Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-11-12
HnmesIckneSss

WE arc accustomed TO consider "home.
sickness" as a transitory sentiment, that
fades away among novel scenes and fresh
acquaintance and such IL is with most.
To those who have been educated among
the associations Of large communities,
whose minds arc under the constant In.
iluonce of changing scenes and faces, the
love OF home does not appeal with the
lorcc that IL exercises upon individuals
brought closely into contact with Nature
and less with man. The citizen soldier,
sent on long campaigns, never sickens
with nostalgia. Tho country cOnscript or
recruit Is almost invariably subject 20 IL,
and in degree according 20 individual
temperament Soldiers and sailors as
classes are more generally observed To suf-
rrundermalignant forms of this complaint
than any others and this Is owing, in
great measure, TO the monotOny of their
daily lives, TO the uDpalatable restraint
under which they are held, and 10 the
character of their probable future, which
is uniavorable to speedy return TO the
associations and scenes whose absence
they regret. Among these classes Of men
the deplorablc effects of nostalgia are, I'M
fortunately,not confined toindiyidual cases
Frequently IL takes an epidemicform, and,
spreading with the rapidity and virulcnce
of cholera, or the plague, a whole com
pany or a crew win become demoralized,
sink into utter inaction and depression, or
become insubordinato and mutinous To
guard against such melancholy results 1t
has been found necessary, in the
French army at least, TO give orders,
issuing from the highest authority, that
any conscript suffering under marked
and serious attack of mdlddie du
pms shall be returned to his
home for cure. There have been cases
known, among the slaves in the West In
tia Islands, of this disease assuming an
epidemic form, and numbers Of the unfor-
tunate victims lave hung themselves in
community of despair, to tho branches of
trees surrounding the plantation. And,
after all. why should il seem surprising
that these things should beY There Is
certainly no more powerful influence ex-
crciscd over the thoughts and actions of
mankind than habit-and what habit so
potent as the constant presence of the
scenes and surroundings of home Even
the lower animals are subservicnt to this
great law. The deer pursued by the
hunter, circles round his accustomed To-
cality, returning with undertaking accura-
cy, though with uncertain and faltering
steps, to die In the presence of the scenes
with which he is familiar. The tiger,
wounded at n distance from his lair, will
drag his bleeding bodywhile life lasts, that
he may yield it finally In his native Jungle.
The domestic cut viii toll over weary
miles of dusty road to seek the home 10
which II is accustomed. Throw crab
upon the sandy beach, and instinct
teaches it, the way.to Che sea- Thoughtful
consideration may find similitude be.
tween these phenomena and the impulse
| that leads the murderer to the scene of his
crime. Indeed they are all to be re.
lerred TO the influence of impressions
upon the brain. The stronger and
more fixed the impression, the more
determined the habit or impulse, and the
more marked and injurious the result O
its arrangement. Thus the change from
| grand and conspicuous aspects of Nature
to the monotony of scenes less varied II
their features cannot but haze an imme
diatc and depressing influence upon Tho
mind e.
A young man from Basle, far from hi
native land, fell into profound melan
Choly, accompanied with sleeplessness
loss appetite, and general lassitude
which soon derangcd his health, and h,
became in a dangerous condition. Lief
alone with servant, they imagined. that h,
was moribund, and proceededto read owe
him the prayers for the dying. Ashe still
lived, however, they sent for a physician
for forms sake, who, recognizing tn
symtoms of nostalgia, proposed at ono
the removalof the young man TO his home
The mere suggestion had areviving effect
and the patient did not cease from tina
moment to grow stronger, until he wa
able to depart for his native land,- wher,
his cure was etlectually completed
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