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a mortal antipathy-第34章

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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
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