Abstract
A VERY simple explanation may be offered of the seemingly mysterious facts of fascination, whether in man or the lower animals. Every one knows the old and ludicrous problem requiring us to decide what would happen to a hungry donkey placed at a spot exactly equidistant from two quite equally attractive bundles of hay. In theory the creature starves, being unable to make up its mind to choose one bundle rather than the other without any reason for such choice. In practice it is generally supposed that the unsteadiness of this world's affairs would speedily destroy the equilibrium of motives and leave the donkey free to make its meal of one or other of the bundles. But in critical emergencies;, such as those mentioned in Mr. Curran's letter, when shot and shell are flying rapidly towards their victims, almost instantaneous decision is necessary. The circumstances are such that movement either to the right or to the left would be equally salutary and efficacious, but for the very reason that one movement would be just as good as the other, the mind makes its fatal pause of indecision. A man standing in the path of an advancing express train, and a small bird eyed by a snake, are probably affected both in the same manner. There need be no occult influence in the eye of the basilisk, as there can be no magical power in the iron and brass of the steam-engine, to transfix and fascinate the prey. Terror may no doubt in some instances paralyse the brain and make it incapable of choosing the method of escape, which to an intellect unembarrassed and free from panic would be the one obviously worthy of choice, but in the military examples cited by Mr. Curran it would be indecent to suggest such an explanation of the facts, and needless when the simpler solution is available.
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STEBBING, T. Fascination. Nature 22, 338 (1880). https://doi.org/10.1038/022338c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/022338c0
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