Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-08-20
Lata.
A STRANGE DISEASE IN JAVA.
SOMETHING LIKE THE TROUBLE or THE
JUMPING FRENCHMEN.
III. o. Forbes, +. Il. G. S.

The first thing Of interest to attract me
within few hours of my arrival at Kosala,
in Java. was case in one of the servants
of the house Of that curious cerebral affec-
ton called by the natives 'lata" 1t is of a
hysterical nature, and is confined chiefly to
women, although have seen man affected
by 1t. On being startled or excited sud
denly the person becomes lnta, losing the
control of her will, and she cannot refrain
from initiating whatever she may hear or
see done, and will keep calling out as long
as the hit lasts, the name-and generally that
word a.one-of whatever has flashed through
her mind as the cause of il "He-ih- -heh,
matJan :" ttkerl "he -ih-heh boorung be-
sar y IA great btrd.l Her purpose will be
arrested, as, if walking. she will stop short,
and on going on again, will often follow
some other course.
The PREDATORY exclamation is an invaria-
ble symptom, seemingly caused By invoun-
tary hys,erical inspirations. According to
the degree of alarm the symptoms may re-
main only few moments or last for the
greater part of day, especially If the per-
son be prevented from calming down. The
afflicted, If not seriously affected, are not al
together lncapacItated from performing the
little duties to which they are accustomed
The most curious characteristic of the dis
ease IS their imitation of every action they
see. On one occasion, while eating ba-
mana, ! Suddenly met this servant with a
piece Of soap in her hand. and perceiying
she was slightly lnta, but without appearing
70 take any notice Of her, made vigorous
bite Of the fruit in passing her, an action
she instantly repeated on piece Of soap.
On another occasion. while she was look
ing on as placed some plants IN drylng pa
pers not knowing that caterpllIars were Oh
lec's OF supreme ahhurreEce TO the natives,
licked off IN humorous way on her dress
one that happened 10 be on a leaf: she was
instantly intensely lata and. throwing off all
her clothing, she made of like chased
deer along the mountain road repeating the
word for caterpillar as she ran, until COM
PEELED by exhaustion to stop, when the
spasm gradually left her. Ny own boy.
who would unooncernediy seize all sorts Of
snakes in hi. hands. became one day ata
also on suddenly touching large caterpl-
lar.
My hosts mail once, while alone nt some
distance from the house, having come unex-
pectedlv On large lizard, the Baiawak. was
seized by paroxysn dropping down on
her hands and knees 70 initiate the reptile
She thus followed 1t through mud. water and
mlre to the tree IN which It took refuge,
where she was arrested and came to herself
Another case which came under nv know
edge was more tragic IN its results. Inns
woman. startled by treadlng ia field on
one Of the most yenom1us snakes in Java
became 50 lata that she vbra,ed her finger
in imitation Of the tongue Of the reptile in
front Of It's head till the irr,ated snake
struck her, and the poor creature died with
in an hour.
during the attack the ewes have slight
y unnatural stare, but there i never to-
tai loss of consciousness, and throughout
the parox,sm the patient is wishfu 70 get
away from the object affecting her, vet is
without the strength Of will 70 escape or 10
cease acting in the way have described
Lata persons are constantly tea,ed by their
fellows. and are often kept in an excited
state for whole DAYS.