ON

"JLLUCIN

ACTIONS:
0

i
APPARITIONS,

ECSTASY,

VISIONS,

DREAMS,

AND

SOMNAMBULISM.

MAGNETISM,

DE

A. BRIERRE
CHEVALIER

L'ORDRE

DK

L'lNSTITUT

DE

LATJBEAT

DE

DE

MEMBER
AND

LECTURER

THE
ON

OF

OF

FRENCH

E.L.S.

HULME,

ANATOMY

NATIONALS

ETC.

THE

COLLKGE

ROTAL

COMPARATIVE
SCHOOL

SURGEONS
AT

OF

THE

ENGLAND,

OROSVENOR

MEDICINE.

LONDON
HENRY

L'aCADEMIE

FROM

T.

D'HOHKEUl

LESION

ETC,

MEDICINE,

ROBERT
OF

LA

DE

ET

TRANSLATED

By

BOISMONT, M.D.

RENSHAW,

356,
1859,

STRAND.

FLACK

71

f:

"n

JB9f

SAVJIX

AND

EDWARDS,

PRINTERS,

COVRNT

"""

GARDEN.

OHANDGS

STREET,

'

(\

ON

HALLUCINATIONS.

CONTENTS.

OF

TABLE

PAGE

|TAP.

INTRODUCTION

I.

AND

DEFINITION

18

HALLUCINATIONS

OF

VISIONS

Di

II.

HALLUCINATIONS

CO-EXISTING

[II.

HALLUCINATIONS

INVOLVING

IV.

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

V.

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

DEMENTIA,
VI.

II.

WITH

27

SANITY

72

INSANITY
....

THEIR

MONOMANIA,

101

ILLUSIONS

STUPIDITY,

MANIA,

114

PARALYSIS

GENERAL

AND

TO

RELATIONS

....

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

144

TREMENS

DELIRIUM

NOT

DISEASES

NERVOUS

STITUTING
CON-

152

INSANITY

III.

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

IX.

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

AND

X.

HI.

HALLUCINATIONS

T.

MAGNETISM,
193

IN

OF

TREATMENT

HALLUCINATIONS

INFLAMMATORY,

FEBRILE,
AND

CHRONIC,

HISTORY,
'II.

ANIMAL

ECSTASY,

SOMNAMBULISM

ACUTE,
CAUSES

162

DREAMS
.

HALLUCINATIONS

XI.

AND

NIGHTMARE

245

DISEASES

OTHER

270

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

MORALITY,
OF

RELATION

AND

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,
339

RELIGION
....

397

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

RELATION

TO

MEDICAL

PRUDENCE
JURIS-

424

HALLUCINATIONS,

INTRODUCTION.

"-

epochs in

historyof man, in every climate,

the most
under
opposite forms of government, and
with every varietyof religion,
we
constantlyfind the
and apparitions. The source
belief in spirits
of
same
an
opinion so universal must evidentlybe sought for
At

all

of man,

constitution

mental

in the

the

irresistible

where

there

dominates
pre-

after the

craving
unknown,
which manifests
and a belief in the supernatural,
itself
in the multitude
The
by a love of the marvellous.
of the Great
who
dreams
and of boundless
Spirit,
savage
hunting-grounds in a future life ; the Arab who
wanders
in the enchanted
and
palacesof the Thousand
One
carnatio
Nights; the Indian who loses himself in the inan

of Brama
world

who

consults

professesto
the

what
that

the

inhabitant

believe

afford

of

the

civilized

nothing, yet secretly

fortune-teller,or
it cannot

of

him

demands
; all

from

obey

the

netism
magsame

believingsomething.
At first,it seems
astonishingthat such opinions
should
much
have obtained
is
so
influence,and one
is a compound
of errors, or
tempted to ask, if man
the sport of illusions ; but a deeper investigation
of
the
that
these
us
question will convince
opinions
are
only deviations from the religioussentiment.
History and tradition alike inform us that man
forth pure, but
of his
came
free, from the hands
Creator.
And
his guide, he
as
long as reason
was
want

"

INTKODUCTION.

safe both from

was

and from

superstitions
; bul
and the laps(
liberty,

errors

throughthe abuse of his

who gave him life,
and fo:
of time, he had forgotten
what purpose it was
givenhim, he became the slav
which he could no longercontrol,
of the passions
an
thenceforward went further and further astray. Toi
mented, on the one
hand, by the thoughtof what h
had been, enchanted
once
by the pleasuresof th
the other,he plungedinto an unrea
on
imagination
when

world

of his

creation.

own

that wildest
imagination,
to break
endeavouring
perpetually
The

bind

which

it to

reason

of

our

away

and when

i
faculties,
from the tie

it has

succeedec

nc
this,there are no fables,no strange beliefs,
or
extravagantdreams, that it wil
singularillusions,
love better to believe than tc
We
not propagate.
examine," says Bacon,* and this inclination especially
mind.
"ev"
in the infancyof the human
prevails

in

"

have been more

periods
than
the imagination
to

seem

have

been

creation.

birds, the earth

favourable to the
that of the Middle

the

The
overrun

centre

air

was

with

triumphsoi
Ages ; they

of every kind of fantastic

filled with marvellous
terrible

animals,the

while in its unexplored

fishes,
peopledwith monstrous
told of magnificent
countries,
regionsmen
Notions
thus extravaterrestrial paradises.
gant,
and new
of devastating
developedamidst the irruptions
that the world
barbarians,and a generalapprehension
about to end, suggestedthe idea of an invisible
was
and supernatural
power, which nothingcould resist.
listened with eagerness to tales
Men thus predisposed
the narrator recoiled from
of ghostsand witches ; even
seas

the creations which

terrifiedhis hearers.

givenby Malebranche of the way

explanation
established seems
became
to
which such opinions
it. A shepherdin
that we here reproduce
so just,

The
in
us

Bacon

De

Dignitateet Augment.

Scient. lib. v. cap.

v.

INTRODUCTION.

dren,
after supper, to his wife and chil"iris
cottagerelates,
his adventures at a witches' meeting. His
lieves
is warmed
by the efiects of wine,he beimagination
been presentat these
repeatedly
and he tellshis tale in a forcible
meetings,
imaginary
The result is not doubtful,
and impressive
manner.
the children and the wife are utterly
terror-stricken,
believe all that theyhave justheard. It isthe
and fully
who
the husband,whom
theylove and respect,
father,
and taken part in ;
is speakingof what he has seen
why should they doubt him ? These tales are deeply
accumulate ; the
impressedupon their memories,tjiey
fear passes away, but the conviction remains,and at
to the place. They
attracts them
lengthcuriosity
anoint themselves,
theygo to rest,and their dreams
before them.*
On
bringthe scene
circumstantially
waking up, theyquestioneach other,and mutually
relate what they have seen ; they thus confirm their
whilst he who has the strongest
previousopinions,
the
exercises the greatestinfluence over
imagination
fixes the details of the
others,and soon permanently
that he has

unreal

narrative.

shepherdhas

Thus

taken

sorceries in which

the

part are

established favt,and

an

other inventions will follow in

have but

of
imagination

an

and

are

not

time,if

his hearers

sufficient force and

deterred

the

by

fear from

liness,
live-

relating

similar adventures. f
Such is in fact the

of many errors.
Once
origin
; theybecome
theyare repeated
theyhave originated
which
formed into a system of doctrines and opinions
into the mind with its earliest impressions,
enter
subjectthe strongestintellects to their influence,
and

continue

for ages, until

reason

reasserts

her

is well established.
The fact of these anointings
De
la
de la Verite,
Recherche
t. i. lib. 11,
+ Malebranche :
: Paris,
De V Imagination,edition Charpentier
chapitredernier,
*

1843.

B2

ItfTKODUCTION.

and
rights,

forces the

to
imagination

proper limits.
in this way false
When
facts by whole
admitted
as

retire within its!"

are
impressions

received

nations,and enter into

the teachingof lectures,
books,pictures,
sculptures,
of every agent at work
in a word
in the social
vidual
indithat no
diffused,
system,they are so generally
unaided powers.
escape them by his own
to a
great intellects of such periodsparticipate
can

The

certain extent
their conduct.

is useful

These
or

which, if I may
embodiment, and
them

to

to do

by

they

set

idea

"

which

Heaven

has

commissioned

What

force which
themselves

loftiest powers

representsome

persons

idea of
an
necessary to the age
the expression,
use
they are the

announce.
a

their

these falsenotions do not influence

contemporaries
; but
which

of
opinionsand prejudices

in the

are

they do theyare impelled

they cannot resist ; the tasks

are

at work

an

evidence

that

man's

in them.

to our
applythese principles
sent
precombining with them certain logical
psychosubject,
facts. We
surrounded
are
by an external
world,which finds an avenue
by every sense, and
fillsour brain with countless sensations and images,
which an emotion of the mind, a passion,
a state of
abstraction or disease may reproducein an instant,
the desire
and colouring.Hence
in all their variety
feel to call up images of the past. These vivid
we

We

propose

to

reminiscences which

affect

us

different ways,
false or real,
stitute
con-

in two

accordingas they appear to us

But the
the phenomenon of hallucinations.
of our ideas ; there
not the only sources
are
senses
in the soul itself,
others wrhich originate
or
are
are
derived from God ; these are
generalnotions,ideas
become
be imaged,and cannot
pure, which cannot
of hallucinations,
the subjects
exceptby an abuse of
a definite
the process of abstraction ; if theyassume

INTRODUCTlv

and

hape

fection of
no

form

this is but

re.

nature, the spiritual

p

our

way concerned in the operation.

Sensible objectsare
the exclusive

fc

hallucinations,
anythingwhich can effect
impressionon the mind, may, under certain
stances, produce an image, a sound, an odou
has for a long time givenhin,
Thus, when a man
he frequent,
up to habits of profound meditation,
the idea with which he was occupiedclothe
perceives
itself in

material

the vision

by

form

and
disappears,

certain natural laws.

time

when

the

he

explainsit
But, if this man

to

ceases

himself

lives at

to

of spirits,
appearance
then the
phantoms is general,

him

reality
; but

that if his mind

in
powers
influence on

labour

belief in the

and
demons, ghosts,
vision becomes

the mental

; as

with this difference,

is

sound, and his reasoning

healthystate, the apparitionhas no
his conduct,and he performshis duties

in life justas

well

as

the

who

man

has

tions
hallucina-

no

at all.

This

remark

applieswith greater force

hallucinations of celebrated
themselves
would

from

the

men.

To

have

generalbelief

to

the

pated
emanciof their

have

requiredthem to be of a different
when that belief contained nothing
nature, particularly
reprehensible.In adopting these opinionsthey
of society
shared the mistake
at large;but their
their actions,
their doctrines,
those
were
enterprises,
of moralists,
of philosophers,
and of benefactors of
their race.
They fulfilled a necessary mission,and
their names
inscribed amongst those of
are
justly
whom
humanityis proud.
which should particularly
A circumstance,
be borne
in mind, is,that in the majority
of these cases, the
to realize their idea.
hallucination did but helpthem
time

Those

illustrious men,

who

have

been

so

unjustly

" JCTIOK.
and
/commenced by originating
marked
by the impressof their
as
only after havingthought over
and when
their minds had
roundly,
and without
/ghestpitchof enthusiasm
no
great work is possiblethat they
"

"

iT

idea clothed

in

which
,ilucination,"
not

,ter, was
ie

make

we

in this

material form.

case

use

The

of for want

signof insanity,

result of

who
esides,
;me

long continued meditation,

can
help being struck with

difference between

the

ex-

these persons and those of

to hallucinations ?
subject

present day,who are

The first,
show themselves
powerful,
strong,logical,
full of greatnessin their actions ; theyare the representatives
of a new
of a period,
of a need felt,
idea ;
the others are
cunning,weak, and vacillating
; they
the
of
their
if
are
mission, they
expression no want,
yhe

possess any, has neither

hallucinations of the one

usefulness

nor

aim.

The

the consequences
of
the period
in which the persons lived theyexercised
their reason
influence over
no
; while those of the
were

"

others

derived from the diseased condition of the

are

and
individual,

are

more

or

less

with
complicated

insanity.

must
we
studythe life of a great man
and of a
never
forgetthat it consists of a history
is the undying,
the spiritual
biography. The history
part; the biographyis the perishable
part. If we
attempt to judgeof one without the other we deceive
and we deceive others.
The aspirations
of
ourselves,
geniusgiverise to phenomena which deviate from the
the rough material,
the irregularit
course
common
; they are
in the marble, which disappear
beneath
to leave only his masterthe chisel of the sculptor,
piece
in view; theyare, ifyou please,
hallucinations;
but they have no
influence on the truths taught"

"When

we

IFTBv^^TION.

these existed both before and after the

of what

only the

was

givento

the world.

disappearance
throughwhich theywere

means

Now,

an

idea,like

himself,
the other
spiritual,

parts,the one
considered in relation to its
material ; a hallucination,
to our notion,
characteristic phenomenon,is,
according
of the sensible signof the idea. In
the reproduction
state of tension
the thinker it is the highestpossible
of which his mind
is capable a state of positive
opposed to that of
ecstasy. This opinionis directly
M. Baillarger,
who attributes it to a kind of arrest of
consists

of two

man

"

the

attention

shall discuss

we

the

of this

merits

whose convictions are

theoryhereafter. In societies,
has not been
strongand deep,where the imagination
enlightened
by the aid of science,the hallucination
but in neither
is the reflection of these general
beliefs;
case

does

the

reason.

it offer

obstacle to the free exercise of

an

celebrated

men

have

that

been

hallucinations,
signsof mental

their conduct

without

the

it is certain

Hence

liable to

offering
any

most

alienation.
of
are

the charge
If,however,we strongly
protestagainst
we
broughtagainstthese loftyintellects,
insanity
with
that hallucinations,
aware
complicated
fully

the loss of the

famous

reason,

have

existed in

whose

some

in

history.
of believing
is characteristic of our
The necessity
this impulseis guidedby faith and
species.When
combined
it conducts us
reason
safelyto the goal
towards which we all tend ; bat,if it rests exclusively
the greatest
the other of these principles,
or
upon one
to ensue.
Paith apart from reason
are
errors
likely
leads to superstition,
and reason
without faith almost
always results in pride. The hallucinations which

names

are

these two

arise from
and

as

various

as

of

sources

are

error

the ideas and the

of the individual.

