Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-07-16

MO1ades. A sad interest Is attached TO
the article from the fact that il was the
last contribution of Fernand Papillon, a
brilliant young writer and Psychologist,
who died, after short illness, last Jan
uary, at the age Of twcnty-six.
The temporary displacement of popu-
alton during the late Franco Prussian
war drew the attention of physicians TO
strange malady called nostalgia, or
inconsistencies for ones country. Some
curious cases Of this disease occurred,
especially among the inhabitant assem-
blcd at Paris during the siege.
Nostalgia may be characterized In four
words--sadness slceplessncss, loss OF
appetite and weakness. The nostalgia
loses his gaycty, his energy, and seeks
isolation in order to give himself up TO
the one idea that pursues him, that OF
his country He embcllishes the memo
ries attached 10 places where he was
brought up and creates an ideal world
where his Imagination rcyels with an
obstinate persistence. lie shuns those
whom he loved best, and is irritated by
apy effort TO console him. This un-
haDpy mental condition produces func-
tional arrangements which invade the
whole economy OF his system. His
features change their expression, his eyes
are fixed and inanimate, and his slow
movements give evidence of painful
INDIGESTION Of will An abnormal condi-
ton Of the blood follows, the skin be-
comes dry, the pulse lessons, and troubles
of the circulation appear. AS the pa
tient has no appetite gastric disturbances
complete the arrangement. Finally the
sick man dies, in full possession OF bis
faculties, and signing for the country he
will see no more One characteristic Of
this nervous malady is that the patient
knows that he will die. OfteDtimcs he
dies of starvation, or commits suicide.
Nostalgia attacks chiefly young per
sons and is observed most frequently
among soldiers. During the wars Of the
Revolution and the Empire it became an
epidemic and produced great rayages in
army-Iife AT st. Jean dAcre IL was
complicated with the plague, and rem.
dered it still more fatal. On board the
pontoons Mt Cadiz and Plymouth, among
the soldiers of Gen. Dupont, il killed as
many Frcnchmen as the yellow fever.
In Poland and Russia IL aggravated all
other epidemics In 1884, the Twenty
first regiment of light infantry, then in
the Moreo, received many Corsican re.
cruits, several of whom died OF nos
talgia. -,
Many cases." says NJ. Papilon, sob
served at the hospitals and ambulanccs
during the siege Of Paris were sad TO
behold" He gives one illustration which
came under his own observation. On
the 4th OF January, 1871, the young
Marquis de R, aged twenty-four, II
native of Finistere, entered the military
hospital of the Bicetrc. He had vario-
loid and bronchitis, from which he soon
recovered Although his illness cost
him little suffering, he was "A prey to
other prescriptions. He ate little, and
passed his time In praying and weeping,
repelling all amusement and consolation.
On the 10th of January every pathology
cal symptom had disappeared, but
the wasting away had so increased,
the moral depression OF the patient
was 50 disquieting that the physician Of
the ward thought II his duty to admoDish
him in friendly way. Two soldiers and
an attendant were placed near him, who
aonvcrsed constantly with him of his
country and family In the Breton dialect.
All these means failed On the 10th, in
terrogated again by the physician, the
patient sighed bitterly, and said, with
tears In his eyes: @ know very well that
| am going TO dic--you cannot prevent IL.
Would that had never quilted Brittany
] was content, rich and happy. My
father died without ever having found
fault with me, and left me To- do as
pleased ] grew up, instructed by the
cure, and lived the careless, honest,
and pure life of a Breton gentleman.
Who could have told me that ] should
leave Finistere and die upon u hospital
bed at the entrance of Paris? ] felt,
when left Brittany, that it was all over
with me. ! was nj Villiers, mt Cham.
pigny: did as the others, fought, but
God did not wish for me! II you knew
how sufl'er shall never see again my
chateau, the woods, the llocks, my horse,
my dogsl May God shorten my suffer
ings and pardon my weakness! DO not
remain hcre--my last hour approaches,
and must prepare for my fate like a
good Christian The poor victim died
on the 2Sth day of the same month,
There is great difference in th~prev-
alencc of nostalgia among different ma.
tionalities. Ii finds the greatest number
of victims among the French, on account
Of their love for their country, and the
reluctance with which they leave IL.
The inhabitants Of the western depart
mcnts, especially the Bretons, the south
ers departments and Corsica, are partic.
love their country, and leave il with re-
greet Nostalgia is not rare in Italy, es-
pecally since the conscripts are trans
ported from one extremity of the King
dom to the other The English and Ger
mans emigrate more willingly. The En-
glsh are preserved from the malady by
their adventurous spirit and ii may be
said that their country Is in every place
where the British dag floats
1t is also true that the less the degree
of civilization the greater is the love for
the native country Sayagcs, men of the
grossest civilization and the most desc
late climates, quit their country with
great reluctance. A LaplaRder carried
to Poland was seized with an insur-
mountable sadness, and only saved his
life by return to his Indictment country.
An Indian girl, Courame, brought up In
the forest, was adopted by wealthy
family. Gary me back she cried,
to the country where was born! Oh,
my mother, have you forgotten meg"
Courame languished, wasted away, and
at last escaped with some Indians of her
tribe