to leave it doubtful whether Divine communications to men do not sometimes occur by these means in modern times.

The mysterious nature of dreams has made them a subject of superstitious interest in all ages. This was the case with the ancient Greeks and Romans during the entire period of the continuance of those nations; and is the case with multitudes in the different nations of Christendom now. In proportion, however, as persons are enlightened on the subject of mental philosophy, and understand the nature and causes of dreams, they usually cease to regard them in any other light than as mental phenomena to h explained on the same principles as imaginations and judgments belonging to our waking hours. Most of the supposed prophetic dreams in modern times are sustained in the precarious credit which they enjoy by coincidences and analogies which are everywhere to be met with, and which belong to dreams in common with all other phenomena.

CHAPTER XXX.

PHILOSOPHY OF SOMNAMBULISM.

391. Somnambulism means sleep-walking, and is applied to denote voluntary action of every kind which occurs in sleep; such as talking, walking, and performing other voluntary actions. In sound and natural sleep there is little or no voluntary action; and simple dreams occur without exciting any.

Whenever a dream is connected with voluntary action the case is one of somnambulism. The simplest dreaming is a state of partial wakefulness, and may extend to one or more of the organs of sense. In somnambulism the wakefulness is more extensive than in simple dreaming, and extends to the organs of voluntary action.

The lowest degree of somnambulism is characterized by talking, and is called talking in sleep. Many occasionally talk in their sleep who do not experience any other more aggravated form of this disease. În cases of this kind we have the usual phenomena of dreams, together with the wakefulness of the organs of speech, so far as to be under

the control of the will, and the activity of the mind in exercising the volitions necessary to speech. The volitions which produce speech in sleep are similar to those which occur in a wakeful state. The condition of the organs of

speech is also the same. This species of somnambulism, therefore, consists in partial wakefulness and activity of the organs of sensation and voluntary action, and is capable of indefinite continuance and vigor without occasioning general wakefulness.

Talking in sleep may be indistinct and disconnected, or distinct, connected, and intelligible. It may occur without any wakefulness in the faculty of hearing, more than in the other mental faculties; or with such a degree of wakefulness in that faculty, that the sleeping person may be conversed with by others, and regular replies be obtained to questions, without his being aroused from a state of sleep. The range of the sleeping person's ideas is more limited than when awake, but they are often perfectly distinct and accurate within the range to which they extend.

§ 392. The more aggravated forms of somnambulism are characterized by walking, laboring, and voluntary acts of various kinds. In this state persons rise from their beds, dress themselves, go out of their rooms and houses, labor at their business, sometimes perform dangerous exploits, and return to their beds without waking. When awaked they have the impression that the incidents of their sleep belonged to a dream, and remember them, if it all, only as dreams.

Some persons have been subjects in their wakeful hours to paroxysms of abstraction and derangement similar to those of ordinary somnambulism. These states, like those of common somnambulism, are characterized by a degree of insensibility to most external impressions, and by more than usual wakefulness and activity of some of the mental faculties. They are sometimes occasional, and irregular; and sometimes return at regular intervals of so many hours or days; and occasionally terminate in epilepsy.

Somnambulism is often accompanied with a highly excited state of the nervous system; and persons affected with it often show surprising ingenuity and intelligence, on account of the excited state of their wakeful faculties. They are able to accomplish purposes in some instances which would entirely exceed their powers in a wakeful state; and

their memories may be stronger and more perfect, their imaginations more fertile and vigorous, and their understandings more acute within the limited range in which they act, than in many states of wakefulness. Instances of this have often occurred.

§ 393. Somnambulists generally recal imperfectly and with difficulty, ideas which they previously had in a wakeful state; but remember with facility and accuracy in later states of somnambulism, the occurrences of former ones.

The higher degrees of somnambulism are nearly allied to insanity. In all its degrees this state is one of disease; and generally requires medical treatment.

Such is the mutual sympathy between the different corporeal organs when they are in a healthy state, that the wakefulness and action of one, tends to produce wakefulness in others, till all become wakeful; and the rest of one in sleep, tends to reduce all to a similar state of rest. In somnambulism this sympathy is destroyed; and the harmonious exercise and rest of the mental and bodily faculties is disturbed. One or more rest, without reducing the others to state of rest; and one or more become wakeful and active, without awaking others.