The

desire

as

rous
nume-

dailyoccupations
of ill-regulated

INTEODTJCTION.

knowledge producesall kinds of

of perpetual
excitement leads
want

anomalies.

The

enlightened
and will always
nations into the greatestabsurdities,
the temporary success
of the charlatan,
until
ensure
some
new
passionleads them to abandon the one of
It is impossible
enamoured.
which they were
even
from these two
to glanceat the hallucinations arising
the combinations
as
as
numerous
sources, for they are
vidual
of thought as diverse as the shades of indieven

"

character.
the mind

much

However

may

be concerned

they
productionof hallucinations,
to this

source

there

are

in the

all be

cannot

others which

are

ferred
re-

duced
pro-

by certain substances introduced

by disease,
The phenomena remain
the body, "c.
tially
essen-

into

the
For

this

two

classes

we

reason

have

cause

of them

is different.

divided hallucinations into

those

causes,

"When

and
ing
treat-

in their relations
hallucinations,
and religion,
to psychology,
we
history,
morality,
enter into the details which the importanceof

of the causes,
shall

the

dependingon moral
causes.
dependingupon physical
"

those

but

same,

and of

demands.
subject
In discussing
a
questionof this kind, it is only
the appareasonable to ask us our opinion
concerning
ritions
of Scripture. It neither accords with our
convictions to avoid a reply. "We
or
our
principles
of the statements
in the Bible
admit the authenticity
the

and

the

!New

Testament; we

believe in the divine

in the establishment of a religion,

whose
interposition
founder proclaimedhis mission by destroying
the
and
worshipof false gods,by the abolition of slavery,
the family
by the establishment of one brotherhood
of man.
But, just as we have maintained that in
tions
profanehistorywe meet with instances of hallucinawith a sound state of mind, because
co-existing
the result of certain received opinions,
they were
"

INTRODUCTION,

ing
insanityarisfrom the diseased condition of the individual,
so
in the same
sons
perway we believe that many religious
which were
have been subject
to hallucinations,
the errors, and the prejuconnected with the opinions,
dices
of the age, without
their reason
being affected,
the victims of a diseased imagination.
whilstothers were
It is onlybjrexaminingthese different elements that
we
can
hope to approximateto a true solution of the
perfection
question. Our most generallaws partakeof our imliable to exceptions.
and are perpetually
sum
pointsof
If,then, we briefly
up the principal
of the unthat the feeling
this chapter,
known
we
perceive
attaches himself,
and from which
to which man
arises the want
of somethingin which to believe,a
love of the marvellous,a desire for knowledge,and a
cravingafter excitement,is itself only a weakened
condition of the religious
sentiment.
while there

When

were

the

others combined

pathwayof

with

truth and sound

philosophy

is

abandoned, the reason

having become uncertain
and vacillating
givesfull scope for the playof the
which indulgesitselfin the production
imagination,
The imaginaof paradoxes,
dreams, and chimeras.
tion
mistress
of
the situation,
a
beingthus
developes
which are afterwards embodied
of false ideas,
number
of further
into a system, and lay the foundation
errors.

Ideas

are

the

food

of the

understanding
; they

mysteriousbond between the soul and the

in two
body, and they affect man
by their
ways
abstract nature, and by the material form which represents
them.
If a moral
acts
a physical
or
cause
with sufficient power
the idea to presentit in a
on
visible form, as in the phenomenon of hallucination,
it is the image which is produced,the idea itself can
under the cognizance
of the senses.
come
never
Thus,
when the ideas become
it is the organ and
disturbed,
form

"

10
not

INTRODUCTION.

the mind

out of

which

order,the

latter may

is in fault.

mind

which

The

instrument

directs it is sound

is*
the

remain

but it is never
altered.
inactive,
Sometimes, indeed,it breaks its way throughevery
and shows
that it has preserved
all its
obstacle,
its long repose.
In the sick
energy notwithstanding
man
governedby a phantom, it still continues its
with perfect
regularity.
operations
the
of firstprinciples
has given
When
forgetfulness
rise to a number
of false ideas,
and imbued the mind
with certain popular,but superstitious
errors, it is
the outward

forms associated with

present themselves

these ideas which

hallucinated,
just as in
it is the objectswhich
surrounded
the
other cases
individual in his daily
lifethat are represented.The
effects producedby hallucination are of two kinds :
in the

to

the

theydo not
other,they superinducea
one

case,

affect the
disordered

reason

state

in the
of the

intellect.
of
the authority
Lastly,whilst fullyrecognising
that it is itself
the reason, it must not be forgotten
under restraint,
and may therefore be commanded
to
and yieldto a higher authority.
stay its course,
is not required
Agreeingwith Bossuet,that religion
to submit to its questioning
beyond a certain point,
of Scripture,
admit as authentic the apparitions
we
from the hallucinations of
and separatethem entirely
religious
persons, derived from certain popularbeliefs
with reason.
which are not incompatible
These preliminaries
we
being established,
proceed
to describe the general
arrangement of the work.
The definition of a hallucination ought to precede
and it is with this that the book comits history,
mences.
If hallucinations

simplefacts theywould not

classification; but they are far
condition of the mind
peculiar

were

requirean elaborate
This
from beingso.

12

INTBODUCTION.

different to the
of

woman

an

not

"

Illusions sometimes

monster.

of

the
assumes
realitya man
becomes a
; a pieceof wood

may be
illusions are
unfrequently

Not

appear in the manner

is
of these epidemics

epidemic. The occurrence

in history.Every sense
rare
and all of them

appearance
hideous

so

is

subjectto

at

the

sions,
illutime.

same

accompanied
by reprehensible

and

dangerousacts.
Hallucinations are especially
frequentin insanity.
The fourthsection contains those which are combined
with monomania
and other forms of insanity.The
kinds of monomania
most
liable to this complication
delirium tremens, demonomania, erotomania,
are
lypemania,
A
"c.
nostalgia,
speciesof demonomania
to a considerable extent,in which
formerly
prevailed
the persons who were
attacked imagined they had
relations with demons
Succubi.
which

were

termed

Incubi

and

To this division

show

belongthose hallucinations
in that particular
form of
as
stupidity.

themselves

which
insanity
The

who

is known

fourth section also contains the hallucinations

which

mania, they are very frequently

accompany
with illusions,
combined
these two conditions may
or
The
alternately.

occur

themselves

in delirium

from narcotic
arising
section;we have
"fifth

hallucinations

which

show

tremens, and in the

frenzy
form the subject
of the
poisons,
considered it rightto separate

the hallucinations which

arise from

the

use

of these

because
substances,

panied
accomthey are not necessarily
spoken of in that part
by insanity
; they are

of

our

work

which

treats

of the

causes

of hallucinations.

tions
arrangedthose hallucinawhich are
with catalepsy,
epilepsy,
complicated
"c.
hysteria,
hypochondriasis,
and dreams form
The hallucinations of night-mare
in
the seventh section. It is evident that night-mare,
In

the sixth section

are

13

.yTEODUCTIOlS'.

certain

respects,resembles

observed

in this disorder.

dreams, which

to

bear

study of

The

and
insanity,
It is the

that
with

same

strong analogyto

it is

regard

tions.
hallucina-

the

of dreams
has
physiology
interest ;
suppliedus with certain facts of peculiar
which happen in this state are, we
the presentiments
in most instances by the existence
conceive,explained
of hallucinations. Nevertheless,
do not
presentiments
in dreams,nor
occur
can
exclusively
they alwaysbe
have shown
we
by hallucinations. Lastly,
explained
hallucinations have sometimes

that nocturnal

in the form
There

under
the

of

is

the

epidemic.
condition
singular

name

attention

which

placedin
the mind

an

of the

of ecstasy,
which
of all observers.

has
The

mind, known
justlyattracted
hallucinations

of its distinctive characters

one

are

occurred

the
upon

have

we

section.
The concentration
of
eighth,
one
particular
objectfor a long time

may giverise to an ecstatic condition of the brain,in

is produced,
which an image of the object
and re-acts
if it really
It is to this
existed.
as
upon the mind
mental
state that the visions of celebrated men
to
are

We

be referred.

have

several

times

noticed the

currence
oc-

and have also seen

it
ecstasyin children,
in catalepsy,
states of mysticism,
hysteria,
exaggerated
and in insanity.
Certain peculiar
phenomena, such as prevision,
animal
'liirvoyance,
second-sight,
magnetism, and
to us
to be commonly due to a
somnambulism, seem
state of ecstasy. The effectof cold may be to produce
this state of the nervous
system. The ecstatic state
h'*sbeen observed in all ages, and lately
occurred in
of

thousand

several

observed
Qt'3rvous

gi ve

persons

in these

in Sweden.

The

tions
hallucina-

different conditions

of the

in somnambulism,
system, especially

rise to

conduct
on

which

would

the individual.

entail

grave

may
sponsibility
re-

14

INTBODUCTION,

The ninth section contains those hallucinations which

with febrile disorders,
with acute
or
complicated
and with
chronic,or other diseases,
inflammatory,
certain conditions of the atmosphere.
in the tenth section we have associated the
Lastly,
epidemichallucinations and illusions to which we
referred.
have previously

are

lucination
This classificationincludes all the varieties of halwhich
and to it we
to

have

think may

under

come

notice,

own

our

be referred allthat

are

likely

occur.

The

divisions

numerous

we

have

established show

that hallucinations arise from different

primarydivision
to which

converge a
the dominant
in insanity,
on

the nature

Their

indicated
as
physical,
of this chapter,
the centres
are
number
of secondarycauses.
As

into moral

at the commencement

causes.

and

ideas have considerable influence

of the hallucination

thus when

demonology,sorcery, magic,lycanthropy,
men
see
wolves,
devils,
or vampirism
prevails,
sorcerers, were"c.
The character of the hallucinations
vampires,
also varies with the kind of civilization; thus,
with the Greeks
they assumed the form of pans,
that of genii;
fauns, and naiads ; with the Romans
and in the Middle Ages that of angels,
saints,and
times every possible
combination
devils. In our own
When
of the ideas may laythe foundation of them.
the lattt?
causes
giverise to hallucinations,
physical
characters.
will have corresponding
t"f
only the secondarycauses
Properlyspeaking,
hallucinations are treated of in the precedingparagraph,
it is necessary that theyshould be considered
elevated point of view ; and this hi"
from a more
devoted i o
been attemptedin a chapterespecially
their physiological,
historical,
moral, and religions'
aspects. In the first part of this chapterwe ha\ '"
of ha If
endeavoured to show that the primarycause
a

belief in

LN'TKODTJCTIOtf.

15

lucinations liesin the violation of certain

leadingprinciples,
and in an ill-regulated
condition of the ideas,
result in an
which ultimately
abnormal reproduction
of their sensible signs. After entering
upon a more
extended
consideration of the nature
of ideas,of
their subdivisions,
of the principal
of the
operations
concerned
mind which
in the production
of hallucination
are
have
that these ought freshown
quently
we
to be regarded as
occurringin an almost
normal
have pointed
state of things,
out when
as
we
of
speakingof physiological
ecstasy. This mode
regardinghallucinations enables us to explainhow it
is that many
celebrated men
have been
subjectto
them, and yet must not be looked upon as havingbeen
insane.
The examplesof Loyola,of Luther,of Joan
of Arc, are decisive proofsof the correctness
of this
opinion.
All our arguments are especially
intended to show
that these illustrious persons were
the impersonation
of an epoch,of some
idea ; that they fulfilled
special
useful and necessary mission,and that their
some
hallucinations were
different from those
altogether
which are
observed
in the present day. In this
have also endeavoured
to distinguish
chapter we
between
the apparitions
of Scripture
and those of
well as those of many
Christians.
as
profanehistory,
If we are not mistaken,we have thus presented
the
doctrine of hallucinations in a more
completeform
than has hitherto been
Examinations
afford

tc

of

after death

of the bodies of the insane

information with respect

satisfactory
hallucinations ; and we
in the opinion
participate
medical men
most
this point,
that the pathoon
logical
no

anatomy
Until
can

done.

of hallucinations is stillto be

plished.
accom-

treatment for hallucinations

lately
any special
be said to have existed.
scarcely
Leuret,in pro-

16

INTEODTJCTION.

this error, has provedthat the hallucinated,

against
testing
when
properly
managed,are capableof being
While
cured.
acknowledgingthe talents of this
have found it necessary
to restrict the
we
practitioner,
time,we can
employment of his method ; at the same
refer to facts in justification
of the treatment
have
we
to us
to be capableof a
proposed,and which seems
more
generalapplication.
Our task would
not have been completedunless
had examined the subject
of hallucinations in their
we
relation to

our

shown

numerous

by

criminal institutions.

civiland

examplesthat

It is

the hallucinated

may, under the influence of their false impressions,

commit
dangerousand even criminal acts. This fact
is
It

placedbeyond a
was

therefore
which

of

doubt

in the

of this work.

course

racters
importantto establish chatrue cases
to distinguish
serve

most

should

those

from

hallucination

which

are

simulated.

obtained

into the
by inquiring
by examining
historyof the case, by interrogating,
and by prolongedobservation of the
the writings,
consider
individual.
we
By the use of these means
well as medical men,
have the
that magistrates,
as
between the hallucinated and
power of distinguishing
of confinement is previously
The question
criminals.
discussed when
speakingof the treatment, but it is
These

characters

there

reconsidered.

cases,

are

Useful

when
especially

could not

in

great number

the

person is
be enforced in others without

of

dangerous,ft
great injury

Lastly,we have terminated this

of making a
chapterby provingthat the capability

to

the individual.

will remains
do not

in those

cases

where

the hallucinations

influence the acts of the individual.

have shown

that this is

no

longerthe

case

affections of the hallucinated have become

as, for

But

where

we

the

perverted
"

formed
example,when he believes a relative is transthat he chargeshimself with
into the devil,
or

17

INTEODTJCTION.

electricity

for

him,

tormenting
In

his
met

of

have

readers.

with
been

his

poisoning

food

of

or

"c.

endeavour

should

instruct

of

purpose

composition

the

author

have

tlie

leads

fulfilled.

work

to

like
interest

to

The
us

the
as

favourable

hope

that

well

reception
these

the

present

two

to

as

we

tions
condi-

18

I.

