The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-04-06
A STRANGE DISEASE
WHICH CAME UNDER THE NOTICE
OF A NATURALIST IN JAVA.
One of the Curious characteristics Of the
Disease Called 'tLata"-InvOluntary
ImItatIOn-Some Queer Cases
The WIu-Power Gone.


IA. o. Forbes, T. r G. 81
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-" It is Of a
hysterical nature, and Is confined chiefly TO
women, although have also seen man
affected by it. On being startled or ex-
cited suddenly the person becomes lata, los
ing the control of her viii, and can not re-
frain from initiating whatever she may hear
or see done, and will keep calling out as
long as the fit lasts, the name-and gener-
ally that word alOne-of whatever ha
flashed through her mind as the cause OF it:
GHe-ih-heh, matjanl" tiger; che ih-heh
boorung besarl" Ia great bird). Her pur-
pose viii be arrested, as, if walking, she
VIII stop short, and, on going on again, will
often follow some other course.
The predatory exclamation is an invari-
able symptom, seemingly caused by invol-
untary hysterical inspirations. According
to the degree of alarm the symptoms may
remain 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
altogether incapacitated from performing
the little duties to which they are accus-
toned. The most curious characteristic Of
the disease is their imitation of every action
they see. On one occasion, while eating a
banana, suddenly met this servant with a
piece of soap in her hand, and perceiving
she was slightly lata, but without appearing
to take any notice of her, made a vigor-
GUS bite of the fruit in passing her, an action
she instantly repeated on a piece Of soap.
On another occasion, while she was look
ing on as L placed some plants in
drying paper, not knowing that caterpil-
lars were objects Of supreme adherence
to the natives l f1icked of in a humorous
way on her dress one that happened to be
ON leaf; she was instantly intensely lata,
and, throwing off all her clothing, she made
off like chased deer along the mountain
road, repeating the word for caterpillar as
she ran, until compelled by exhaustion to
stop, when the spasm gradually left her.
Ny own "boy," who would unconcernedly
seizs all sorts of snakes in his hands, be-
came one day lata also on suddenly touch
ing large caterpillar.
Ny hosts maid once, while alone at some
distance from the house, having come unex-
pectedly on large lizard, the Baiawak,
was sieZsd by a paroxysm; dropping down
on her hands and knees TO initiate the rep
tile she thus followed it through mud,
water, and miro to the tree in which it took
refuge, where she was arrested and came to
herself Another case which came under
my knowledge was more tragic in its re-
suits This woman, startled by treading in
q field on one of the most venomous snakes
In Java, became so lata that she vibrated
her finger in imitation Of the tongue Of the
reptile In front of its head till the irritated
snake struck her, and the poor creature died
within an hour.
During the attack the eyes have a slightly
unnatural stare, but there is never total
loss Of consciousness, and throughout the
paroxysm the patient Is wishful to get away
from the object affecting her, yet is with
but the strength Of will to escape or to cease
acting in the way I have described. Lata
persons are constantly leased by their fell
lows, and are often Kept in an excited state
for whole days.