Voluntary action of any kind in sleep is unnatural; and is contrary to the obvious design of God in the constitution of the human faculties. In order to act with propriety we ought to be thoroughly awake. Then we can know whether we have occasion for the action contemplated or not. It is not possible to know this with certainty in partial or general sleep.

Somnambulism is often a precursor of delirium, to which it is nearly allied. Like maniacs, its subjects do not generally remember when awake their doings and ideas in sleep. Persons have delivered sermons in this state.

In sound sleep we have no ideas. That sleep in which we have ideas is not perfectly sound. Ideas are attended with emotions, affections, and desires, in sleep on the same principle as when we are awake. Waking volitions are not always attended with their usual corporeal actions. The same often occurs in sleep, particularly in that imperfect and irregular sleep called nightmare.

Somnambulists generally have the exercise of sight, touch, and the use of their limbs. Sometimes sight is suspended without a suspension of touch. Hearing is some

times active in this state, and sometimes partially or entirely suspended. Somnambulism is generally accompanied with a partial suspension of the mental powers; but sometimes with a preternatural energy of those powers. It sometimes

occurs occasionally and sometimes periodically.

Somnambulists frequently remember, in successive states of somnambulism, things which occurred in previous paroxysms of that disease. This takes place on the same principle that in a wakeful state persons in successive conditions, remember most readily and perfectly ideas which belonged to previous conditions of like character.

Somnambulists sometimes exhibit capacities of a superior order to any which belong to them in their wakeful hours; but the claim of preternatural capacities of sensation by which they can read with their eyes closed and bandaged, and the like, are exaggerations entitled to no credit. Somnambulism is frequently united with other diseases, particularly catalepsy, hysteria, epilepsy, and delirium; and is frequently hereditary.

The difference between the same person in successive states of periodical somnambulism and in successive states of wakefulness, is, in many cases, surprising; and is a remarkable illustration of the principles of suggestion by which successive states of mind suggest the ideas of former similar states.

Hybernation is a species of sleep. The sensibility of all the organs is diminished, the temperature reduced, the circulation, slow, respiration and digestion, almost entirely suspended. In proportion as the activity of the vital functions is diminished, the preservation of life is rendered less expensive than otherwise. All species of animals, except birds, have varieties that are capable of hybernation. Insects may be frozen and revive when thawed. The same is true of fishes and reptiles.

Some degree of somnambulism often appears in children. It ought always to be discourged, and if possible broken up. This is not usually difficult, if it is undertaken in season. In all serious cases medical advice ought to be taken, as much as in any other class of diseases; and if taken in season it will generally be effectual.

Mesmeric Sleep.

§ 394. The sleep claimed to be produced by mesmerism is a species of somnambulism, and is generally restricted to those subjects who are predisposed to this class of diseases. It is not a natural and healthy sleep in the cases in which it answers any important mesmeric purposes, and cannot be submitted to without danger. The extent to which persons have been carried in disciplining themselves into this species of disease; and in being trained to it by others, is in perfect agreement with the general laws of the human constitution, and shows the immense power both of imagination and habit, in controlling and modifying our mental and bodily faculties.

Somnambulistic sleep is not natural or healthful. It fails of accomplishing in the best manner, the ends of sleep. But some degree of it is common; and it may be produced universally in a manner analogous to that of the production of other irregularities. Any disturbance of a sleeping person, which does not entirely awaken him, produces a state approximating to somnambulism; and in many cases produces real somnambulism. The production of somnambulism in some degree in one instance, makes it easier to be produced in other instances; and custom in cases where it is frequently produced, soon makes it habitual.

$395. The mesmeric sleep has all the essential properties of somnambulism. This somnambulism is produced artificially, usually with the concurrence of the subject, and by means of manipulations by an operator. These manipulations are sufficient to engage attention without furnishing any object of awakening interest, and are therefore perfectly adapted to produce sleep. When sleep is produced, the subject is disturbed without being awakened, and is thus brought into a state approximating to somnambulism; and if at all inclined to somnambulism, is brought at once into a state which is decidedly of this character. But the subject least predisposed to somnambulism, if at all inclined to experience its wonders, will be able usually to accomplish his object, after a few trials under the direction of a skillful teacher. This is attained first by producing sleep; then by disturbing the sleeper to a sufficient extent to produce partial wakefulness, without awaking him entirely.