The Physiology of Funk.

Manawatu Herald, 10 May 1900, Page 3

The Physiology of Funk.

Students of human nature r have

had an excellent opportunity in 4 Ladysmith of studying the physiology of funk (says Mr McDonald in the Argus, in his chronicle of the siege), the lesson being presented in many and peculiar phase?. There are members of the Volunteers corps here — and the Volunteers have won a name for daring in all that they have been permitted to undertake — who have never yet accompanied their corps into action. They have simply lost their nerve, and are quite incapable of fighting. They are pitied rather than despised. Their colonel has taken . them aside, and appealed to them to pull themselves together and act like men, but neither the example of their comrades round about them, their own shame, or their desire to overcome their fears is of the least use. They are for the time being incapable of fighting, and pitiful as such an exhibition may be, none feel it so much as the men themselves. There are others who funk shell, and nothing else. They **^aye the nerve to do anything required of them with the rifle, but a shell finds the weak spot in "their moral armament. Neither ridicule nor argument can prevent them dueling when a shell passes over, however high in the air, though with

all the corps it is a question of honor when on parade to pay no attention to a shell, however close it falls. Early in the siege an old major, Whose fighting record is beyond quesfciDn, was lecturing his men on the folly of ducking to shell. "When you hear it, men, it's actually past, so that ducking your heads is quite useless." Just then came a (hissing shell from v Silent Sue" close over the major's head. He ducked. The men laughed, and the major observed : " Ah, well, I suppose it's just human nature." An enemy more feared than shell is amongst us in typhoid fever. The outbreak is due no doubt to the impossibility of forcing anything like sanitary observances upon the hordes of Kaffirs and coolies camped about the hills. Cases are pouring in daily, and no one is more anxious for the appearance of the relief column than the doctors, who are seriously alarmed for the health of the town.