CHAPTER

definition

There
man

is

and

no

be

hear sounds

convinced

others

hallucinations.

of

the

of
psychological
history

that which
To

which

what

no

other

ear

see
no

relates to the
other eye

perceives,

of sensations which
reality
is surelya matter
for
incredulity,

of the

regardwith

examination

than

hallucinations.

beholds,to
to

questionin
curious

more

of
subject

division

full of interest.

Instances

of hallucinations

have been recorded

they have

occurred

in the annals of every nation,

in the lives of many
illustrious

persons, and been believed in from the remotest

been much
diminished
they have undoubtedly

ages ;

by the
in the presentday,the
progress of science ; yet,even
phenomena,
part they play in many psychological
their occurrence
in various diseases,
and especially
in
mental affections,
renders their studyof the highest
importance.
and how is it to be
What, then,is a hallucination,
denned ? Does it presentitselfalone,or complicated
Such are the questions
with other diseases ?
with
which we must commence
our
inquiry.
Aristotle,Zeno, and ChryAmongst the ancients,
with these false perpartially
acquainted
ceptions,
and theyendeavoured to distinguish
between
them and true perceptions
theypointed
; moreover,
those of sight,
of
out three kinds of hallucinations
hearing,and of smell ; but theydid not observe all
all the conditions under which taey
their degrees,
nor
were
sippus,

"

occur.

Arnold, in

nearlycorrect

our

was
opinion,

the first who

definition of hallucinations

gave a
Ideal

"

"

20

DEFINITION

tion

cerebral

AFD

mental

phenomenon,occurring
of the senses, and consisting
of external
independently
which the patient
believes he experiences,
impressions
although there is no external agent actingon his
as

In another

senses.
"

or

part of

the

he

work

same

says,

The

pretendedsensations of the hallucinated are

imagesor ideas,
reproducedby the memory, associated
and which become
personate
imtogetherby the imagination,
by habit."
nations
Darwin, and after him M. Foville,
regardshallucifrom structural changesin the
as
resulting
of the senses.
Accordingto this hypothesis
organs
there is always a false perception.It is,however,
to adopt this theoryin regard to those
impossible
hallucinations which are in perfect
accordance with
habitual ideas

the

of
opinions

the

of the

with

the

period.

M. Lelut considers
intermediate

and
individual,

between

hallucination
the

as

phenomenon

actual sensation

and

the

of the idea. Accordingto this writer,

it is
conception
of the thought into sensaa spontaneous conversion
tions,
which are most frequently
external.
sensation and the conception,
Between
a
says M.
Leuret, there is an intermediate phenomenon, which
have designated
tion.
medical men
by the term hallucinain as
A hallucination resembles a sensation,
it givesrise to the idea
much
as
that,like the latter,
the senses
external body acting
of some
on
; it differs
does not exist. Like the
in that this external object
mind, it creates ; but, instead of ideas it produces
the
are
images images which, to the hallucinated,
real objects.*
as
same
tions^
M. Aubanel, in his excellent thesis on hallucinaform or
regardsthis phenomenon as a special
"

Leuret

sur
FragmentsPsychologiques

la

Folie,
p.

133.

Paris.

1884.

t Aubanel:

Essai

sur

les Hallucinations.

These.

Paris:

183),

DIVISION

OF

21

HALLUCINATIONS.

of mental disease,
in which a man
converts the
variety
insane conceptions
of his mind into actual sensations,
or
who, in consequence of these same
conceptions,
his true sensations by assimilating
them to
negatives
his perverted
ideas.
M. Baillarger
admits two kinds of hallucinations
the one
from the combined
influence
complete,
arising
of the imagination
and the organs of the senses
; these
hallucinations he terms
psycho-sensorial
; the other,
exercise of the
being due solelyto the involuntary
and the imagination,
and denominated
memory
chical
psyhallucinations. He
defines a psycho-sensorial
hallucination as the perception
of a sensation,
pendent
inde"

of all external
the

excitement

of the organs

of

from the involuntary

cise
exerarising
of the memory
and the imagination.Psychical
hallucinations may be defined as purelyintellectual
exercise of
perceptions,
arisingfrom the involuntary
the memory
and the imagination
; they differ from
the precedingin not producingany internal excitement
senses

and

as

of the organs of the senses.*

sive
defines illuDendy, in his Philosophyof 3fystery,
ocular spectra,
the conversion
or
as
perception,
of natural objects
into phantoms; and illusive conception,
the creation of phanor
as
illusion,
spectral
toms.
He
adds,in the firstclass there is no real or
palpable
object
; or, if there be, it is not what it ap-'
pears.f
of hallucinations
Taking as our basis the symptomatology
and "illusions,
define a hallucination as the
we
of the sensible signsof the idea ; and an
perception
of real sensations.
illusion as the false appreciation
*

Des Hallucinations,
des Causes qui les produisent
Baillarger:
caracterisent. Memoires
et des'Maladies
de VAcademie
qiCelles
de Medecine, t. xii. Paris : 1846.

t Walter CooperDendy
London : 1841.

The

Philosophyof Mystery,p.

125.

22

DEFINITION

When

consider this

phenomenonin a psychological
view we
shall explain
ing
our
meaning,by showthe spiritual
portionof an idea that is,its

we

pointof
that
essence

"

forms

never

"

that the sensible

The

AND

part of

sign alone

classification of

founded

the

and
hallucination,

constitutes

its foundation.

hallucinations

should

be

previousexamination of them, in
simple and complicatedconditions ; but this
of proceeding,although most
methodical,

their
manner

would

upon

be attended

with serious difficultiesin the

of the work
from
his mind

the reader

comprehendingat

would

endeavours

be

would

once

lost in the
fail to

do

would

derstanding
un-

be prevented

the

generalplan;
and all our
details,

more

than

to

leave

feeble

we
impression.For this reason
proceedat
to describe our classification,
once
havingfirstpointed
out the divisions which have been generally
adopted.
which
Esquirolonly admits mental hallucinations,
therefore cerebral or idiopathic.
are

M.
which
take

Leuret

has

divided

hallucinations into those

waking state,and into

placeduring sleep; the latter are

termed

occur

in the

visions.

He

includes

incubi

those which

and

commonly
succubi*

amongst the hallucinations of sleep.

M. Aubanel, who does not separatehallucinations
has proposed
the following
from illusions,
divisions :
"

1. The

of the

hallucinated

phenomena

attribute them

to

are

to which

of the nature
aware
fully
and they
they are liable,

the state of the

condition of the

eased
mind, or to a disimagination
; the intellect is

In the present day the term incuhus is usuallyappliedto the

but formerlyit referred to imaginaryfiends or spectres,
night-mare,
to whom
strange powers are attributed by the writers on demoniacal
Many noble families were supposed to have their origin
agency.
the connexion of incubi with females,as in the well-known
The succubus
instance of Robert of Normandy, called le Diable.
fiend
the
female
of
similar
sex.
a
was
from

DIVISION

OF

sound, and
perfectly

false

sometimes

hallucinated

2. The

23

HALLUCINATIONS.

do

not

veloped.
deextraordinarily

perceivethat

arise without

impressions
may

their

the intervention

of the organs of the senses, and they regulate

their
actions in obedience to the phenomena which affect
them.
hallucinated

tion
fullybelieve in the intervenof the external
of their senses, and in the reality
which they experience.
impressions
where the
These divisions onlyinclude those cases
3. The

hallucinations exist without

any other disorder.

which are
regardto the hallucinations,

With

with

M.
insanity,

Aubanel

sensorial monomania, in which

are
always in accordance with

ideas,and

do

which

a
distinguishes

"the

hallucinations

regularseries

exhibit that disorder and

not

is met

with

in the

plicated
com-

insane,and

of

rence
incohea

sorial
sen-

mania," manifested

and various
by numerous
forms of hallucinations,
sometimes
but
well-defined,
more
confused,and having the common
frequently
of themselves
of
character of constituting
a
species
regular,
insanitythat is to say, they are inconsistent and irlike the acts and words of the maniac during
"

his delirium.

Paterson, profiting
by the labours of Ferriar,
Hibbert, and Abercrombie, as well as by his own
Dr.

researches,begins by dividinghallucinations into

2.
two
great sections : 1. Those of wakefulness.
Those of sleep. Afterwards
he proposes a new
sification,
clasthe most
completethat has hitherto been
in England. It consists of seven
sections,
published
forms of hallucination
which comprisenearlyall the known
; one

of these admits

hallucinations with

the reason.*

Paterson : On
SpectralIllusions.
No.
CLIV., 1843.
Journal,"
*

the co-existence of

"

Edin. Med.

and

Surg.

24

DEFINITION

Like
him

most

Paterson

Dr.

The

of

writers

the

and

who

have

preceded

includes hallucinations with

sions.
illu-

ourselves propose is much

between
tions
hallucinadistinguish

that
classification
extended.

more

AND

We

we

illusions,
for,althoughtheyconstantly
proximate
apto each other,they have a different origin.

pointingout the characters by which they may

be distinguished
nations,
we
shall,when speakingof halluciwhat is most importantin the
also mention
historyof illusions: there are many cases in which
be distinguished
these aberrations of the mind cannot
from each other.
remark will applyto the
The same
and symptodivision of hallucinations into idiopathic
matic,
which, althoughuseful for scientific purposes,
be strictly
maintained throughouttheir history.
cannot
After

distinctions

These

havingbeen

arrange hallucinations
the following
table.
of their

into ten

Many of
further
are
importance,

established

subdivided

sound

"

of
a

state of mind

"

comprising
hallucina-

by the
understanding

shall

shown in
as
sections,
these,in consequence

Section 1. Hallucinations
with
co-existing

we

1. Corrected

smell,

"

sight.
hearing,
taste,

"

tions

touch.
,,

of all the
,

2. Not

Section 2.
with

corrected

senses.*

of themselves
Simplehallucinations,
constituting
of insanity,
form
but uncomplicated
a

monomania, mania,dementia,"c.

Section 3. Hallucinations

This subdivision will

in their relations

apply to

to

sions.
illu-

all the other sections.

DIVISION

25

HALLUCINATIONS.

OP

of
constituting
Complicatedhallucinations,
and combined
themselves a form of insanity,

Section 4.

1. With

monomania.

2.

stupidity.

"

3.

mania.
"

dementia.

4.
"

5.
"

Section 5.

imbecility.

Hallucinations

drunkenness,

and

with

delirium

tremens,

effects of narcotic

the

and

poisonoussubstances.
Section 6. Hallucinations
not

but
diseases,
monomania, mania, or

with

complicatedwith

nervous

dementia.
1. With
2.
"

3.
"

4.
"

5.
"

catalepsy.
epilepsy.
hysteria.
hypochondriasis.
hydrophobia.

Section 7. Hallucinations

with

Section 8. Hallucinations

with

Section 9. Hallucinations

mations,
inflamwith febrile diseases,

nightmareand
ecstasy.

acute, chronic,and
and with certain states
1. With

acute

2.

fever.

dreams.

of the

other

affections,

atmosphere.

delirium.

"

cerebral diseases.

3.
"

4.
"

5.
"

inflammations.
parenchymatous
typhoidfever.
intermittent

6.

fevers.

"

7.
"

8.
"

9.
"

"c.
pellagra,
gout, chlorosis,
last stagesof hectic diseases.
convalescence,
syncope, asphyxia,
"c.

10.
"

"c.
influences,
atmospheric

26

DEFINITION

Section

to

with

religion

authentic

and

avail

subject,

in
which

unnecessary

the

they
to

the

whether

Hallucinations

noticed
with

of

and

chapters
are

devote

facts

labours
of

our

illusions,

special

at

those

chapter

avoid

related,
to

them.

and

establish
cessary
unne-

have

course
re-

same

time

writers

on

other

epidemic
divisions

most

an

of

or

morality,

we

the

other

their

in

to

of

the
was

to

the
tries.
coun-

forms,

it

is

and

the

while

and,

own

intimately

select

to

to

of

containing
most

history,

adapted

experience,

own

ourselves

same

of

our

pathology,

hallucinations,

accumulation
to

best

tions.
hallucina-

isundoubtedly

mental

be

those

of

theory

which

must

established
of

"

philosophy,

rule

our

cases,

correct

of

medicine,

"

varieties

subject

branch

here

have

we

known
a

interesting

connected

the

all

investigating

most

and

which

include

In

HALLUCINATIONS.

hallucinations.*

sub-divisions

seem

the

Epidemic

10.

