The Chickasaw messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1880-1900, 1888-04-12
ILLUSIONS AND COLLISIONS


I mpidemir KaHela 81 = Dirordsrsd fmnrk
nssion-Apparition.
Epidemic illusions ana deiudons h.v,
ben vuy prevalent AZ time. This term
means that many people o. the entire
I populace hear, So o. feel TIE same purely
imaginary sensations Thus. il ! relatai
By Pauaanias, in his Aztec that sO0
years fter ne battle Of Marathon the
neighing q horses and the shock Of
armlea could b. heard every night on
this historic field. An who listened FOR
these sounds could not hear them. bait
thoee who crossed the plain without pre-.
meditation were sure 70 hear them. 10
sephus, the learned and trustworthy Jew.
ish historian, relates the Appearance Of
chariois containing armed men that
tyaversed the clouds and spraad round
the cities, a. II to inclose them. He vivea
this on The testimony q egewitne..es
then living. History aboundl a similar
tales. Even Gun grandfathors could re-.
late some Of these signs and portepts
which were to be SEN In the sky during
the long years Of the American Revolu-
ton. Some Of these were, no doubt
epidemic decisions: Others were simplv
exhibitions Of the aurora borealis. which
was thon bus little known to the few in
habitant Of the country Sir Walter
scott makes the following very sensible
remarks on such apparitions:
"a powerful belief has frequently per.
formed on the battle plain what has been
seen in darkness and solitude. Thoss
who were upon the borders Of the spirit
world, or were engaged Ia sanding thatr
fellows into those regions Of darkness.
believed they saw the apparitions Of those
whom their religion associated with such
scenes. Il Is not surprising that In the
midst Of q doubtful battle, % violence, Of
noise and confusion ins0parable from
such situation, the warriors should
think they beheld gods and saints. -
1t Is every way probable that the fear
Of what might be about 10 happen had
much 70 do with the appearances Of the
gods Of mythology in earlier times and
the holy saints in later years. when our
ancestors met 70 try their fortunes in
battle. Religious enthusiasm il, Of
course, 70 be recognized a. the molding
power which gave the idea shape, but
fear undoubtedly disOrdered the senses
until such hullicinatiOna became possible.
The orusades wer0 specially remarkable
for this kind Of phenomena. In the
thickest Of the fight, at the battle Of An
tioch, the crusaders saw st. George, St.
Demetrius and st. Theodosius come 10
their aid.
Epidemic cholera Is undoubtedly an
infectious disease, caused BY the growth
and development Of enormous numbers
Of microscopic organisms, which, a. they
grow, produce a deadly poison, which
does is fatal work through the ner.
vous system. u Is, Of course, out Of
the question for fright 10 produce the
special miorobe Of Asiatio cholera. but it
is a matter Of common observation in
every epidemic Of this disease that those
most frightened at the prospect o. taking
It were most sure 10 become its victims.
As Balm observes. fear upsets the diRes-
ton, and il is well known that the chol.
era microbe can do no damage while the
is in good condition. The rela-
ton between fear and cholera "a, them "a
close one and Of easy explanation. We
know too little about the habits Of the
parasites which produce smallpox yell
low fever and many infectious diseases
to judge how it may happen that fear
adds greatly 70 the danger Of taking
them, yet it is well known that such
terror often plays an important part in
producing an attack. The process is es-
sentially a physical one, in which bodily
functions are first disordered through the
feelings, giving ready entrance. to the
foes Of our race. Globe
Democrat.