The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-10-08
nononania in Horses.

In 1906, during the campaign in Aus
terlitz, Piedmontese officer possessed a
beautiful, and in other respects, most
serviccable mare, but which one peculi-
arity rendered, at times, exceedingly dan
gerous for the saddle. She had dcci-
ded aversion to paper, which she imme-
diately recognized the moment she saw
1t, and even in the dark, if one or two
leaves were rubbed together. The effect
produced by the sight or sound of it was
so prompt and so violent that in many
cases she endorsed her rider; and in one
case, his feet being entangled in the stir
rup, she dragged him considerable way
over stony road. In other respects, this
mare had not the slightest fear of objects
that would terrify most horses. She re-
garded not the music of the band, the
whistling of the balls, the roaring of the
cannon, the fire of the bivouacs or the
glittering OF the arms. The confusion and
noise OF an engagement made no impress
sion upon her; the sight of no other white
object affected her; no other sound was re-
garded; the view ofthe rustling of paper
alone reused her to madness. All possible
means were employed to cure her of this
extraordinary and dangerous alteration
but without success; and her master was
at length compelled to sell her, for his life
was in continual danger.
A mare belonged to the French Guard
Royal from 1916 to 1891. She was per-
fectly manageable, and betrayed no antip-
athy to the human being, nor to other ami
mails, nor to horses, except they were of a
light grey color; but the moment she saw
a grey horse she rushed upon it, and at
tackled it with the greatest fury. 1t was
the same at all times and everywhere She
was all that could be wished on the parade
on the route, in the ranks, in action, and
in the stable; but such was her hatred
towards grey or white horses, that it was
dangerous to place them in the same stable
with her, at whatever distance. If she
once caught glimpse of one, whether
horse or mare, she rested not until she haG
thrown her rider on it with the greatest
fury, and bit it in q thousand places. She
generally, however, seized the animal by
the head or throat, and held it so fast thai
she would snffocate it, if it were moi
promptly relieved from her bite. AS she
grew old, this mania was not quite re-
moved, but it was somewhat weakened
No other body of white color appeared to
liiaho eiic icuSo liilpTcSSloH OH Her.
A mare, belonging to the fifth squadron
of French hussars, feared, on the contrary
all white animated objects-such as white
mantles, or coats, or even the sleeves O.
shirts and chemises too much displayed
and particularly white plumes. When any
of these white bodies, and especially il
motion, were suddenly perceived, if they
were Of any magnitude, and their motion
was rapid, she was in dreadful fright, and
strove to escape; but if they were of nc
great size, and moved more gently, she
rushed furiously upon them, struck at then
with her fore feet and endeavored to teal
them with her teeth. No other colors pro
duced the slightest effect upon her, nal
did the appearance, however sudden, of
white horses or dogs of the same color
but if II white plume waved, or white
sheet of paper tloated by her, her fear OF
rage was ungovernable.
These three cases ofsingular and partic
ular aversion possess all the characters
tics of true monomania