The

OF

are

subject,
therefore

28

HALLUCINATIONS

In many
but are

CO-EXISTING

WITH

SANITY.

theyare visible to the external senses,

the result of thingsthat have
as
recognised
creations of the mind ; and sometimes
or
as
passed,
theyare looked upon as the effects of a supernatural
power ; but theycontinue to possess this character in
that theydo not exercise any injurious
fluence
incommon,
the conduct.
This is no longerthe case
over
when the mind mistakes the image for a real object,
to which

cases

it becomes

which

was

at

an

obedient

first

slave ; the hallucination,

physiological,
passes

into

a state
pathological
state,and with that commences
of insanity.
The existence of images,
or rather of physiological
is placed
hallucinations,*
beyond a doubt by numerous
both of a physical
and of a moral nature. They
facts,
may indeed be producedby an illusion of the organ
of vision or of hearing.
relates
Brewster,in his Letters on Natural Magic,~\
an
experimentof Newton, which shows that every
has the power of producing
hallucinations at his
one
after having regarded
pleasure.This philosopher,
for some
time an image of the sun
in a looking-glass,
much surprised,
his eyes towards the
was
on
directing
dark part of the room, to see
a
spectreof the sun
ness
bit by bit until it shone with allthe vividreproduced
and all the colours of the real object.The hallucination

afterwards

recurred

wherever

he

was

in

the dark.
Paterson

phenomenon takes
placeon lookingfixedlyat a window in a strong
and then at a wall ; a spectral
of \
light,
impression
the window, with its panes and bars,soon
presents
itself.
J To these examples may be added that of
remarks

that the

same

These remarks are equallyapplicable

to illusions.
+ Sir David Brewster : Letters on Natural Magic, p. 23.
1832.
X Paterson : Opus cit.

don:
Lon-

CO-EXISTING

HALLUCINATIONS

WITH

SANITY.

29

who, having concentrated their attention on

or
a
a
landscape,
mountain, which they
particular
have met with in their travels,
able to reproduce
are
them with the greatest
exactness.
The state of reverie has been experienced
by every
persons,

one,

and

is

condition which

shows

how

lucinatio
haleasily

be

produced.
Nothing,"says Meister, so well illustrates the
nature of our
thinkingfaculties as to consider them
in the different conditions of waking and of sleeping,
and in that intermediate state between
and
sleeping
in a more
are
waking,where the external senses
perfectstate of quietand rest,than in the most profound
may

"

"

repose ; when
the external

from
in

are

state

of

the active inner

sense

is cut off

world,and we doubt whether we

sleepor meditation. This condition

sometimes
usuallyprecedesor follows that of sleep,
it arises from prolongedmeditation
on
one
object,
when we
one
or
on
are
idea,especially
placedamidst
the silence of nature, in the recesses
of a forest,
or
surrounded
are
by the darkness of night. Under
these circumstances
a
singleimpressionor a single
image becomes arrested before us, and takes exclusive
of our thoughts; at such times the understanding
possession
intuitive powers.
acts only by its own
Entire scenes, broken
connected
or
pictures,
pass
before
the
vision
of
inner
our
slowlyor rapidly
We
sense.
fancywe behold,and behold with the
have never
most
thingswhich we
perfectreality,
seen.
They are, in truth,phantoms which the power
has invoked around us, happy or
of our imagination
beneath the charm of its magic.
miserable,
convinced that devotees,lovers,would-be
I am
all indebted
are
illuminati,
Swedenborgians,
prophets,
their presentiments,
to illusions for their miracles,
their prophecies,
their visions,
their intercourse with
and their visits to heaven and to hell;
beings,
angelic
"

30

CO-EXISTING

HALLUCINATIONS

SANITY.

WITH

and superstitions
word, for all the extravagances
time I
of their contagiousreveries. At the same
have no hesitation in declaring
that,under the same
of genius have conceived
the
circumstances,men
portionof
greatestbeauties and the most original
has discovered
their writings
; that the geometrician
the long sought-for solution of his problem; the
constructed the most
ingeniousof his
metaphysician
theories ; the poet been
inspiredwith his most

in

effective

verses

the

with

musician

his

most

pressive
ex-

with
and brilliant passages ; the statesman
cover
expedientsthat all his experiencehad failed to dis-

generalof an army with that comprehensive

and secures
glancewhich decides the battle,
for him the victory."*
the effect of that narrow
Here, again,we perceive
the ideal from the true,and as
limit which separates
the one
side or the
the state of reverie occupies
of greatnessor of folly.
other,so it becomes a source
these castles in
Carried away by these day-dreams,
illusions
which substitute the most
the air,
pleasing
for the sad realities of life,our
thoughtsexpand,
and all the objects
of our
chimeras become
realities,
wishes presentthemselves before us in visible forms.
;

"What
him

and the

is there who

man

image of

the

glory,who

beloved,or,

heard the sound

has not

the cries of the combatants

and

All who
marvellous
said there
mind

the

observes
that the
tent

were

summoned

before

if enamoured
of the

of

trumpet,

have lived in the

East,or written on that

fluence
spoken of the powerfulin-

country,have

of the

his

has not

are

climate

over

its inhabitants.

of that countrywhich
productions

It is

throw

"

ecstasy. For my part,"

M. Paul de Molenes, " I always thought
heavens beneath which the Arab spreadshis
into

the

state of

most

Meister: Lettres

sur

certain

source

of reverie which

V Imagination,
p. 19.

Paris,an.

vii.

CO-EXISTING

HALLUCINATIONS

31

SANITY.

itselfwith. The Oriental

soul could imbue

the human

WITH

unacquaintedwith the debasingand loquacious

of beer,or of any of those
frenzyof wine, of spirits,
which distort the features,
disturb the reason,
liquors
and impede the tongue ; but he possesses the secret
and silent inspiration
of that glorious
derived from
the heavens,from solitude and space ; thingswhich
are
divine,and impart an august appearance to the
splendent
countenance, illuminate the thoughts by the tranthe vision,
which meet
and impose
scenes
the lips,
broken
tervals
a sacred silence on
only at rare inIt is of this
by a few short sentences.
which
those who
have once
gloriousinspiration,
it will never
that the narrative of
forego,
experienced
is filled. Amongst the mysteriousevents
Chambi*
which are described in these wanderingsthere is one
that has particularly
struck
Chambi
me.
relates,

is

that

the occasion

on

of

during the journey,the

fraternal excitement

of their

one

kind

same

halts

numerous

of

gentleand

of the

seized upon him

feelings
and all his companions.A species
of invisible mirage
revealed to the whole
the image of their
caravan
absent country,and threw the souls of these pilgrims
into

indescribable

an

breath
same

from

heaven

emotion

at

the secrets

What

hearts with

the

time,and inspired
particular
same
thought? This is one of
the

I love the book

offered for

tenderness.

that

of Grod and

country,and

of

filled all these

with the

their minds

state

desert.
where

But
similar

I love the

mysteries

f"
contemplation.
This is also the opinionof M. Combes, junior.
The
Oriental,"he observes, is indolent and
voluptuous. The keff is as necessary to his existence

are

our

"

"

Chambi.
Chambas.

t Des

Sid-el-Adj -Mohammed,

Outrages du

Molenes),Journal

General

des Debats

Daumas

du 4

member

of the

tribe of

(Articlede M. Paul de

Mars, 1851.

32
as

CO-EXISTING

HALLUCINATIONS

the bread lie eats

WITH

SANITY.

the clothes which

or

him.

cover

Arab, be he rich or poor, who cannot take his

is a miserable man.
But you
keff duringthe journey
is this keff? There is no word in our
will ask, What
the
to it, and
even
language which corresponds
Italians,when they translate it by the words far
idea of its true
niente, give but a very imperfect
meaning. The keff is a state of reverie: it is the
ecstasyof repose ; it is a kind of beatitude in which
An

desires

plunged,and

is

one

Oriental seldom

thinks

the act of

to

never

leave.

thinkingfatigues

the keff,of which

he will never
of which

the hours

During

him

too much.

are

fixed,and

The

voluntarily
dreamy and
objector a

deprivehimself on any account, his

is without
an
imagination
capricious
to let it wander
purpose : he delights

in

ideal

an

In those
world,and to fillitselfwith vain chimeras.
hours of ecstasyevery Oriental is a poet ; but he is
and producesnothing."*
the poet of egotism,
that we
It is to this power of the imagination
are

for those

indebted

delightof

tales which

marvellous

are

the

It is this which

the Oriental.

interior of the earth with

with
genii,

peoplesthe
with
magicians,

palacesfilled with treasures,and converts every

European, hunting amongst ruins for the relics of
about to invoke the guardian
the past,into a magician
genius of the place,and possess himself of its
treasures.

The

state of reverie

Our

here
object

is,therefore,
highlyfavourable
of physiological
and
to the production
hallucinations,
how, in powerfulthinkers,it becomes the
explains
achievements.
of their greatest
source
may
The

two

divisions

we

each other

Combes

fils:

show

merelyto

co-exist with

from
*

is

sound

have

that hallucinations

state of the

established

by the

are

reason.

guished
distin-

different intensity
and

Voyage en Egypteet

en

Ntkbie.

HALLUCINATIONS

vividness

of

CO-EXISTING

WITH

SANITY.

33

the

phenomena which they exhibit.

"Where the reason
is retained,
the image may preserve
all the force of the original
but it is usually
object,
of the imagination,
as
a production
and its
recognised
duration is short : in insanity,
the contrary,
on
the
of the brain have greater power than even
pictures
real objects
detached from the individual,
; they become
an
and
they assume
independent
existence,
derangethe faculties of his mind.
The study of psychology
that
proves, therefore,
hallucinations may
beingdisordered.

exist in

man

without the intellect-

We

then,to relate some

proceed,
in supportof this proposition,
curious cases
dividing
them into two series : (1) where the hallucinationsare
corrected by the judgment (2)where the hallucinations
:

not

are

corrected ; but
unaffected.

so

remains

reason

I.

Subdivision

in both

series the

Hallucinations

with a
co-existing
and corrected by the judgsound state of the intellect,
ment.
The hallucinations belongingto this division
In some
instances they
may exist for a longtime.
be produced
can
by an eifort of the will.
who succeeded to a large
Example 1. A painter
of the practice,
and (ashe thought)to more
portion
than all the talent of Sir Joshua
was
so
Keynolds,
that he informed me," says Dr.
extensively
employed,
and small)three
Wigan, he had once painted(large
in one
This would seem
hundred
portraits
year.
impossible
; but the secret of his rapidity
physically
this : he required
and of his astonishing
success
was
and painted
with miraculous facility.
but one
sitting,
him execute a kit-cat portrait
of a genI myselfsaw
tleman
in little more
to me
well known
than eight
and a most
hours ; it was
minutelyfinished,
striking
"

"

"

"

likeness.
"

On

askinghim

sitter came,

to

I looked

it,he said, When

a
explain
at him
for half-anattentively
'

34

HALLUCINATIONS

CO-EXISTING

from
hour, sketching
wanted

no

another

sitter.

more

time to time

"

my

first

in the chair,where

had

been

"

with

took

and

him

I may almost
proper person
I looked from time to time at the
worked

canvas.

away my canvas,
I wished to resume

When

own

the

on

put

I tooJcthe man
and sat
portrait,
him as distinctly
I saw
as
ifhe
his

SANITY.

WITH

in
me
before
vividly.
say more
imaginaryfigure,

then referred to the

pencil,
countenance,and so on, justas. I should have done
I looked at the chair,
had the sitter been there. When
This made me
I saw
!
the man
very popular; and, as
I alwayssucceeded in the likeness,
peoplewere very
of other painters.
gladto be sparedthe tedious sittings
I gaineda greatdeal of money, and was
very careful
then

of it.

for

Well

my

and

me

so.
my children that it was
lose the distinction between

GraduallyI began to
and the real person,
the imaginaryfigure
disputedwith sitters that theyhad
At last I was
the day before.
sure
me
then

and

"

then

"

took the alarm.

senses

when

of

with

it,and

"

in

an

last six months

asylum. The whole

of my confinement,
though sometimes,

in my memory,
peopledescribe their visits,I have

dead

been

I suppose they
I recollect nothingmore
I lost my

exceptthe
period,
is

times
some-

all is confusion.

thirtyyears

was

"

and

blank

sort

of

remembrance
of them ; but I must not dwell
imperfect
these subjects.'
on
fact that when
this gentleIt is an extraordinary
man
after a lapseof thirty
resumed
his pencil,
years,
well
when
he painted
as
nearlyas
insanity
compelled
His imaginationwas
still
him to discontinue it.
I saw
as
was
vivid,
provedby the portrait
exceedingly
of half-anhim execute, for he had onlytwo sittings
for the dress and for the
hour each ; the latter solely
which he could not fix in his memory.
eyebrows,
"

It

was

found

danger,and

he

that
was

the

excitement

persuadedto

threatened

discontinue the

36

HALLUCINATIONS

very

proudof
He

in confinement
At

worn
length,

resolved not

CO-EXISTING

WITH

SANITY.

his

ceedingly.
logical
powers, humiliated him exbut was
was
never
eccentric,
placed
to the slightest
restraint.
or
subjected
out by the annoyance, he deliberately

year of existence
paidall his debts wrapped up in separatepapers the
of the weeklydemands
in hand,
amount
waited,pistol
to enter

another

on

"

"

"

nightof the 31st of December, and as the clock

*
struck twelve,fired it into his mouth."
Example 4. The following
case, related by a medical
of high repute,and an
intimate friend of Sir
man
"Walter Scott,is,without exception,
of the most
one

the

remarkable

instances

been recorded

ever
"

It

of

hallucination

which

has

:
"

gentlemanto be called
into attend the illnessof a person, now
longdeceased,
who in his lifetime stood,as I understand,high in a
particular
departmentof the law,which often placed
the propertyof others at his discretion and control,
and whose
conduct,therefore,
being open to public
he had for many years borne the character
observation,
of a man
of unusual steadiness,
good sense, and
integrity.He was at the time of my friend's visits
confined principally
to his sick-room,
sometimes
to
and exerting
to business,
bed,yet occasionally
attending
his mind, apparently
with all its usual strength
and energy, to the conduct of important
affairs entrusted
did there,
to him ; nor
to a superficial
observer,
appear anythingin his conduct,while so engaged,
that could argue vacillation of intellect or depression
His outward
of mind.
symptoms of malady argued
acute or alarmingdisease. But slowness of pulse,
no
and conabsence of appetite,
of digestion,
stant
difficulty
their
seemed
to draw
depressionof spirits,
hidden cause
which the patient
was
originfrom some
determined
The deep gloom of the unto conceal.
was

the fortune of this

Wigan

Opus cit.p.

