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Soon； ataxic （irregular） nervous symptoms declared themselves； and it
became plain that the system had been infected by the poison。
The symptoms were very much like those of malignant fever； such as
distress about the region of the heart； difficulty of breathing；
collapse of all the vital powers； threatening immediate death。 From
these first symptoms the child rallied； but his entire organism had
been profoundly affected by the venom circulating through it。 His
constitution has never thrown off the malady resulting from this
toxic （poisonous） agent。 The phenomena which have been observed in
this young patient correspond so nearly with those enumerated in the
elaborate essay of the celebrated Baglivi that one might think they
had been transcribed from his pages。
〃He is very fond of solitude；of wandering about in churchyards and
other lonely places。 He was once found hiding in an empty tomb；
which had been left open。 His aversion to certain colors is
remarkable。 Generally speaking； he prefers bright tints to darker
ones； but his likes and dislikes are capricious； and with regard to
some colors his antipathy amounts to positive horror。 Some shades
have such an effect upon him that he cannot remain in the room with
them； and if he meets any one whose dress has any of that particular
color he will turn away or retreat so as to avoid passing that
person。 Among these； purple and dark green are the least endurable。
He cannot explain the sensations which these obnoxious colors produce
except by saying that it is like the deadly feeling from a blow on
the epigastrium （pit of the stomach）。
〃About the same season of the year at which the tarantular poisoning
took place he is liable to certain nervous seizures； not exactly like
fainting or epilepsy； but reminding the physician of those
affections。 All the other symptoms are aggravated at this time。
〃In other respects than those mentioned the boy is in good health。
He is fond of riding； and has a pony on which he takes a great deal
of exercise； which seems to do him more good than any other remedy。
〃The influence of music； to which so much has been attributed by
popular belief and even by the distinguished Professor to whom we
shall again refer； has not as yet furnished any satisfactory results。
If the graver symptoms recur while the patient is under our
observation； we propose to make use of an agency discredited by
modern skepticism； but deserving of a fair trial as an exceptional
remedy for an exceptional disease。
〃The following extracts from the work of the celebrated Italian
physician of the last century are given by the writer of the paper in
the Giornale in the original Latin； with a translation into Italian；
subjoined。 Here are the extracts； or rather here is a selection from
them； with a translation of them into English。
〃After mentioning the singular aversion to certain colors shown by
the subject of Tarantism； Baglivi writes as follows：
〃'Et si astantes incedant vestibus eo colore difusis； qui Tarantatis
ingrates est； necesse est ut ab illorum aspectu recedant； nam ad
intuitum molesti coloris angore cordis； et symptomatum recrudescantia
stating corripiuntur。' （G。 Baglivi； Op。 Omnia； page 614。 Lugduni；
1745。）
〃That is； 'if the persons about the patient wear dresses of the color
which is offensive to him； he must get away from the sight of them；
for on seeing the obnoxious color he is at once seized with distress
in the region of the heart； and a renewal of his symptoms。'
〃As to the recurrence of the malady； Baglivi says：
〃'Dam calor solis ardentius exurere incip at； quod contingit circa
initia Julii et Augusti； Tarantati lente venientem recrudescentiam
veneni percipiunt。' （Ibid。； page 619。）
〃Which I render； 'When the heat of the sun begins to burn more
fiercely； which happens about the beginning of July and August； the
subjects of Tarantism perceive the gradually approaching
recrudescence （returning symptoms） of the poisoning。 Among the
remedies most valued by this illustrious physician is that mentioned
in the following sentence：
〃'Laudo magnopere equitationes in aere rusticano factas singulis
diebus； hord potissimum matutina； quibus equitationibus morbos
chronicos pene incurabiles protanus eliminavi。'
〃 Or in translation；
〃'I commend especially riding on horseback in country air； every day；
by preference in the morning hours； by the aid of which horseback
riding I have driven off chronic diseases which were almost
incurable。'〃
Miss Vincent read this paper aloud to Dr。 Butts； and handed it to him
to examine and consider。 He listened with a grave countenance and
devout attention。
As she finished reading her account； she exclaimed in the passionate
tones of the deepest conviction；
〃There； doctor！ Have n't I found the true story of this strange
visitor？ Have n't I solved the riddle of the Sphinx？ Who can this
man be but the boy of that story？ Look at the date of the journal
when he was eleven years old； it would make him twenty…five now； and
that is just about the age the people here think he must be of。 What
could account so entirely for his ways and actions as that strange
poisoning which produces the state they call Tarantism？ I am just as
sure it must be that as I am that I am alive。 Oh； doctor； doctor； I
must be right；this Signprino M 。 。 。 Ch 。 。 。 was the boy
Maurice Kirkwood； and the story accounts for everything；his
solitary habits； his dread of people；it must be because they wear
the colors he can't bear。 His morning rides on horseback； his coming
here just as the season was approaching which would aggravate all his
symptoms； does n't all this prove that I must be right in my
conjecture；no； my conviction？〃
The doctor knew too much to interrupt the young enthusiast； and so he
let her run on until she ran down。 He was more used to the rules of
evidence than she was； and could not accept her positive conclusion
so readily as she would have liked to have him。 He knew that
beginners are very apt to make what they think are discoveries。 But
he had been an angler and knew the meaning of a yielding rod and an
easy…running reel。 He said quietly；
〃You are a most sagacious young lady； and a very pretty prima facie
case it is that you make out。 I can see no proof that Mr。 Kirkwood
is not the same person as the M 。 。 。 Ch 。 。 。 of the medical
journal；that is； if I accept your explanation of the difference in
the initials of these two names。 Even if there were a difference；
that would not disprove their identity； for the initials of patients
whose cases are reported by their physicians are often altered for
the purpose of concealment。 I do not know； however； that Mr。
Kirkwood has shown any special aversion to any particular color。 It
might be interesting to inquire whether it is so； but it is a
delicate matter。 I don't exactly see whose business it is to
investigate Mr。 Maurice Kirkwood's idiosyncrasies and constitutional
history。 If he should have occasion to send for me at any time； he
might tell me all about himself； in confidence； you know。 These old
accounts from Baglivi are curious and interesting； but I am cautious
about receiving any stories a hundred years old； if they involve an
improbability； as his stories about the cure of the tarantula bite by
music certainly do。 I am disposed to wait for future developments；
bearing in mind； of course； the very singular case you have
unearthed。 It wouldn't be very strange if our young gentleman had to
send for me before the season is over。 He is out a good deal before
the dew is off the grass； which is rather risky in this neighborhood
as autumn comes on。 I am somewhat curious； I confess； about the
young man； but I do not meddle where I am not asked for or wanted；
and I have found that eggs hatch just as well if you let them alone
in the nest as if you take them out and shake them every day。 This
is a wonderfully interesting supposition of yours； and may prove to
be strictly in accordance with the facts。 But I do not think we have
all the facts in this young man's case。 If it were proved that he
had an aversion to any color； it would greatly strengthen your case。
His 'antipatia；' as his man called it； must be one which covers a
wide ground； to account for his self…isolation；and the color
hypothesis seems as plausible as any。 But； my dear Miss Vincent；
I think you had better leave your singular and striking hypothesis in
my keeping for a while； rather than let it get abroad in a community
like this； where so many tongues are in active exercise。 I will
carefully study this paper； if you will leave it with me； and we will
talk the whole matter over。 It is a fair subject for speculation；
only we must keep quiet about it。〃
This long speech gave Lurida's perfervid brain time to cool off a
little。 She left the paper with