LUNA CORNEA

Fused chloride of silver; so called from its horn-like appearance, lima being the term by which the old chemists designated silver. LUNACY, in Law, is strictly the condition of an insane person who has lucid intervals, which in former times were supposed to depend on the phases of the moon; whence such persons were styled lunatic i. But, for convenience, the term is commonly used as embracing the condition of all those who are under certain legal disabilities on account of mental deficiency: such as idiots, fatuous persons, .; all, in short, who are of unsound mind. The chief of these dis~ abilities are, incapacity to make contracts, either personal •or affecting the estate; to sue or defend in courts of justice; to perform offices and duties; to make devises or bequests. Bt ancient le^al maxim, the sovereign has the custody of [s. 705]