enjoining the return of the elements of productiveness to the soil, would prob- ably become the basis of the municipal regulations hav- ing for their object a similar purity in towns. The cc^sequences of its neglect in such encampments is shown by an example quoted by INIichel Levy, as men- tioned by ]\I. de Lamartine (ib. 8, 9). Length of life was regarded as a mark of divine favor, and the divine legislator had pointed out the means of ordinarily in- suring a fuller measure of it to the people at large than coidd, according to physical laws, otherwise be hoped for. Perhaps the extraordinary means taken to prolong vitality may be referred to this source (1 Kings i, 2), and there is no reason why the case of David should be deemed a singular one. \\q maj' also compare tlie ap- parent infiuence of vital warmth enhanced to a miracu- lous degree, but having, perhaps, a physical law as its basis, in the cases of Elijah, Elisha, and the sons of the widow of Zarephath, and the Shunammite. Wunderbar has collected several examples of such influence simi- larly exerted, which, however, he seems to exaggerate to an absurd pitch. Yet it would seem not against an- alogy to suppose that, as pernicious exhalations, mias- mata, etc., may pass from the sick and affect the healthj-, so there should be a reciprocal action in favor of liealth. The climate of Palestine afforded a great range of tem- perature within a narrow compass — e. g. a long sea- coast, a long, deep valley (that of the Jordan), a broad, flat plain (Esdraelon), a large portion of table-land (Ju- dah and Ephraim), and the higher elevations of Carmel, Tabor, the lesser and greater Hermon, etc. Thus it partakes of nearly all supportable climates. In October its rain}' season begins with moist westerly winds. Jn November the trees are bare. In December snow and ice are often found, but never lie long, and only during the north wind's prevalence. The cold disappears at the end of Februar}^ and the " latter rain" sets in, last- ing through ]\Iarch to the middle of April, when thun- der-storms are common, torrents swell, and the heat rises in the low grounds. At the end of April the hot season begins, but preserves moderation till June, thence till September becomes extreme; and during all this period rain seldom occurs, but often heavy dews prevail. In September it commences to be cool, first at night, and sometimes the rain begins to fall at the end of it. The
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migration with the season from an inland to a sea-coast position, from low to high ground, etc., was a ])oiiit of social development never systematically reached during the scriptural history of Palestine. But men inhabit- ing the same regions for centuries could hardly fail to notice the connection between the air and moisture of a place and human health, and those favored by circum- stances would certainly turn their knowledge to account. The Talmudists speak of the north wind as preservative of life, and the south and east winds as exhaustive, but the south as the most insupportable of all, coming hot and dry from the deserts, jiroducing abortion, tainting the babe yet unborn, and corroding the pearls in the sea. Further, they dissuade from performing circum- cision or venesection during its prevalence {Jehamoth, 72 «, ap. Wunderbar, 2tes lleft, vol. ii, A). It is stated that " the marriage-bod placed between north and south will be blessed with male issue" {Berachoih, 15, ih.), which may, ^^'underbar thinks, be interpreted of the temperature when moderate, and in neither extreme (which these winds respectively represent), as most fa- voring fecundity. If the fact be so, it is more probably related to the phenomena of magnetism, in connection witli which the same theory has been lately revived. A number of precepts are given by the same authorities in reference to health ; e. g. eating slowly, not contract- ing a sedentary habit, regularity in natural operations, cheerfulness of temperament, due sleep (especially early morning sleep is recommended), but not somnolence by day (Wunderbar, nt sup.). We may mention likewise in this connection that possession of an abundance of salt tended to banish much disease (Psa. Ix, 2 ; 2 Sam. viii, 13 ; 1 Chron. xviii, 12). Salt-pits (Zeph. ii, 9) are still- dug by the Arabs on the shore of the Dead Sea. For the use of salt to a new-born infant, Ezek. xvi, 4 ; comp. Galen, De Sanit. lib. i, cap. 7.