126.

CO-EXISTING

HALLUCINATIONS

fortunate

gentleman

could

conceal

"

not

the
reduced

from

obvious

briefness and

the

37

SANITY.

WITH

embarrassment,which

his

he

friendly
physicianthe
"

constraint with

of
interrogations

his

which

medical

he

swered
an-

adviser,

friend to take other methods

for cuting
prosethe sufferer's

my
his

iuquiries.He appliedto
of that secret
the source
to learn,
if possible,
family,
griefwhich was gnawing the heart and suckingthe
life-blood of his unfortunate patient.The persons applied
denied
after
togetherpreviously,
to,
conversing
for the burthen which
all knowledge of any cause
affected their relative.
obviously
"The
to
medical gentlemanhad finally
recourse
and urged
serious argument with the invalid himself,
himself to a lingering
and
of devoting
to him the folly
pressedupon him
melancholydeath. He specially
the injury
which he was
character,
doingto his own
of
it to be inferred that the secret cause
by suffering
and its consequences
his dejection
was
somethingtoo
scandalous or flagitious
to be made known, bequeathing
and dja?
in this manner
to his familya suspected
moved
The patient,
honoured
more
name.
by this
speciesof appealthan by any which had yet been
urged,expressedhis desire to speakout franklyto
Dr.
Every one else was removed, and the door
he began his
of the sick-room made
secure, when
confession in the following
manner
:
.

"

"

than

'

You

conscious
dear friend,be more
of dyingunder the
in the course

cannot, my

I, that

of
oppression

am

the fatal disease which

vital powers ; but neither

of my complaint
and
nature

can

you

manner

consumes

understand
in which

my
the

it acts

fear,could your zeal and

'
It is possible,'
said the
may not equal my wish of

upon me ; nor, if you did,1

of it.'
skill avail to rid me
'

that
physician,

my skill
servingyou ; yet medical science has many resources,
with its powers can never
of which those unacquainted

38

HALLUCINATIONS

form

an

CO-EXISTING

estimate.

of your
to say what

symptoms
of

us

within

or

'

repliedthe patient,that
since

one,

Sage. Tou
the Duke
'

we

SANITY.

tell me
the
But, until you plainly
it is impossible
for either
complaint,

may or may
of medicine.'

that

WITH

read

not

be

I may answer
is not a
case

my
of it in the famous

remember, doubtless,the
d'Olivarez

in my

'

was

you/
singular

novel of Le

disease of which

is there stated to have

Of the

he

power,

died?'

answered the medical gentleman,that

idea,'
haunted by an apparition,
to the actual existence
of which he gave no credit,
but died,nevertheless,

because

'

he

was

'

its imaginarypresence.'
the sick man,
and abhorrent

'

and

overcome

I,my

heart-broken

dearest

by

said
doctor,'

in that very case ; and

is the presence of the

painful
persecuting
that my reason
is totally
to combat
vision,
inadequate
and I am
the effects of my morbid imagination,
sible
senI am
disease/
dyinga wasted victim of imaginary
listened with anxiety
The medical man
to his patient's
statement, and for the present judiciously
avoiding
of
the
sick
man'
s preconceived
fancy,
any contradiction
minute
into the
contented himself with more
inquiry
he conceived
with which
of the apparition
nature
of the mode by
himself haunted,and into the history
made itself master of
which so singular
a disease had
his imagination,
secured,as it seemed, by strong
of the understanding
againstan attack so
powers
irregular.The sick person repliedby statingthat
and at first not of a terrible,
its advances were
gradual,
character. To illustrate this,
he
even
or
disagreeable,
of the progress of his
account
gave the following
am

so

disease.
'

two or three
My visions/he said, commenced
when
I found myselffrom time to time
years since,
embarrassed by the presence of a large cat, which
I could not
and disappeared
came
exactlytell how,
forced upon me, and I was
tillthe truth was
finally
"

'

HALLUCINATIONS

CO-EXISTING

WITH

39

SANITY.

compelledto regardit as no domestic household cat,

but as a bubble of the elements,
tence,
which had no exisin my derangedvisual organs or depraved
save
I am
rather a friend to cats,I
as
imagination.Still,
able to endure with much equanimity
the presence
was
of my imaginaryattendant,
and it had become almost
indifferent to
months

of

me

when

within

the

of

course

few

it gave

more

placeto,or was succeeded by,a spectre

importantsort, or which at least had a more

other than the

This was
no
imposing appearance.
of a gentleman-usher,
dressed as if to wait
apparition
Lord-Lieutenant
of Ireland,a Lord
a
High
upon
Commissioner
of the Kirk, or any other who bears
his brow the rank and stamp of delegatedsoveon
reignty.
"

'

bag

This personage, arrayedin a court dress,with

and sword, tamboured
waistcoat,and chapeau-

hras,glidedbeside
and, whether in my
the

stairs before

drawing-room;

with the company,

that they were
not
alone

was

house

own
as

me,

and

ghostof Beau Nash

ascended
or in another,

like the

me

if to

sometimes

though it was

announce

me

in the

appearedto mingle
evident
sufficiently

of his presence, and

sensible of the visionary
honours
aware

that I

which

imaginarybeing seemed desirous to render me.

This freak of the fancydid not producemuch
pression
imon
me,* though it led me to entertain doubts
the nature of my disorder,
and alarm for the effect
on
it might produceupon my intellects. But that modification
of my disease also had its appointedduration.
the phantom of the gentlemanAfter a few months
succeeded by one
usher was
seen
no
more, but was
horrible to the sightand distressing
to the imagination,
beingno other than the image of death itself
of a skeleton. Alone or in company,'
the apparition
said the unfortunate invalid,the presence of this last
I in vain tell myself a
quitsme.
phantom never

this

"

'

40

times

hundred
an

my

CO-EXISTING

HALLUCINATIONS

image

that it is

no

SANI1T.

but merely
reality,

by the morbid acutenejs

and derangedorgars
imagination,

summoned

excited

own

over

WITH

what

up

of
of

avail such

while the
reflections,
and presage of mortality
is before ny
emblem
at once
eyes, and while I feel myself,though in fancyonly,
the companion of a phantom representing
a ghastly
while I yet breathe on
inhabitant of the grave, even
the earth ? Science,philosophy,
has no
even
religion,
for such a disorder ; and I feel too surelythat I
cure
shall die the victim to so melancholy
a disease,
although

sight.

I have

But

no

in the

belief whatever

of
reality

the

tom
phan-

placesbefore me/
distressed to perceive,
"The
from
physicianwas
these details,
how
stronglythis visionary
apparition
fixed in the imaginationof his patient. He
was
urged the sick man, who was then in bed,
ingeniously
with questionsconcerningthe circumstances
of the
phantom'sappearance, trustinghe might lead him, as
which

it

sensible man,

contradictions

into such

and

sistencies
incon-

might bring his common

sense, which
seemed
to be unimpaired,
so
stronglyinto the field as
the fantastic disorder which
might combat successfully
This skeleton,then,'
produced such fatal effects.
said the doctor, seems
to you to be alwayspresent
It is my fate,unhappily,'
answered
to your eyes ?'
it.'
Then
I underthe invalid, always to see
stand,'
the physician,it is now
continued
present
To
?'
to your
tainly
imagination
my imaginationit cerAnd
in what
is so,'repliedthe sick man.
conceive the apparition
part of the chamber do you now
diately
to appear ?' the physicianinquired. Immethe curtains are
at the foot of my bed, where
the invalid ; the skeleton,
left a littleopen,'answered
is placedbetween
to my thinking,
them, and fillsthe
vacant
space.' You say you are sensible of the
as

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

CO-EXISTING

HALLUCINATIONS

delusion,'said

his

41

SANITY.

WITH

to
you firmness
Can you
of this ?

friend;* 'have

yourselfof the truth

in the
take courage
enough to rise and placeyourself
and convince yourself
spot so seeming to be occupied,
of the illusion ?' The poor man
sighed,and shook
his head negatively. Well,' said the doctor, we
he
will try the experimentotherwise.'
Accordingly,
self
from his chair by the bedside,and placinghimrose
convince

'

'

the two

between

half-drawn

curtains

the foot

at

of the bed, indicated as the placeoccupiedby the

if the spectre was
asked
still visible.
apparition,
'

'

Not

entirelyso,' replied the patient,

because

your person is betwixt him and me ; but I observe his

skull peeringover
your shoulder.'
"
the
It is alleged
of science started on
the man
on
instant,despitephilosophy,
receivingan answer
such
minuteness, that the ideal
asserting,with
He resorted to
spectrewas close to his own
person.
of investigation
and
but with
other means
cure,
The
equallyindifferent success.
patientsunk into
and died in the same
deeper and deeper dejection,
he had spent the latter
distress of mind in which
of his life; and his case remains a melancholy
months
instance of the power
of the imagination
to kill the

body,even

when

its fantastic terrors

the intellect of the unfortunate

cannot

persons

overcome

who

suffer

the present case, sunk under

of his singular
order
dishis malady ; and the circumstance
remaining concealed,he did not, by his death
The

them.

and

him
*

in
patient,

lose any of the well-merited reputaillness,

tion
which
had
attended
for prudence and sagacity
of his life."f
duringthe whole course

last

In dreams

"which freezes

we
us

are

with

frequentlyconscious that the apparition

terror

has

no

existence,and yet we

rid ourselves of the alarm which possesses us.

f Walter Scott : Letters on Demonology and
London : 1830.

cannot

Witchcraft,
p. 27.

42

HALLUCINATIONS

In many

CO-EXISTING

of the most

is that which

case

was

a bookseller
by Nicolai,
Example 5. In the last

ago,

"

"--

1790

SANITY.

the hallucination

cases

One
such

WITH

I uuderwent

dispositio
dependsupon inaccounts of
interestiug
some
published
years

at Berlin.
ten

months

several very severe

From
the month

of the year
which
trials,

of September
me.
agitated
.greatly
in particular
repeated shocks of misfortune had
befallen me, which producedthe deepestsorrow"
It
had been usual for me
to lose blood by venesection
twice

This was
done once
the 9th of
on
year.
July,1790,but towards the close of the year it was
omitted.
"

In the firsttwo

months

much

affected in my

very

nature
disagreeable
a

mind

circumstance

extremely.At

ten

of the year 1791 I was

by several incidents of
and

on

occurred

the 24th

which

o'clock in the

of February

irritated

forenoon

my

me

wife

and another person came

in a
to console me
: I was
violent perturbation
of mind, owing to a series of
incidents which had altogether
wounded
my moral
and from which I saw no possibility
of relief,
feelings,
when

suddenlyI observed,at the distance of ten

a
figure the figureof a deceased
me,
paces from
I pointed
at it,
and asked my wife whether
person.
she did not see it. She saw
but beingmuch
nothing,
and sent for
to compose
alarmed,endeavoured
me,
the physician.The figureremained
some
seven
or
eightminutes, and at lengthI became a little more
wards
exhausted,I soon aftercalm; and as I was extremely
fell into a troubled kind of slumber,which
"

lasted for half-an-hour.

"

In the

a
afternoon,

figurewhich

seen

in the

the
o'clock,
morning againappeared.

stance
happened a circumcould not
which,as may be easily
conceived,
to the apart*
very agreeable.I went, therefore,
I

be

I had

little after four

was

alone when

this

"

44

HALLUCINATIONS

CO-EXISTING

WITH

SANITY.

with the
alwaysable to distinguish
greatestprecisionphantasms from phenomena. I
knew
extremelywell when it onlyappearedto me
that the door was
opened,and a phantom entered,
and when the door really
and any person
was
opened,
I

manner.

was

in.

came
"

to

It is also to be noted
at all

me

that these

under

times,and

appeared
figures

the most

different circumstance

equallydistinct and clear. "Whether I

alone or in company, by broad daylightequally
was
in the night-time,
in my own
well as in my
as
as
house ; yet when I was at another person's
neighbour's
house theywere
I walked
less frequent
when
; and
the publicstreet they seldom
I
appeared.When
shut my eyes sometimes the figures
times
somedisappeared,
theyremained even after I had closed them.
If theyvanished in the former case, on opening my
nearlythe same figuresappearedwhich I
eyes again,
had
"

seen

before.

of both
part,I saw human figures
sexes
: theycommonly passed to and
fro,as if they
had no connexion with each other,like peopleat a
where all is bustle ; sometimes theyappearedto
fair,
For the most

have

amongst

saw

with

business

them

and birds ; these

natural size,
and

another.

one

persons

Once

or

twice

horseback,and dogs

on

all appearedto me
figures
if theyhad
as
as
distinctly

in their
existed

with the several tints on the uncovered

in real life,
partsof their body,and with all the different kinds
and

colours of clothes.

the

colours

were

But

somewhat

think,however,that

paler than they are

in

nature.
"

About

four weeks

afterwards the numbers

of the

and I began to hear them speak;

phantasmsincreased,
the phantasms spoke with one
sometimes
another,
but for the most
part they addressed themselves to
in generalshort,and never
were
me
: these speeches

CO-EXISTING

HALLUCINATIONS

45

SANITY.

