The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-07-18
Antipathies.

animate or inanimate object, and enl-
braces class of cases in which individ-
uals are disagreeably affected by things
innoxious or agreeable to the majority
of mankind. Antipathies are as vari-
Gus as they are unaccountable, and Of
ten in appearance ridiculous, yet to
those who are influenced by them they
are generally natural infrnities or pc
culiarities, beyond the control and not
always the result of fantastieal imagin-
ings. Different degrees of antipathy are
exhibited, some even amounting to are
vulsive feeling, such as the hysterical
dread of spiders crawling on the body,
dislike of cats, dogs, toads, mice, rattle
snakes, and the like. Most Europeans
and Americans have an antipathy for
serpents, while inhabitants of Eastern
countries experience no such dread.
Nearly all persons have a ioathing of
reptiles or insects; some are thrown in
to convulsions by smelling musk or am
bergris; several persons are mentioned
in history, among them Mary de Medi
els, who would faint at the smell of
roses. Lusitanus also relates the case
of q monk who tainted when he beheld
rose, and never quilted his cell when
that flower was blooming. Scaliger
mentions one of his relatives who ex-
perienced a similar horror when seeing
a lily. Zimmerman tells of q lady who
could not endure the feeling of silk and
satin, and who shuddered when touch
ing the veIvety skin of a peach. Eras-
mus, though a native of Rotterdam,
had such an aversion to fish that the
smell of it threw him into fever. Am.
brose Pare mentions gentleman who
would fall into convulsions at the sight
of an eel, while French lady always
tainted on seeing Holsters. Montaigne,
in discussing the subject of antipathies,
remarked that there were men who
dreaded an apple more than a nusket-
ball. Uladislaus, King of Poland, could
not bear to see apples, and if that fruit
was shown to Chesne, Secretary to
Francis T., he bled at the nose.
Many individuals take singular dis
like to harmless animals. Henry H.
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 gentleman in the court
of the Emperor Ferdinand would bleed
at the nose on hearing the mewing of a
cat, however great the distance might
be from him. NJ. de l'Ancre gives an
account of very sensible man who was
so terrified at seeing a hedge hog that
for two years ne imagined his bowels
were gnawed by such an animal; the
same author was intimate with a 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 midst, are
thrown into great distress of mind at the
sight of a mouse. Tyche Brake, shud-
dered at the sight of fox; Caesar
trembIed at the Growing of cock; the
Duke d'Epernon swooned on beholding
a leveret, although hare did not pre-
duce the same effect, while Marshal
d'Albert tainted at the sight of a pig.
NJ. Vaughein, celebrated huntsman in
Hanover, would faint outright, or, if he
had sufficient time, would run away at
the sight of roast pig. Julia, daugh-
ter 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 aver
sion 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 a horror of cheese. JOSEPH
Scaliger and Peter Abono never could
drink milk Cardau was particularly
disguised at the sight of eggs; Boyle
records the case of a man who felt 6
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. Hippoerates mentions one Nj
canor who swooned whenever
he heard a flute, while Shakespeare ha:
alluded to the similar effects of the bag
pipe. Boyle tainted when he heare
the splashing of water, while John Rol
a gentleman of Alcantara, would swoor
on hearing the word lana (wooD pro
nounced, although his cloak was made
of wool. La Motto lie Vayer could no
endure the sound of musical instru
ments, though he experienced livel,
pleasure whenever it thundered. A la
dy living near Exeter, in England, hat
mortal aversion to all colors excep
green, yellow, or white; she has beer
known to swoon away at the sight OF
soldier, while funeral never failed Il
throw her into a violent perspiration
The author of the &c Turkish Spy" tell
us that he would rather encounters a liol
in the deserts of Arabia, provided b
had but sword in his hand, than fee
spider crawling on him in the dark
No reason can be given for these an
numerous other instances OF secret dis
likes, yet it seems quite certain thei