But in a world of social media, panic and fright spreads faster, its velocity accelerated by the unhinged brutality of Islamic State.
The markets took fright: the "spread" between Italian and German government bonds, which increases in line with investors' concern over Italy's ability to repay its debts, shot up.
If the next couple of such surprises lead to a reduction in the supply of capital either because investors take fright and bond spreads balloon or because banks turn stingy that will make the cycle turn faster.
In his book "Lombard Street", he cautioned central bankers to beware the "great risk of diffused fear":by this I do not mean absolute panic, but only a vague fright and timorousness which spreads itself instantly, and as if by magic, over the public mind.
The headline on the front page of the Independent, "The greatest suicide vote in history", was echoed by the Daily Mirror's spread, "Left & fright".
Men's voices calling, a spreading feeling of fright and agitation.
And yet, skeptical as you are, you long for the Lovers or the Ten of Cups to appear in your spread, and catch your breath with fright if Death or the Hanged Man pops up.
Fright wigs, frightening women and frightful acting.
Having said that, Zika is not a "fright and flight" disease like Ebola; it does not spread rapidly from person to person via bodily fluids or provoke terrifying symptoms.
However, word spread that a British warship was advancing up the river, and half the New England troops fled out of fright.
