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ison； without the employment of any remedies at all。 It was much more common； and is quite in accordance with the nature of so exquisite a nervous disease； to hear accounts of many who； when bitten by the tarantula； perished miserably because the tarantella； which would have afforded them deliverance； was not played to them。 It was customary； therefore； so early as the commencement of the seventeenth century； for whole bands of musicians to traverse Italy during the summer months； and； what is quite unexampled either in ancient or modern times； the cure of the Tarantati in the different towns and villages was undertaken on a grand scale。 This season of dancing and music was called 〃the women's little carnival；〃 for it was women more especially who conducted the arrangements； so that throughout the whole country they saved up their spare money； for the purpose of rewarding the welcome musicians； and many of them neglected their household employments to participate in this festival of the sick。 Mention is even made of one benevolent lady （Mita Lupa） who had expended her whole fortune on this object。
The music itself was of a kind perfectly adapted to the nature of the malady； and it made so deep an impression on the Italians； that even to the present time； long since the extinction of the disorder； they have retained the tarantella； as a particular species of music employed for quick； lively dancing。 The different kinds of tarantella were distinguished； very significantly； by particular names； which had reference to the moods observed in the patients。 Whence it appears that they aimed at representing by these tunes even the idiosyncrasies of the mind as expressed in the countenance。 Thus there was one kind of tarantella which was called 〃Panno rosso；〃 a very lively； impassioned style of music； to which wild dithyrambic songs were adapted； another； called 〃Panno verde；〃 which was suited to the milder excitement of the senses caused by green colours； and set to Idyllian songs of verdant fields and shady groves。 A third was named 〃Cinque tempi：〃 a fourth 〃Moresca；〃 which was played to a Moorish dance； a fifth； 〃Catena；〃 and a sixth； with a very appropriate designation； 〃Spallata；〃 as if it were only fit to be played to dancers who were lame in the shoulder。 This was the slowest and least in vogue of all。 For those who loved water they took care to select love songs； which were sung to corresponding music； and such persons delighted in hearing of gushing springs and rushing cascades and streams。 It is to be regretted that on this subject we are unable to give any further information； for only small fragments of songs； and a very few tarantellas； have been preserved which belong to a period so remote as the beginning of the seventeenth； or at furthest the end of the sixteenth century。
The music was almost wholly in the Turkish style （aria Turchesca）； and the ancient songs of the peasantry of Apulia； which increased in number annually； were well suited to the abrupt and lively notes of the Turkish drum and the shepherd's pipe。 These two instruments were the favourites in the country； but others of all kinds were played in towns and villages； as an accompaniment to the dances of the patients and the songs of the spectators。 If any particular melody was disliked by those affected； they indicated their displeasure by violent gestures expressive of aversion。 They could not endure false notes； and it is remarkable that uneducated boors； who had never in their lives manifested any perception of the enchanting power of harmony； acquired； in this respect； an extremely refined sense of hearing； as if they had been initiated into the profoundest secrets of the musical art。 It was a matter of every day's experience； that patients showed a predilection for certain tarantellas； in preference to others； which gave rise to the composition of a great variety of these dances。 They were likewise very capricious in their partialities for particular instruments； so that some longed for the shrill notes of the trumpet； others for the softest music produced by the vibration of strings。
Tarantism was at its greatest height in Italy in the seventeenth century； long after the St。 Vitus's Dance of Germany had disappeared。 It was not the natives of the country only who were attacked by this complaint。 Foreigners of every colour and of every race； negroes； gipsies； Spaniards； Albanians； were in like manner affected by it。 Against the effects produced by the tarantula's bite； or by the sight of the sufferers； neither youth nor age afforded any protection； so that even old men of ninety threw aside their crutches at the sound of the tarantella； and； as if some magic potion； restorative of youth and vigour； were flowing through their veins； joined the most extravagant dancers。 Ferdinando saw a boy five years old seized with the dancing mania； in consequence of the bite of a tarantula； and； what is almost past belief； were it not supported by the testimony of so credible an eye…witness； even deaf people were not exempt from this disorder； so potent in its effect was the very sight of those affected； even without the exhilarating emotions caused by music。
Subordinate nervous attacks were much more frequent during this century than at any former period； and an extraordinary icy coldness was observed in those who were the subject of them； so that they did not recover their natural heat until they had engaged in violent dancing。 Their anguish and sense of oppression forced from them a cold perspiration； the secretion from the kidneys was pale； and they had so great a dislike to everything cold； that when water was offered them they pushed it away with abhorrence。 Wine； on the contrary； they all drank willingly； without being heated by it； or in the slightest degree intoxicated。 During the whole period of the attack they suffered from spasms in the stomach； and felt a disinclination to take food of any kind。 They used to abstain some time before the expected seizures from meat and from snails； which they thought rendered them more severe； and their great thirst for wine may therefore in some measure be attributable to the want of a more nutritious diet； yet the disorder of the nerves was evidently its chief cause； and the loss of appetite； as well as the necessity for support by wine； were its effects。 Loss of voice； occasional blindness； vertigo； complete insanity； with sleeplessness； frequent weeping without any ostensible cause； were all usual symptoms。 Many patients found relief from being placed in swings or rocked in cradles； others required to be roused from their state of suffering by severe blows on the soles of their feet； others beat themselves； without any intention of making a display； but solely for the purpose of allaying the intense nervous irritation which they felt； and a considerable number were seen with their bellies swollen； like those of the St。 John's dancers； while the violence of the intestinal disorder was indicated in others by obstinate constipation or diarrhoea and vomiting。 These pitiable objects gradually lost their strength and their colour； and creeping about with injected eyes； jaundiced complexions； and