Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-07-01
AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE.
REJECT or FRIGHT ON rHR MIND.



An interesting account Of the mental
states induced by fright was given some
time since by DR.. Fazio, who was en- eye
witness Of the great earthquake IN Ischia.
He says the emotions awakened By the
catastrophe were Of the most varied
character. During the fifteen seconds
that the shock continued everybody
stood still, seemingly rooted 70 the
ground with terror. Men were weak IN
the knees and shook 90 with ague, feel
ing as though they were about TO fall.
Soon this stiffness was broken by loud
cries and bowls, and every one rushed
toward the shore. Then women and
children fell into convulsions, or APP
peared to be semi-paralyzed and speech
less. Rudeneas and brutality were
mingled with self-sacrihce and heroism
Of the most exalted character.
Six hours after the catastrophe the
stiffness Of death reigned over Casa
micciola. Men wanderdered about the
ruins half clad and silent, as Il risen
| and hysterical children of eight or ten
years seemed dazed and stupehed, while
smaller children stood around unCon-
oernedly, eating whatever attractive
food they could find in the ruins. II
was most interesting to see the different
ways in which individuals we're affected
by the shock.
The keeper Of q refreshment booth,
who had lost everything, kept offering
his delicacies TO those who passed by,
just Is 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 concerned only for
his instruments, and inquired after them
OF everybody whom he encountered. An
| hysterical woman, who had been bed
ridden for months, jumped up and saved
herself by fight, and remained perma-
nently cured. A very considerable num-
Der Of instances Of this kind are well
authenticated, and the reports seem to
show that diseases not generally classed
as nervous, and at all events, not wholly
nervous in character, often disappear
under influences Of q strong emotional
character. Many persons at Ischia, who
were brave and full Of energy immediate
~ after the first shock of the earthquake,
became depressed, 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 continued for months,
and many people became incurably in
sane. These we're, perhaps, persons
having the insane temperament, though
the actual manifestation of IL might
never have taken place except under the
influence Of great nervous shock. In
many instances there was an aversion
for food, lasting for hours after the cat
astrophe.
There were several instances In which
the hair was whitened by fright, and
even some boys Of 10 to II years showed
heads sprinkled with gray. Many of the
unfortunates who were buried In the
ruins exhibited the greatest indifference
to their fate, following istlessly with
their eyes the motions Of those busted
with their rescue. Those whose oCCupa-
tions had led them to acquire habit Of
GOODNESS in danger seemed 10 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 IS he was pulled from
the ruins, shook his rescuer by the hand
and presented him with his card.
Another, who lay In the debris for
twenty hours, Immediately looked ct
his watch in order to ascertain the exact
moment Of his deliverance. A lady who
had just been extricated from q mass Of
rubbish would not bulge from the spot
until she could ascertain the fate of her
pet dog, which was buried with her.
One woman, who was nearly covered up
IN the debris, heard man calling loudly
for his daughter. She attracted his at
tention to her, and succeeded in making
him believe that she was his lost child.
So cunningly did she practise this decep.
ton that the old gentleman had rescued
her from the ruins before the trick was
discovered.
Most Of the people, however, who
were imprisoned beneath the ruins were
too Indifferent to their fate 10 make any
attempt 10 get free through stratagem,
10 Il curious fact that most Of them
had become regardless Of the fight Of
time, and had not the faintest idea az to
how long they had remained buried. In
very many cases those who had been
wounded by falling buildings were
obliged TO undergo severe surgical oper-
atoms. Most Of them experienced no
pain while under the knife, though they
were manifestly IN q condition Of ex-
Cessive senGibility to most Of the i'm
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