The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-05-23
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Antipathies.


Antipathies.
Antipathy is commonly defined to be
an involuntary dislike or aversion to an
animate or inanimate object, and en-
braces class of cases in which indi-
viduals are disagreeably affected by
things innoxious or agreeable to the
majority of mankind. Antipathies are
as various as they are unnacountable,
and often in appearance ridiculous,
vet to those who are influenced by
them they are generally natural in
firmities or peculiarities, beyond the
control and not always the result of
fantastical imaginings. Different de-
grees of antipathy are exhibited, some
even amounting to a revulsive feeling,
such as the hysterical dread of spiders
crawling on the body, dislike of cats,
dogs, toads, mice. rattlesnakes and
the like. Most Europeans and Amer
leans have an antipathy for serpents.
while inhabitants of Eastern countries
experience no such dread.
Nearly all persons have a loathing
of reptiles or insects; some are thrown
into commissions by smelling musk or
ambergris; several persons are men,
toned in history, among them Mary
de Medicis, who would faint. at the
smell of roses. Lusitanus also relates
the case of a monk who tainted when
he beheld rose, and never quilted his
cell when that flower was blooming.
Scaliger mentions one of his relations
who experienced similar horror when
seeing lily. Zimmerman tells of q
lady who could not endure the feeling
of silk and satin, and who shuddered
when touching the velvety skin of a
peach. Erasmus, though native of
Rotterdam, had such an aversion to
fish that the smell of it threw him into
a fever. Ambrose Pare mentions a
gentleman who would fall into convul-
sions at the sight of an eel, while a
Holsters. Montaigne, in discussing The
subject of antipathies, remarked that
there were men who dreaded an apple
more than musket ball. Uladislaus,
King of Poland, could not bear to see
apples, and if that fruit was shown to
Chesne, secretary to Francis l., he bled
at the nose.
Many individuals take singular dis
like to harmless animals. Henry Ill.
of France, could never sit in the room
with a cat, and the Duke of Schonberg
ran out of any chamber into which one
entered, while a gentleman in the
| court of the Emperor Ferdinand would
bleed at the nose on hearing the new
ing of a cat, however great the distance
might be from him. M. de TAncre
gives an account of very sensible
man who was so terrified at seeing a
hedgehog that for two years he mag
ined his bowels were gnawed by such
an animal; the same author was inti-
mate with very brave officer who was
so terrified at the sight of mouse that
he never dared to look at one unless
he had his sword in his hand. Many
strong minded and sensible people,
even in our own midst, are thrown into
great distress of mind at the sight of
mouse. Tyche Brake shuddered at the
sight of fox; Caesar trembled at the
growing Of a cock; the Duke d Epernon
swooned on beholding leveret, al
though hare did not produce the
same effect, while Marshal dAlbert
tainted at the sight of a pig. M,
Vaughein, celebrated huntsman in
Hanover, would faint outright, or, if
he had sufficient time. would run away.
at the sight of roast pig. Julia,
daughter of Frederick, King of Naples.
could not taste meat without serious
accident.
A large class of persons have an an
tipathy to animal food, and from child
hood refuse to eat it; in others the
| aversion is limited to one kind of meat,
| as veal or pork; others are averse to
eggs or milk, while whole families are
known to entertain horror of cheese.
Joseph Scaliger aud Peter Abono never
| could drink milk; Cardau was particu-
larly disgusted at the sight Of eggs;
| BOYLE records the case of man who
felt a natural adherence to honey.
Other singular antipathies are vouched
for. Lord Bacon tainted at every
eclipse of the moon, and Ariosto at the
sight of bath. Hippocrates mentions
one Nicanore who swooned whenever
| he heard flute, while Shakespeare has
alluded to the similar effects of the bag
pipe. BOYLE tainted when he heard the
| splashing of water, while John Rol, a
/ gentleman of Alcantara, would swoon
on hearing the word lana (wooD pro-
nounced, although his cloak was made
of wool La Motto. lie Vayer could not
endure the sound of musical instru-
ments, though he experienced lively
pleasure whenever it thundered. A
lady Living near Exeter, in England,
had mortal aversion to all colors ex-
cept green. yellow or white; she has
been known to swoon away at the sight
of soldier, while a funeral never
failed to throw her into violent per-
spiration. The author of the " Turk
ish Spy tells us that he would rather
encounter lion in the deserts of Ara
bia, provided he had but sword in his
hand, than feel spider crawling on
him in the dark.
/ No reason can be given for these and
numerous other instances of secret dis
likes, yet it seems quite certain their
manifestations are beyond the control
!. of the individual will. These peculiar
tiles are no doubt sometimes acquired
in early life by injudiciously terrifying
4 children with some object, the mental
impression becoming permanent. 1t is
uncharitable, in dealing with such per-
sons as are under these unccntrollable
influences, to make light of their fears
and antipathies, while only pure selfish
ness can expect every member of tho
human family to be actuated by simi-
lar impulses or regulated by similar
self-contrcl. II Boston Cultjvator.
II ii