The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-07-01
EFFECT OF FRIGHT ON THE MIND.
Remarkable Actions of the Crowd During
the Earthquake mt Ischia.

EFFECT OF FRIGHT ON THE MIND
Remarkable Actions of the Crowd During
the Earthquake Mt IscLia.
An interesting account of the mental
states induced by fright was given some
time since by DIR. Fazio, who was an eye
witness of the great earthquake in Ischia.
de says the emotions awakened by the cat
astrophe were of the most varied character,
During the fifteen seconds that the shock
continued everybody stood still, seemingly
rooted to the ground with terror. Men
were weak in the knees and shook as with
ague, feeling as though they were about to
fall. Soon this stiffness was broken by
loud cries and howls, and every one rushed
toward the shore Then women and chill
dren fell into commissions, or appeared to
be semi-paralyzed and speeches.. Rude.
ness and brutality were mingled with self.
sacrifice and heroism of the most exalted
character.
Six hours after the catastrophe the still
ness of death reigned over Casamicoiola
Men wandered about the ruins half clad
and silent, as if risen from the grave; wo-
men were excited and hysterical; children
oil eight or ten years seemed dazed and
stupehed, while smaller children stood
around unconcernedly, eating whatever at
Iractiye food they could find in the ruins.
1t was most interesting to see the different
ways in which individuals were affected by
the shock.
The keeper of refreshment booth, who
had lost everything, kept offering his deli
cacies to those who passed by, just as though
his whole stock had not been swept away
In the debris caused by the earthquake. A
surgeon, covered with blood and sorely
wounded by the falling beams, was con-
cerned only for his instruments, and inouir
ed after them of everybody whom he en-
countered An hysterical woman, who had
been bedridden for months, jumped up and
saved herself by fight, and remained per
manently cured. very considerable mum.
Der OF instances of this kind are we'll au
thenticated, and the reports seem to show
that diseases not generally Chased as nerv
Gus, and, at all events, not wholly nervous
IN character, often disappear under influ-
ences of strong emotional character.
Many persons at Ischia, who were brave
and fuli OF energy Immediately after the
hrst shock OF the earthquake became de-
pressed, or wholly apathetic, later in the
day, or had commissions, or alternate fits of
laughter and crying. Sometimes an attack
OF melancholia was induced which continu-
ed for months, and many PEOPLE became in
curably insane. These were, perhaps. per.
sons having the insane temperament,
though the actual manifestation of il MIGHT
never have taken place except under the in.
fiuence of great nervous shock. In many
instances there was an aversion for food
Tasting Tor hours after the catastrophe.
There were several instances in which The
hair was whitened by fright, and even some
boys of 10 to IA years showed heads sprinls-
led with gray. Many of the unfortunates
who were buried in the ruins exhibited the
greatest indifference to their fate, following
listlessly with their eyes the motions of those
busted with their rescue. Those whose &C.
equations had led them to acquire n habit
| of GOODNESS III danger seemed to retain their
imperturbability. A foreign officer, whose
legs were imprisoned under some heavy
timbers, drew out cigarette and smoked il
with the utmost nonchalance. One man.
as soon as he was pulled from the ruins.
shook his rescuer by the hand and present
ed him with his card. Another, who Law in
the debris for twenty hours, Immediately
looked at his watch in order to ascertain
the exact moment Of his deliverance. lady
who had just been extricated from q mass
rubbish would not bulge from the spot un.
til she could ascertain the fate of her pei
dog, which was buried with her. One wo.
man who was nearly covered up in the debris,
heard man calling loudly for his daughter.
She attracted his attention to her. and sue
ceeded in making him believe that she was
his lost child. So cunningly did she prac-
tise this deception that the old gentleman
had rescued her from tho ruins before the
trick was discovered.
Most of the people, however, who were
imprisoned beneath the ruins were too in.
different to their fate to make any attempt
to get free through stratagem. 1t is curl
GUS fact that most Of them had become re-
CARELESS of the fight of time, and had not
the faintest idea as to how long they had re-
manned buried. In very many cases those
who had been wounded by falling buildings
were obliged to undergo severe surgical
operations. Most of them experienced no
pain while under the knife, though they
were manifestly In condition Of excessive
sensibility to most of the impressions of
ordinary life.