WITH

contained

and
anything disagreeable.Intelligent
voured
respectedfriends often appearedto me, who endeawhich stillleft deep
to console ine in my grief,
traces
"

on

my

mind.
at this time I

enjoyedrather a good state

of health,both in body and mind, and had become
so
very familiar with these phantasms,that at last they
did not excite the least disagreeable
theless
emotion,neverI endeavoured
to rid myself of them
by
Though

suitable remedies.

It

was

appliedto the anus.

20th of April,
1791, at

be
I

with

alone

was

the

the

This

performedon

was

the

eleven o'clock in the forenoon.

but

surgeon,

swarmed

room

decided that leeches should

with

human

duringthe

tion
opera-

forms

of every
another ; this

which crowded fast on one

description,
continued till half-past
four o'clock,
exactlythe time
I then observed that
when the digestion
commences.
the figures
wards
more
began to move
slowly; soon afterthe colours became gradually
and at about
paler,
half-pastsix o'clock all the figureswere
entirely
white ; they moved
althoughtheir forms
very little,
distinct.
The
appeared perfectly
figuresdid not
neither did they vanish,but in this instance
move
off,
into air ; of some
even
they dissolved immediately
for a length of time, which
whole piecesremained
At about eight
also by degreeswere
lost to the eye.
o'clock there did not remain a vestige
of any of them,
and I have never
since experienced
any appearance of
the
"

kind.

same

Twice

or

thrice since that time

if I may be
sensation as if I saw

againwas

so

allowed

I have felt a propensity,

to express

which
something,

in

myself,or
a

gone."*

~VVe would
reader

to

sightand
*

moment

direct the attention of the

especially
of these hallucinations of
the physiology
in a man
who
hearing,
carefully
analyzed

Nicholson' 's Journal, vol. vi. p. 161.

3803.

46

HALLUCINATIONS

his

CO-EXISTING

WITH

and observed,
that
sensations,
of the

mental

mind

anxietyhe
in the

SANITY.

his

order
disastonishing
conld only be explained
by the
had undergone,and by the disturbance

cerebral circulation which

was

duced
pro-

it.

by
On the 26th of December, 1830,"
Example 6.
standingnear the
says Dr. Brewster, Mrs. A. was
fire in the hall,
and on the pointof goingup-stairs
to
her husband's
dress,when she heard,as she supposed,
voice calling
her by name,
here ! come
come
!' She imagined that he was
to me
at the
calling
door to have it opened,but, upon going there and
to find no
one
opening the door, she was surprised
there.
to the fire she againheard
Upon returning
the same
voice calling
out very distinctly
and loudly,
here !' She
then opened two
come
come,
doors of the same
and upon
seeingno perroom,
son
she returned to the fire-placeAfter a few
she heard the same
moments
voice still calling,
"

"

'

'

'
,

come

to

and
loud,plaintive,

me,

come

somewhat

away !' in a
impatienttone. She
come

'

loudly,Where are you ? I don't know

where
where
someyou are ;' stillimaginingthat he was
in search of her ; but receiving
no
answer, she
On Mr. A.'s return
went
to the
shortly
up-stairs.
house, about half-an-hour afterwards,she inquired
and she was, of course,
why he had called her so often,
to learn that he had not been near
greatlysurprised
answered

the house
"

as

at the time.

Mrs,
Subsequently,
of them

of

A. had
much

numerous

other illusions,

racter."
alarmingchaBrewster adds, that duringthe six weeks
within which the three firstillusions took place,
Mrs.
reduced and weakened
A. had been considerably
by
troublesome
a
cough. Her generalhealth had not
been strong,and long experience
put it beyond a
doubt that her indisposition
from a disordered
arose
some

"

more

HALLUCINATIONS

state of the

CO-EXISTING

digestive
organs.

Her

47

SANITY.

WITH

system

nervous

and the account

of any person
highlysensitive,
havingsuffered severe
painby accident or otherwise
occasionally
produced acute twinges of pain in the
She would
talk
corresponding
parts of her person.
in her sleepwith greatfluency,
and repeatlong passages
of poetry,
when
she
unwell.
was
particularly
From
the very commencement
of the spectral
illusions
seen
by Mrs. A., both she and her husband
of their nature
and origin,
well aware
and both
were
of them
cumstances
paid the most minute attention to the cirwhich accompaniedthem, for the purpose
of ascertaining
their connexion
with the state of
*
health under which theyappeared."
During my attendance at school I
Example 7.
in frequent
intercourse with a boy,whom
I shall
was
call D.; he was, in short,my intimate acquaintance
in boyhoodfor many
years, until,by the continued
of an infatuated father,
the circumstances
dissipation
of the familybegan to decline,
and step by step they
was

"

"

became
course

reduced
of

to the

few

method
speediest
lost sightof him

greatestwretchedness.

In the

sent to sea, as the

years D. was
of getting
rid of him. I consequently

for many years, until at lengthI heard

that he had returned to his wretched home, labouring

symptoms of advanced consumption. He was

attended
during his illness by Dr. C, and three

under

months

after his return

to attend

the

home

he

of
inspection

died.
the

was

body,and

will

quested
re-

it

readilybe believed that many reflections of a

nature
occurred to me, producing
sad and painful
an
on
impression
my mind which several years failed to
dissipate.This occurred in 1835, and three years
the circumstances
of the familyhaving
afterwards,
continued the same, their unhappy case
was
again
the
called to me in
One
following
manner
singular
:
"

Brewster

Opus

cit. pp. 39-48.

48

HALLUCINATIONS

CO-EXISTING

WITH

SANITY.

at the time when I was

evening,
dailyin the habit of
I was
illusions,
seeingspectral
engaged in reading
for a considerable
Crichton,
Life of the Admirable
Tytler's
time after the rest of the familyhad retired
for the night; and after I had finished my book, and
the pointof proceeding
to my bedroom, I saw
was
on
which provedto be an
a letter lyingon
a side -table,

invitation to attend the funeral of D.'s mother.

This

the first intimation I had had of her death ; and

connected with her unhappy
many painfulcircumstances
which need not be mentioned
mediately
life,
here,imwas

occurred to

room,
proceededto my bedthese circumstances,
undressed myon
reflecting
self,
the candle,when I felt my
and had extinguished
left arm
suddenlygraspeda littlebelow the shoulder,
I struggled
to my side.
and forcibly
to free
pressed
myselffor a time,callingaloud, Let go my arm,'
heard the words
Don't be afraid,'
I distinctly
when
uttered in a low tone. I immediately
said, Allow me
when I felt my arm
the candle,'
and
to light
released,
to another
for
I then proceeded
part of the room
for a moment
the candle,never
ing
doubtto light
means
me.

'

'

'

but

that

one

some

was

in the

I at the

room.

giddinessand faintness,
I succeeded,however,
which almost overpowered
me.
the candle,and, turningtowards the door,
in lighting
of the deceased D. standing
before
I beheld the figure
same

time

felt

an

uneasy

if a haze had been

and indistinct,
as
time perfectly
defined.
between us, but at the same
Ey an impulseI cannot account for,I steppedtowards
me.

It

was

dim

receded
it with the candle in my hand ; it immediately
rate as I advanced,and proceeding
at the same
thus,

alwaystowards
slowly down-stairs

with the face

the

door

lobby,when it stood
and openedthe street
became
so giddy that

me,

it

until

still. I

passedthrough

we

came

passed close

door ; but at
I sank down

to the
to

this moment
on

one

it,
I

of the

HALLUCINATIONS

CO-EXISTING

WITH

49

SANITY.

and let fall the candle.

I cannot
chairs,
say how
but,on recovering,
long I remained in this situation,
with considerI felt a violent painover
able
my eyebrows,
sickness,and indistinctness of vision. I passed
and continued in an una feverish and restless night,
easy
the
state during
following
day. I was always
able to distinguish
the differentcolours of the clothes,
and

had

dressed in

never

the

seen

individual

during: life

similar way.
In all its characters it
than any
approximatedthe illusions of fever more
other which

I have

could have

witnessed,and
considered

it

never

real

for

ment
mo-

object.It is
other exciting

in this instance,
to find any
difficult,
cause, exceptthe pain felt in my
arm, which I now
refer to cramp of the triceps
muscle actingon the
state of mind incident to spectral
peculiar
illusions,
with a powerfulimagination,
together
already
greatly
circumstance of the case.
excited by the peculiar
I

may
arm

state

I have

that

felt the

in
feeling

same

without associating
it with
since,

any similar

the
sequences."
con-

Example 8. Along with the precedingcase we

that has been published
by Bostock.
may placeone
I was
under a
labouring,"
says this physiologist,
fever attended with symptoms of generaldebility,
of the nervous
especially
system,and with a severe
pain of the head,which was confined to a small spot
situated above the righttemple.After havingpassed
a sleepless
siderable
night,and beingreduced to a state of conI first perceived
exhaustion,
figures
presenting
themselves before me, which I immediately
recognised
similar to those described by Nicolai;
and
as
free from delirium,
and as they
upon which,as I was
visible for about three days and nights,
with
were
1 was
little intermission,
able to make
tions.
my observaThere were
two circumstances which appeared
"

"

Paterson

Loc. cit.p. 84.

E

50

HALLUCINATIONS

to

CO-EXISTING

WITH

SANITY.

that the spectral

very remarkable : first,
appearances
always followed the motion of the eyes ;

me

that
secondly,

which were
the best
objects
such
were
defined,and remained the longestvisible,
I had no recollection of ever havingpreviously
as
seen.
hours I had constantly
For about twenty-four
before
the features and dress of which
a human
me
figure,
visible as that of any real existence,
were
as distinctly

and

the

which, after an interval of many years, I still

retain the most lively
impression;
yet,neither at the
have I been able to discover any person
time nor since,
that resembled it.
I had previously
whom
seen
after the disapDuring one part of this disease,
pearance
of this stationary
phantom, I had a very
and amusing imagery presentedto me.
It
singular

and

of

"

human
principally
appearedas if a number of objects,
small scale,
faces or figures,
were
on
a
placedbefore
and gradually
dallions.
removed, like a succession of meme,
all of the same
size,and apThey were
peared
all situated at the

to be

the face.

After

it became

and
fainter,

vivid,seemed

one

had been
then

recollect

with
object
far

as

nor,

that, in

which
as

for

seen

distance from
a

few minutes

another,which

was

more

to be laid upon it or substituted in its

in its turn was
supersededby a new
appearance.

which
place,
During all this
not

same

am

I had
aware,

succession of scenery I do
singleinstance I saw any
been previously
acquainted
;
were

the

of
representations

with which my mind was

the
objects,
to me
most occupiedat other times,presented
; they
at least
new
or
creations,
appearedto be invariably
of those

any

combinations, of which

new

I could

not

trace

the

materials."*
original
adds Conolly,how it was
that
If it is asked,'
did not lose their
Nicolai and the Englishphysiologist
will be, theynever
believed
the readyanswer
reason,'
"

'

'

'

Bostock

vol. iii.p.
Systemof Physiology,

204.

52

HALLUCINATIONS

CO-EXISTING

WITH

SANITY.

heard the noise of a bottle being placed

distinctly
the table by the side of rny bed, and soon
wards
afteron
a crepitating
sound,like that which arises from
the action of strong acid on
a
pieceof carbonate of
I thought that some
lime.
acid had been spilt
on
marble

the

attendance
I

table,and

endeavoured
was

to

undeceive

bottle

no

me,

the

on

in

told rather than in what

theynext
that

me

had any acid

that I had been the

table,nor

spilt.I was then aware

of a hallucination,
and
subject

believed in what

I had heard.

But

was

the noise

distinct

that,had it not been for my experience

I
the
like
hallucinated,should,
them,
amongst
been deceived by this singular
phenomenon."

so

have

persons

delirious ;
and assured

was

been

was

the

of their carelessness. At firsttheythought

dreaming,then,that

was

there

I admonished

M. Andral
to

him

a similar illusion ; it seemed

experienced
minutes
that a dead body was
during some

confined to
stretched out in the room, where he was
of indisposition.
This vision
account
his bed on
from

arose

the vivid recollection of the effect duced

prohim by the sightof a dead body the first

upon
time he entered

lecture-room.

frequently
happensafter having held the head
for some
down
time,that on raisingit up we feel
ourselves giddyand bewildered ; we see brightlights
before our eyes, and experience
a disagreeable
singing
In some
will give
in the ears.
persons this position
It

rise to hallucinations.

Example
which

house

and when

"

10.

she

had
was

for

woman
some

engaged to

was

time

employedin

been

clean

uninhabited

washingthe stairs she

her head,the feet and legs

lifting
accidentally
alarmed at such an
of a gigantic
woman
; and, greatly
fled from the house without waitingfor
apparition,
of the figure."*
the further development
saw,

on

Conolly:Opus

cit. p. 101.

