152 LATAH, 



I am tempted to supply instances of this phase of latali, but I 



refrain from doing so advisedly. The proof of what I have stated 

 is iu every one's hands, but I much question the good taste of any- 

 thing of the character of an experiment in this direction, unless 

 for a purely scientific purpose. 



I have not myself experimented upon a latali for some years, and 

 I have never done so without subsequent regret. 



For it must be remembered, that the patient who at one's bidding 

 stands on his head, picks up a red-hot piece of iron, or strikes a by- 

 stander twice his own size in the face, is perfectly conscious of the 

 mental abasement which he is exhibiting, and resents his degrada- 

 tion most intensely. 



I have always felt, however, that such exhibitions degrade the 

 European as much as they do the Malay. 



The last division of the subject which I have to notice here, is 

 the manifestation of the disease exclusively amongst women. The 

 popular character of this Journal forbids my entering into details 

 or illustrations under this heading. 



Still I think I may, without seeming unduly realistic, so far touch 

 upon sufferers of this class as to complete my review of the whole 

 subject. 



Latali, while happily rare amongst young women, is common 

 amongst those of mature age, while of old women a largeish per- 

 centage is affected. 



In the younger sufferers, as might be expected, there is found an 

 entire absence of " virtue" and moral self-restraint (seldom a pro- 

 minent characteristic of Malay belles). 



But it is very startling to find that the disease, where present in 

 females of advanced age, manifests itself, when set in action in 

 the same direction, in a way which seems entirely to contradict the 

 accepted laws of our bodily constitution. 



That a word, a look, or a gesture "can in a moment lead a woman 

 of seventy-five to conduct herself like ahetaira of twenty, is a phe- 



