As some ancient physicians attributed the falling sickness to some divine power, so they ascribed madness to the influence of the moon. Yet the lunatic, σεληνιαζόμενος, whose disease is described in the gospels, was affected with the falling sickness.[127] Wherefore this patient (for there is but one of this kind expresly recorded there) was either mad and epileptic at the same time, which is not uncommon; or he laboured under a periodical epilepsy, returning with the changes of the moon, which is a very common case. For the account given of him is very short, that _he ofttimes fell into the fire and oft into the water_. Now in this distemper a person falls down suddenly, and lies for some time as dead; or by a general convulsion of his nerves, his body is agitated, with distorted eyes, and he foams at the mouth. But at length he recovers out of the fit, and has no more knowledge or remembrance of it, than if nothing had happened to him. Yet _Jesus_ is said to have _rebuked the devil, and he departed out of him, and the child was cured_. That this child’s case was epileptic, appears more manifestly from the account given of it by the evangelist, who was also a physician: for he says, _that as soon as the spirit has seized the patient, he cries out, foams at the mouth, and is torn and worried by him_.[128] [127] _Matthew, Chap. xvii. v. 15 and 18._ [128] _Luke, Chap. ix. v. 39, &c._ Now, as to these σεληνιαζομένοι, who are subjoined to the demoniacs, as if their diseases were different, and whom Jesus is said to have cured;[129] they were either mad, or mad and epileptic together, which is not an uncommon case, as we have just now said. And as to devils, we have treated of them sufficiently. But with relation to the moon, there is not the least reason to doubt, but that the regular returns of the paroxysms at certain times of the month, gave occasion to men to believe, that this disease was lunar. For that planet has such a real influence on this disease, that it frequently happens to some patients, never to be seized with the fit but about the new and full moon; which seems to join its energy to those causes, that are adapted to produce this evil. But the manner of accounting for this I have delivered in another place; where I have plainly shewn that our atmosphere has its tides as well as the sea.[130] [129] _Matthew, Chap. iv. v. 24._ [130] _De morbo sacro._