i879-3 
The “ Jumpers.” 
247 
VIII. THE 
* JUMPERS,” OR 
FRENCHMEN.” 
“JUMPING 
^Tg?\URING the past year I have been investigating a 
manifestation of the Involuntary Life of the most 
novel and interesting character. It is found among 
the French Canadians, and is there known under the ex- 
pression “Jumpers,” or “ Jumping Frenchmen.” It appears, 
according to my researches, that a certain proportion of that 
people — mingled French and Indian blood — have acquired 
the permanent habit, which they cannot control, of jumping, 
or striking out with their hands, when commanded to do so, 
suddenly and authoritatively, by anyone who chances to be 
near them. The habit appears to have been acquired, in the 
first instance, by tickling one another, in the winter camps 
where they cut lumber in the Maine woods. They are a 
somewhat degraded race of beings ; have few resources, very 
little intellect, and no mental discipline ; cannot, usually, 
read or write, and, in their camps, while away the long 
winter evenings by playing upon each other’s ticklishness 
until some of them get into a state of abnormal suscepti- 
bility that compels them to obey, automatically and instantly, 
any sudden order, as to strike, or to catch, or to jump, or 
even to vomit ; they are at the mercy of their companions, 
and are frequently so much annoyed that they have to leave 
the camp where they are employed. The more they are 
played upon the worse they become ; for the habit grows 
with exercise. This condition is not an epidemic, but a 
fixed and permanent state, and, so far forth, is different 
from the phenomena so often witnessed in revivals. It is, 
in fa6t, as I have elsewhere stated, a liability to be entranced 
on slight excitation ; differing from the allied trance to which 
all of us are liable only in this, that it follows a very much 
milder irritation. When these “Jumpers” are excited to 
jump or strike, or to perform any of their peculiar automatic 
a6ts, they present the appearance of entranced individuals ; 
their faces turn pale, their eyes are fixed and glassy, and 
sometimes their limbs tremble. One of these Jumpers is a 
waiter, and when told suddenly to “ drop it,” he at once 
drops whatever he may have in his hand, though it may be 
on the head of one of the guests, or on the floor. Another 
has so susceptible a stomach that he at once throws up his 
