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wonderful way of dealing with books amazes me。〃
What marvels those 〃first scholars〃 in the classes of our great
universities and colleges are； to be sure！ They are not； as a rule；
the most distinguished of their class in the long struggle of life。
The chances are that 〃the field〃 will beat 〃the favorite〃 over the
long race…course。 Others will develop a longer stride and more
staying power。 But what fine gifts those 〃first scholars〃 have
received from nature！ How dull we writers； famous or obscure； are in
the acquisition of knowledge as compared with them！ To lead their
classmates they must have quick apprehension； fine memories； thorough
control of their mental faculties； strong will； power of
concentration； facility of expression；a wonderful equipment of
mental faculties。 I always want to take my hat off to the first
scholar of his year。
Dr。 Butts felt somewhat in the same way as he contemplated The
Terror。 She surprised him so often with her knowledge that he was
ready to receive her without astonishment when she burst in upon him
one allay with a cry of triumph； 〃Eureka！ Eureka！〃
〃And what have you found； my dear？〃 said the doctor。
Lurida was flushed and panting with the excitement of her new
discovery。
〃I do believe that I have found the secret of our strange visitor's
dread of all human intercourse！〃
The seasoned practitioner was not easily thrown off his balance。
〃Wait a minute and get your breath；〃 said the doctor。 〃Are you not a
little overstating his peculiarity？ It is not quite so bad as that。
He keeps a man to serve him； he was civil with the people at the Old
Tavern； he was affable enough； I understand； with the young fellow he
pulled out of the water； or rescued somehow；I don't believe be
avoids the whole human race。 He does not look as if he hated them；
so far as I have remarked his expression。 I passed a few words with
him when his man was ailing； and found him polite enough。 No； I
don't believe it is much more than an extreme case of shyness；
connected； perhaps； with some congenital or other personal repugnance
to which has been given the name of an antipathy。〃
Lurida could hardly keep still while the doctor was speaking。 When
he finished； she began the account of her discovery：
〃I do certainly believe I have found an account of his case in an
Italian medical journal of about fourteen years ago。 I met with a
reference which led me to look over a file of the Giornale degli
Ospitali lying among the old pamphlets in the medical section of the
Library。 I have made a translation of it； which you must read and
then tell me if you do not agree with me in my conclusion。〃
〃Tell me what your conclusion is； and I will read your paper and see
for myself whether I think the evidence justifies the conviction you
seem to have reached。〃
Lurida's large eyes showed their whole rounds like the two halves of
a map of the world； as she said；
〃I believe that Maurice Kirkwood is suffering from the effects of the
bite of a TARANTULA！〃
The doctor drew a long breath。 He remembered in a vague sort of way
the stories which used to be told of the terrible Apulian spider； but
he had consigned them to the limbo of medical fable where so many
fictions have clothed themselves with a local habitation and a name。
He looked into the round eyes and wide pupils a little anxiously； as
if he feared that she was in a state of undue excitement； but； true
to his professional training； he waited for another symptom； if
indeed her mind was in any measure off its balance。
〃I know what you are thinking；〃 Lurida said； 〃but it is not so。 'I
am not mad； most noble Festus。' You shall see the evidence and judge
for yourself。 Read the whole case；you can read my hand almost as
if it were print； and tell me if you do not agree with me that this
young man is in all probability the same person as the boy described
in the Italian journal；
One thing you might say is against the supposition。 The young
patient is spoken of as Signorino M 。 。 。 Ch。 。 。 。 But you
must remember that ch is pronounced hard in Italian； like k； which
letter is wanting in the Italian alphabet； and it is natural enough
that the initial of the second name should have got changed in the
record to its Italian equivalent。〃
Before inviting the reader to follow the details of this
extraordinary case as found in a medical journal； the narrator wishes
to be indulged in a few words of explanation； in order that he may
not have to apologize for allowing the introduction of a subject
which may be thought to belong to the professional student rather
than to the readers of this record。 There is a great deal in medical
books which it is very unbecoming to bring before the general
public；a great deal to repel； to disgust； to alarm； to excite
unwholesome curiosity。 It is not the men whose duties have made them
familiar with this class of subjects who are most likely to offend by
scenes and descriptions which belong to the physician's private
library； and not to the shelves devoted to polite literature。
Goldsmith and even Smollett； both having studied and practised
medicine； could not by any possibility have outraged all the natural
feelings of delicacy and decency as Swift and Zola have outraged
them。 But without handling doubtful subjects； there are many curious
medical experiences which have interest for every one as extreme
illustrations of ordinary conditions with which all are acquainted。
No one can study the now familiar history of clairvoyance profitably
who has not learned something of the vagaries of hysteria。 No one
can read understandingly the life of Cowper and that of Carlyle
without having some idea of the influence of hypochondriasis and of
dyspepsia upon the disposition and intellect of the subjects of these
maladies。 I need not apologize； therefore； for giving publicity to
that part of this narrative which deals with one of the most singular
maladies to be found in the records of bodily and mental infirmities。
The following is the account of the case as translated by Miss
Vincent。 For obvious reasons the whole name was not given in the
original paper； and for similar reasons the date of the event and the
birthplace of the patient are not precisely indicated here。
＇Giornale degli Ospitali； Luglio 21； 18…。1
REMARKABLE CASE OF TARANTISM。
〃The great interest attaching to the very singular and exceptional
instance of this rare affection induces us to give a full account of
the extraordinary example of its occurrence in a patient who was the
subject of a recent medical consultation in this city。
〃Signorino M 。 。 。 Ch 。 。 。 is the only son of a gentleman
travelling in Italy at this time。 He is eleven years of age； of
sanguine…nervous temperament； light hair； blue eyes； intelligent
countenance； well grown； but rather slight in form； to all appearance
in good health； but subject to certain peculiar and anomalous nervous
symptoms； of which his father gives this history。
〃Nine years ago； the father informs us； he was travelling in Italy
with his wife； this child； and a nurse。 They were passing a few days
in a country village near the city of Bari； capital of the province
of the same name in the division （compartamento） of Apulia。 The
child was in perfect health and had never been affected by any
serious illness。 On the 10th of July he was playing out in the field
near the house where the family was staying when he was heard to
scream suddenly and violently。 The nurse rushing to him found him in
great pain； saying that something had bitten him in one of his feet。
A laborer； one Tommaso； ran up at the moment and perceived in the
grass； near where the boy was standing； an enormous spider； which he
at once recognized as a tarantula。 He managed to catch the creature
in a large leaf； from which he was afterwards transferred to a wide…
mouthed bottle； where he lived without any food for a month or more。
The creature was covered with short hairs； and had a pair of nipper…
like jaws； with which he could inflict an ugly wound。 His body
measured about an inch in length； and from the extremity of one of
the longest limbs to the other was between two and three inches。
Such was the account given by the physician to whom the peasant
carried the great spider。
〃The boy who had been bitten continued screaming violently while his
stocking was being removed and the foot examined。 The place of the
bite was easily found and the two marks of the claw…like jaws already
showed the effects of the poison； a small livid circle extending
around them； with some puffy swelling。 The distinguished Dr。 Amadei
was immediately sent for； and applied cups over the wounds in the
hope of drawing forth the poison。 In vain all his skill and efforts！
Soon； ataxic （irregular） nervous symptoms declared themse