HALLUCINATIONS

CO-EXISTING

WITH

53

SANITY.

gentlemanof high attainments was

constantlyhaunted by a spectrewhen
he retired to rest,which
seemed to attempt his life. "When he raised himself
in bed, the phantom vanished,
but reappearedas he
resumed
the recumbent
posture.*
Great excitement,
state of the mind,
a pre-occupied
association of ideas,
that cannot
or
an
plained,
alwaysbe exgotten,
may reproducean event which has been forand giverise to a vivid external picture
of it ;
this is shown
which
was
by the followingcase
recorded by the medical man
to whom
it occurred.
A middle-aged
Example 11.
respectably-dressed
a
strangerin Edinburgh,expiredsuddenlyin
man,
The body was
omnibus.
an
placed in the policeoffice. The next
ordered to make
an
day I was
and reporton the cause
of death.
examination,
On enteringthe apartment where the body lay,
in life,
clad as when
and attired as for a journey,
I
informed of the affecting
incident narrated above,
was
felt deeplyinterested by a calamity
and I naturally
in itself so appalling,
and probablymost
painfully
"

"

eventful to others."
circumstance

The

mind
the

had,however,passedout

of the

writer,when
manner
:
following

it

was

of the

recalled to him

in

"

on
employedfor a few daysin writing
a
subject
professional
; and it so happened that,of a
forenoon,when thus engaged,on raisingmy eyes
"

from

I had been

the paper, the vision of the dead

before
as

when

very

me,

with

I first saw

him

extended

on

board.

identical,
onlythat the
by his side,now
formerly

apparelwas

hat,which

distinctness of

strangerstood
outline as perfect

was

directed towards me
head ; his eyes were
of expression,
which before
benignity
*

Dendy : Opus cit.p.

290.

His

broad-brim
covered his
the

struck

peculiar
me

so

54

CO-EXISTING

HALLUCINATIONS

much,

beamed

now

from

SANITY.

WITH

his countenance.

In

few

he

minutes

disappeared."*
the brain,is
All mental
labour, by over-exciting
liable to giverise to hallucinations. "We have known
man,
persons, and amongst others a medical
many
heard voices calling
who, when it was night,distinctly
would
would
to them ; some
or
stop to reply,
go to
the door,believing
they heard the bell ring. This
in persons
to us
not uncommon
seems
disposition
selves.
who
in the habit of talkingaloud to themare

Example
the

of

case

affected
such

himself

the

extent

an

meets

by

read

We

12.

gentleman

"

in
who

Abercombie's
has

been

work,

all his life

of spectral
figures.To
appearance
exist that,if he
does this peculiarity

at first satisfy
friend in the street,he cannot
the individual or a
whether
he reallysees

spectral
figure. By
difference between

close attention he

them,

in the

can

outline

remark
of the

real

defined than that of the

figurebeing more
distinctly
for correcting
spectral
; but in generalhe takes means
his visual impression
or
by touching the figure,
byhas also
to the sound of his footsteps.He
listening
the power of callingup spectral
figuresat his will,
to the conception
by directinghis attention steadily
this may consist either of a
which he has seen, or it may be a
figureor a scene
created by his imagination.
But, though
composition
of his

own

mind

and

he has
of producing the illusion,
faculty
no
power of vanishingit ; and,when he has called up
can
or scene, he never
spectral
figure
say
any particular
The gentlehow long it may continue to haunt him.
man
of sound mind, in good
is in the prime of life,
Another
of his
health,and engaged in business.
he

has

the

Paterson

Loc. cit.p. 86.

HALLUCINATIONS

CO-EXISTING

familyhas been affected

in a slight
degree."*
Subdivision
sound

"

the

of

state

4"
judgment.

II.

In

in the

same

but
intellect,

not

letter addressed

though

manner,

Hallucinations

some

55

SANITY.

WITH

with a
co-existing
corrected by the
years back

to

Bernard

to give
d'Apt,who had requested me
him
I franklyacknowledged
spiritualism,
my opinionon
sympathiesfor that great creed. This
my
questionhas also been examined by M. Guizot with
him
believe that the
his usual ability.With
we
depends upon it. It is in
very existence of society
vain that modern
which,in spiteof its
philosophy,
of
is unable to explainthe actual cause
positiveness,
phenomenon, attempts to rejectthe supernatural
any single
this
and is
element
itself
shows
everywhere,
;
tellects
deeplyrooted in the hearts of all. The greatestinits most fervent disciples.
are
frequently
Dr. Sigmond,in his remarks on hallucinations,
goes
of
a man
even
further,for he says, there is scarcely
who
eminence
has written his biography,or laid

M.

"

the secrets

open

of his inmost

soul,but

ledged
acknow-

has

in his life ; the most

event
preternatural
have felt,
at some
sceptical
periodor other,a mental
some

emotion, either
It is thus

fantasia

or

hallucination." f

that hallucinations

are

often mistaken

for

to
however
realities,
improbablethey may seem
those who
time,
experiencethem ; but, at the same

the

is not

reason

affected

them.

by

The

iu dividual

event, of which

he

gives
but privately,
more
some
or less plausible,
explanation
of the mind ; from a
through a particular
disposition
rather to the superor
tendency to superstition,
natural,
he is led to regard it as the forerunner of

has witnessed

Abercrombie

p. 380.

Eleventh

f Forbes

remarkable

Inquiriesconcerningthe Intellectual Powers,

edition.

Winslow's

London

1841.

Journal,vol. i. p.
Psychological

586.

56

HALLUCINATIONS

WITH

CO-EXISTING

SANITY.

as
an
high destiny,
importantevent, or of some
vidence.
from heaven,or as a warning from Proinspiration
tence
have believed in the exisMany greatmen
and hence
of their star,or their guardian
spirit,
theyhave not been unpreparedto witness the appearance
distinctive
The
of miraculous
apparitions.
character of these hallucinations is that they do not
tain
the conduct,and the individual may mainprejudice
for virtue,
in the world a high reputation
ability,
believe they have
and wisdom ; often,indeed,we
some

served

as

an

additional stimulus to the individual in

conceived.
he had previously
out the projects
carrying
Many instances of this kind have occurred,the
truth of which is guaranteed
by the high position
of the persons themselves, and by the undoubted
of those who were
present.
veracity
Example 13. In 1806 General Eapp, on his return
from the siegeof Dantzic,havingoccasion to speak
to the Emperor,entered his cabinet without being
tation
announced.
He found him in such profoundmedithat

his

entrance

was

Doticed.

not

The

general,
seeingthat he did not move, was afraid he
noise.
and purposelymade
a
might be indisposed,
turned round,and seizing
Eapp
Napoleonimmediately
by the arm, pointedto the heavens,saying, Do you
rogated
that ?" The generalmade no reply; beingintersee
a second
time,he answered that he perceived
responded the emperor, "you
nothing. "What!"
did not discover it ? It is my star,it is immediately
in front of you, most
brilliant ;" and, becoming gradually
more
excited,he exclaimed, It has never
abandoned
all great occasions ;
me
; I behold it on
is a
it commands
to advance, and that to me
me
had this
M. Passy,who
sure
sign of success."
anecdote from Eapp himself,
related it at the meeting
of the Academie
des Sciences Morale et Politique,
on
"

"

the 4th of

1846.
April,

HALLUCINATIONS

CO-EXISTING

WITH

57

SANITY.

"

It is now
than thirty-five
more
Example 14.
that the following
years ago," says Dr. Winslow,
singularcircumstance occurred to the Marquis of
Londonderry: He was on a visit to a gentlemanin
"

"

the north of Ireland.

The

mansion

fabled to inhabit.

such

was

one

as

The

apartment,also,
which was
to his lordship
calculated
was
appropriated
from its antiquechato foster such a tone of feeliug
racter
panelsof its
; from the dark and richly-carved
wainscot ; from its yawning chimney,lookinglike the
entrance
to a tomb ; from the portraits
of grim men
and women
arrayedin orderly
procession
along the
walls,and scowlinga contemptuous enmity against
the degenerateinvader of their gloomy bowers
and
venerable halls ; and from the vast,dusky,
ponderous,
and complicated
that concealed the windows,
draperies
and hung with the gloomy grandeurof funeral trappings
about the hearse-like pieceof furniture that was
destined for his bed.
Lord
Londonderry examined
himself acquainted
his chamber ; he made
with the
spectresare

forms

and

mansion

as

faces of

the

ancient

possessors of the
theysat uprightin their ebony frames to

receive his salutation ; and then,after dismissing

his
he retired to bed. His candle had not longbeen
valet,
when
extinguished
the draperiesof
Conscious

he
the

that there

a lightgleamingou
perceived
his head.
loftycanopy over

firein his grate; that the

curtains were
closed ; that the chamber
had been in
he
perfectdarkness but a few minutes previously,
was

no

intruder must
have entered into
supposedthat some
his apartment; and,turninground hastily
to the side
from whence
the lightproceeded,
he, to his infinite
astonishment,saw, not the form of any human visitor,
but the figure
of a fair boy surrounded
by a halo of
stood at some
distance from his
glory. The spirit
bed.

Certain that his

own

faculties were

him, but suspectinghe might

be

not

ing
deceiv-

imposed on by

58

HALLUCINATIONS

the

of
ingenuity
then

were

advanced

WITH

CO-EXISTING

inmates
towards

of the

some

of the

numerous

Lord
castle,

SANITY.

guestswho

Londonderry

figure
; it retreated before him ;
he
as
advanced, the apparition
retired,until it
entered the gloomy end of the capacious
and
chimney,
then sunk into the earth.
Lord
turned
Londonderry rehis

to

harassed
effect of
so
"

bed,

but

an

not

to rest ; his mind

the consideration

which had occurred

event

not

by

the

excited

of

to him.

the
Was

?
imagination

The

was

extraordinary
it real,
or

the

mystery was

solved.
easily

morning to make no allusion

to what had occurred the previous
until he had
night,
watched
cover
the faces of all the family,
to discarefully
been
whether
practised.
any deceptionhad
When
the guests assembled at breakfast his lordship
He

resolved in the

searched

in vain for those

looks, that

latent smiles,those conscious

between
silent communication

by which the authors and abettors of such

parties,
domestic conspiracies
are
betrayed.Everything
generally
proceededin its ordinarycourse
apparently
;
the conversation was
animated
and uninterrupted,
and no indication was
giventhat any one presenthad
been engaged in the trick. At last,
the hero of the
tale found himself compelledto narrate the singular
event of the preceding
night. He related every particular
connected
It

excited

various

much

with the appearance of the spectre.

interest among
the auditors,
and

offered. At last,
the
explanations
the
gentleman who owned the castle interrupted
various surmises by observing,
that the circumstance
which had justbeen recounted must naturally
appear
been
mates
inthose
who
have
not
to
very extraordinary
and are not conversant with
long at the castle,
the legendsof his family
donderry,
;'then,turningto Lord Lonhe said, You have seen
the 'Radiant Boy.'
were

the

'

'

Ee

content,it is an

omen

of prosperous fortunes.

60

HALLUCINATIONS

of the

WITH

CO-EXISTING:

SANITY.

the
Wishing to overcome
difficultieshe encountered
of
in Norway by means
the sword, he proposed to dispatchhis son
Oscar
of reducing
at the head of an army, for the purpose
the rebels,
which was
a proceeding
stronglyopposed
the
State.
One
Council of
by
day,after an animated
discussion on the subject,
his horse and
he mounted
a
gallopedsome
; having gone
way from the capital

King

of Sweden.

arrived at the outskirts of

considerable distance he
dark

forest.

Suddenly he
clad,and with her
strangely

beheld

old woman,
hair in disorder. " What
an

do you want?"
asked the king,sharply. To which
"
the apparition
If Oscar goes to the war
replied,
the first
but receive,
you meditate,he will not give,
and
blow."
Bernadotte,struck with the apparition
its

words, returned

his

palace. The

day,
the traces of a sleepless
bearingin his countenance
he presented
and in a state of greatagitation,
night,
I have changed my mind,"
himself at the council.
he said ;
will negotiate
for peace ; but I must
we
to

next

"

"

have honourable
sudden

What

was

those

who

terms."

Had

change?

the
knew

the character of the great man

of it in favour of
to avail themselves

pointin

cause

the

of the
weak

endeavoured

reason,
justice,
that the
and humanityr Or is it not more
probable
idea which occupiedhis mind, and, as constantly
happensin dreams, and even in the waking state,had
assumed
was
a visible form, and the mental
operation
? This explanation
mistaken for an actual occurrence
seems

woman

exact

to

us

much

should

reasonable

more

have

whither
locality

been
the

than

that

an

placeherself in
of the king had
caprice

able to

old
the
led

him.*
in his
Example 16. M. de Chateaubriand relates,
Lifeof M. JRance,that one day this celebrated man
of his chateau of Veretz,
was
walking in the avenue
*

Presse du 14 Mai, 1844.

