arp pain in
the chin.

Nostalgia is the name generally given to that variety of melancholia in
which there is an intense longing for home or country. This subject has
apparently been overlooked in recent years, but in the olden times it
was extensively discussed. Swinger, Harderus, Tackius, Guerbois,
Hueber, Therrin, Castellanau, Pauquet, and others have written
extensively upon this theme. It is said that the inhabitants of cold
countries, such as the Laplanders and the Danes, are the most
susceptible to this malady. For a long time many writers spoke of the
frequency and intensity of nostalgia among the Swiss. Numerous cases of
suicide from this affliction have been noticed among these hardy
mountaineers, particularly on hearing the mountain-song of their homes,
"Ranz des vaches." This statement, which is an established fact, is
possibly due to the social constitution of the Swiss mountaineers, who
are brought up to a solitary home life, and who universally exhibit
great attachment to and dependence upon their parents and immediate
family. In the European armies nostalgia has always been a factor in
mortality. In the Army of the Moselle, and in Napoleon's Alpine Army,
the terrible ravages of suicide among the young Bretons affected with
nostalgia have been recorded; it is among the French people that most
of the investigation on this subject has been done. Moreau speaks of a
young soldier in a foreign country and army who fell into a most
profound melancholy when, by accident, he heard his native tongue.
According to Swinger and Sauvages women are less subject to nostalgia
than men. Nostalgia has been frequently recorded in hospital wards.
Percy and Laurent have discussed this subject very thoroughly, and cite
several interesting cases among emigrants, soldiers, marines, etc.
Hamilton speaks of a recruit who became prostrated by longing for his
home in Wales. He continually raved, but recovered from his delirium
when assured by the hospital authorities of his forthcoming furlough.
Taylor records two cases of fatal nostalgia. One of the victims was a
Union refugee who went to Kentucky from his home in Tennessee. He died
talking about and pining for his home. The second patient was a member
of a regiment of colored infantry; he died after repeatedly pining for
his old home.

Animals are sometimes subject to nostalgia, and instances are on record
in which purchasers have been compelled to return them to the old home