The Man-Wolf and Other Tales by Erckmann-Chatrian
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page 5 of 257 (01%)
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"This terrible affliction began to manifest itself in France in the
15th century, and the name of '_loups-garous_' has been given to the sufferers. These unhappy beings fly from the society of mankind and live in the woods, the cemeteries, or old ruins, prowling about the open country only by night, howling as they go. They let their beard and nails grow, and then seeing themselves armed with claws and covered with shaggy hair, they become confirmed in the belief that they are wolves. Impelled by ferocity or want, they throw themselves upon young children and tear, kill, and devour them." (Esquiról, _Des Maladies Mentales_, Paris, 1838, vol i., p. 521.) Those whom the French called _loups-garous_ were in German termed _werewolves_. It may be observed on this that when the nails of the fingers and toes are cut they grow indefinitely; but if they are allowed to grow unchecked they soon curve over the extremities, form talons or claws, and cease to grow--answering to the Scriptural account of the effects of the mental disorder of Nebuchadnezzar. Of course for every case of real malady many were imputed or charged upon poor creatures, who were driven to madness by groundless charges of witchcraft and sorcery, and being _loups-garous_ in secret. Many innocent people were in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries burnt at the stake as wolves in human form. A correspondent has kindly supplied the following information:--"When in Oude in India, twenty-six years ago, we heard of several instances of native babies being carried off out of the villages by she-wolves, and placed with their whelps, and brought up wild there; there was one about when we were there, partially reclaimed, but retaining much of the savage nature imbibed with the wolf's milk, and having been accustomed to go on |
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