HALLUCINATIONS

CO-EXISTING

WITH

61

SANITY.

thought he saw a great fire which issued

He
from some
ran
buildingsin the outer court.
towards
it,but in proportionas he approachedthe
At a certain distance the conflagrafire diminished.
tion
and was
converted into a lake of
disappeared,
the half-length
in the midst of which was
fire,
figure
of a female devoured by the flames.
Greatlyalarmed,he retraced his steps,aud took
he arrived
When
the pathway leadingto the house.
there he was
completelyexhausted,and fell fainting
he

when

He

his bed.

on

was

could not

around

be

It would

illustrious

men

of this

obtain

himself

beside

so

from

singleword

that

those

him.*

examples of
tions
to hallucinasubject
their having in any way

easy to mention
who have been

kind,without

many

influenced their conduct.

declared he heard

Malbranche

Thus,

within
distinctly

God

him

upon

Byron

the search of truth. t

visited
fancied he was
occasionally

to pursue

he

spectre,which
over-stimulated

confesses

at

one

time

seemed

Goethe

the effect of

when

she

to

come

said

voice call

was

Pope,who suffered much

day asked his medical

which

but

Johnson

Dr.

heard his mother's

was

was

by

an

brain. J

celebrated

The

after long confinement,

Descartes,
by an invisible person, calling

him.

followed

was

the voice of

out

asserts
positively

"

that

he

Samuel."

tinctly
disThis

off.
a long way
residing
from intestinal disease,
man

what

the

arm

was

of the wall.
that

he

one

day saw

the

counterpart of himself coming towards him

t. xxvi. p. 83). The German
(CEuvresCompletes,
chologists
psyof Deuteroscopia
to this
give the name
speciesof illusion.
The silence and horror of a dungeon serve
to exexact

Vie de Ranee, par Chateaubriand.

f Forbes Winslow : Opus cit. p. 123.

Paris

1844.

J Idem,

p. 126.

62

HALLUCINATIONS

plainthe

result which
and

some

to have

seems

false sensations
the

taken

were

being affected a
dependedupon the opinions
reason

"

belief of the times,and upon

religious
the habits of the
affecting
injuriously

not

SANITY.

persons
for their geniusand their talents. As, in

precedingcases, the
but without
realities,

for

WITH

of hallucinations in

occurrence

remarkable
the

CO-EXISTING:

these

errors

persons who

liable to them.

were

Example 17.
at Eome

Benvenuto
order

Cellini,who

was

of the

imprisoned
given an

Pope,has
of his sufferings
in the memoirs
account
interesting
which he has left of his life. As soon,"he says, as
failed me, I felt all the miseryof my conthe light
finement,
and grew so impatient,
that I several times
was
goingto layviolent hands upon myself;however,

by

"

as

was

not

allowed

knife,I had

"

not

the

means

of

I once, notwithstanding,
carrying
my designinto execution.
contrived to placea thick plank of wood
over
that,
my head,and dropped it in such a manner
it would
if it had fallen upon
have
me,
instantly

but, when I had put the whole

pilein readiness,and was just going to loosen the
plankand let it fall upon my head,I was seized by
pushed four cubits from the place,
somethinginvisible,
become
and terrified to such a degree that I was
crushed

me

to death ;

insensible.

almost

Having afterwards reflected within myselfwhat it

from carrying
could be that prevented
me
my design
into execution,I took it for grantedthat it was
some
divine power, or, in other words, my guardianangel.
afterwards in the night appearedto me
in a
There
dream a wonderful
being,which in form resembled a
in a reprimanding
beautiful youth,and said to me
tone, Do you know who gave you that body which
before the time of its dissolution
you would have destroyed
?' My imagination
was
impressedas if I had
answered,that I acknowledged to have received it
"

'

CO-EXISTING

HALLUCINATIONS

great God of Nature.

that
he, despisehis gifts,

from

never

'Do

63

SANITY.

plied
then,'reyou attempt to deface
and
in his providence,

the

'

and

WITH

destroythem ? Trust
giveway to despairwhilst

you,

his divine assistance

admirable

exhortations,
recollect the thousandth part."
of which I cannot now
and "At this juncture
His sufferings
were
increased,
the invisible being that had
preventedmy laying
to me, stillinvisible,
violent hands upon myselfcame
but spoke with an audible voice,shook me, made me
is at hand

;'with

many

more

! lose no
! Benvenuto
rise up, and said : ' Benvenuto
time, raise your heart to God in fervent devotion,
!' Being
and cry to him with the utmost vehemence

seized with

knees,
whole
'He

I fell upon
consternation,
several prayers, togetherwith

sudden
said

and

my
the

psalm,
that dwelleth in the secret

placeof the Most High,'"c.

spoke with God for awhile,and in

clear and audible,
instant the same
an
voice,altogether
fear nothing.'
Take your repose, and now
said to me,
mated
and almost
The strongest,
onlydesire which aniearnest
was
an
longingto see the
my breast,
So continuing
to pray,
sun, the golden orb of day !

then, as it were,
'

"

with the

same

earnestness

and fervour of devotion to

myself: O thou true

Son of God ! I beseech thee, by thy birth,by thy
the cross, and by thy glorious
death upon
resurrection,
deem
that thou wouldst
me
worthy to see the
if it cannot
be otherwise !
sun, in my dreams at least,
but,if thou thinkest me worthyof seeingit with these
mortal eyes, I promise to visit thee at thy holy
did I make, and these prayers
!' These vows
sepulchre
did I put up to God, on the 2nd of October,1539. When
almost
I awoke at daybreak,
the next morning came
before
hour
an
sunrise,and, having quittedmy
wretched couch,I put on a waistcoat,
as it began to be
Jesus

Christ,I

thus delivered

'

64

CO-EXISTING

HALLUCINATIONS

WITH

SANITY.

and prayedwith greaterdevotion than ever

I
eoolish,
entreated Christ that
had done before : I earnestly
be graciously
he would
pleasedto favour me with a
know for what offence I
to let me
iDspiration,
so
was
severelypunished; and, since his divine
majestydid not think me fit to behold the sun even
and goodin a dream, I besought him by his power
ness,
at least deem
me
that he would
worthy of
of such rigorouschastisement.
knowing the cause
I had uttered these words my invisible guide
"When
divine

hurried
where

me

he

away like a whirlwind

unveiled himself to me

of
havingthe figure

showed

in

an
a

apartment,
human
form,

the firstdown

upon

beautiful countenance, on
gravitywas conspicuous
particular
; he then
of

his cheeks,and
which

youthwith

to

me

most

innumerable

the walls of the

figures
upon
'

apartment,and said to me, All those men whom you

such as have here finished
thus represented
are
see
him why he
career.' I then asked
their mortal
brought me thither ? To this he answered, Come
I hapforward,and you will soon know the reason.'
pened
and on my
to have in my hand a littledagger,
back a coat of mail ; so he led me throughthat spacious
and showingme those who travelled several
apartment,
of miles,
ways to the distance of an infinite number
he conducted me
forward,went out at a littledoor
like a narrow
into a placewhich appeared
street,and
pulledme after him : upon coming out of the spacious
apartment into this street I found myselfunarmed,
without anything
on
and in a white shirt,
my head,
standing at the right of my companion. "When I
ment,
saw
myselfin this situation I was in great astonish'

I did not

because
so,

the

my

know

what

street

a
high wall
my eyes, I saw
I then
darted his refulgent
rays.

lifting
up
sun

friend,how

to be able to

see

shall I contrive to raise

the

sphereof

the

sun

was

on

in ;
which
'

said, O,

myselfso

?'

He

as

there-

CO-EXISTING

HALLUCINATIONS

showed

upon

righthand,and
to

several

me

bade

little distance

"WITH

stepswhich

were

ascend them.

me

from

65

SANITY.

upon

my

Having

gone

him, I mounted

several of

stepsbackwards,and began by littleto see the

I ascended as fast as I could,in
approachingsun.
above mentioned,so that I at last disthe manner
covered
those

the whole
rays dazzled

me,

solar orb

lustre of
In
sun

this
;

fall on

its powerful

O brilliantsun

I whom

I have

behold ; I from
henceforward
other object,
though the fierce
and blinds me.'

quiteoverpowers
stood with

the
my eyes fixed on
after I had continued thus wrapped up for

manner

time, I

some

'

no

thy beams

and

and because

the cause
of it,
I, upon perceiving
and lookingsteadfastly
the great
on

opened my eyes,
exclaimed
luminary,
so
long wished to
desire to behold

the whole

force of his rays united

the left side of his orb,and the rays beingremoved,
saw

I, with greatdelightand equalastonishment,

and
contemplatedthe body of the glorious
luminary,
could not but consider the concentrating
of its beams
phenomenon.
upon the left as a most extraordinary
I meditated

on
profoundly

manifested

itselfto

me

the divine grace which had

this morning,and thus raised

influence
my voice : O wonderful power ! 0 glorious
divine! how
much
beauteous
art thou to me
more
'

expected!' The sun divested of his rays appeared

I
Whilst
a ball of purest melted
gold.
gazed
this noble phenomenon, I saw
the centre of the
on
swell and bulge out, and in a moment
there apsun
peared
the Cross,formed of the selfsame
a Christ upon
the sun; and so gracious
matter
and pleasing
as
his aspect,
that no human
could ever
was
imagination
form so much as a faint idea of such beauty. As I
this glorious
I cried
was
contemplating
apparition,
than I

out

aloud,

'

miracle !

divine ! 0
dost thou

lavish

on

miracle !

G-od !

goodness iufinite ! What

this morning 1' At
me

mency
cle-

mercies
the very

66

HALLUCINATIONS

CO-EXISTING

time that I thus meditated

figureof

the

WITH

and

SANITY.

tittered these

words,

Christ

towards the side

began to move
where the rajs were
and the middle of
concentrated,
swelled and bulgedout as at first. The prothe sun
tuberance
at last
was
having increased considerably,
of a beautiful VirginMary,
converted into the figure
who appearedto sit,with her son
in her arms, in a
and even
She stood beto smile.
tween
attitude,
graceful
two angelsof so divine a beauty,
that imagination
could not even
form an idea of such perfection.
I likewise saw
in the same
sun
a
figuredressed in
turned its back to me,
sacerdotal robes ; this figure
and looked towards the blessed VirginholdingChrist
and plainly
in her arms.
All these thingsI clearly
saw,

and with

loud voice continued

to return

thanks

ing
Almighty. This wonderful phenomenon havappearedbefore me about eightminutes,vanished
and I was
from my sight,
instantly
conveyedback to

to the

my

couch."

the apparitions
exampleswhich follow,
which
by the sympathies
explained
may be partially
of the same
members
and in
exist between
family,
have often noticed a common
whom
we
psychological
between
the
husband
and wife,
character,
especially
tenance,
expressionof counproducingnot only the same
the same
but even
tone of thought. Such
interchangetheir thoughts
persons will frequently
with each other,
without any direct communication
but, as it were, by a kind of divination.
the
Example 18. One morning,in 1652, Philip,
second Earl of Chesterfield,
a
saw
thing in white,
like a standingsheet,within a yard of his bedside.
He attemptedto catch it,but it slid to the foot of
it no more.
His thoughtsturned
the bed, and he saw
then at JNetworth,with her
was
to his lady,who
In the two

"

"

by

Tlie
Thomas

Lifeof Benvenuto

Cellini.

Nugent, LL.D., F.S.A.

Translated from the

original

68

HALLUCINATIONS

several hours
the
light,

CO-EXISTING

of watchfulness
ventured

WITH

from

SANITY.

the effect of the

of bed

it.
extinguish
after woke up in great agitation,
His father soon
and
him to re-light
commanded
it,which he did,much
and the marks
of
wonderingat the anger displayed
his father's countenance.
On askingthe
terror
on
of the alarm,he was
reason
put off by some
vague
son

out

and told that at

excuse,

be informed

to

future time

some

he would

of it.
had

when, findinghis
elapsed,
disturbed by the light,
he once
rest so very much
own
his father appeared in a sound
when
sleep,
more,
it ; but the father almost imventured to extinguish
mediately
tion,
jumped out of bed in the greatesttrepidawith him
remonstrated
his disobedience,
on
the lamp,and told him that whenever
he
re-lighted
"

week

or

more

left in the dark

was

appearedto him,
could againobtain

the

and

spectreof
remained

his deceased

immovable

wife

till he

when it disappeared.
light,
the boy's
This made
a
strong impressionon
mind; and fearingto aggravate his father's grief
should he relate the Ramsgate adventure,he soon
a

"

inland town
about
after left Paris,and went
to an
sixtymiles off,to visit his brother,who was at school

there,and

he had

to whom

had occurred to

for
himself,

entered
scarcely

the house

when
salutations,

the

son

not

fear of ridicule.
and

He

'Has

came

down-stairs the

shown

He

had
usual

said to

signs of
lately.
very strangely
other nightin his shirt,
in

greatestalarm,declared he had
ghost,and dared not go into his room

the

what

exchangedthe

of the schoolmaster

your brother ever

for he has behaved
insanity?

him,

communicated

any

seen

his mother's
and
again,

then

"

of terror.'
fainted away from excess
"
Had there been a coincidence in

pointof time,"

Wigan, "how would this have seemed to

belief that the spirits
of
corroborate the superstitious
adds

Dr.

HALLUCINATIONS

the dead return

WITH

CO-EXISTING

to the earth?"

69

SANITY.

This

argument does
to us so irresistible as to Dr. Wigan ; for in
not seem
the vision did
the case
of the Earl of Chesterfield,
"With respect to the vision
time.
at the same
occur
plained
appearing to three different people,it may be exby the strong affection which they had for
the deceased,by her dyingunder the most
distressing
and from the fact that
each of the
circumstances,
familyhad the power of forming a voluntaryimage of
any objectat will on shuttingthe eyes, and that each
of it,more
could draw from memory
a representation
"

or

less accurate."*

Example
entitled De

The

20.

celebrated

la Demonomanie

des

Bodin, in his work

relates the
Sorciers,

:
following
history
of a person now
I have heard,"he says,
living
which alwayswaited on
who
had a spirit
him, and
for more
than thirtyyears.
whom
he had known
Every morning,at three or four o'clock,the spirit
at his door,and that getting
knocked
up, he would
"

"

"

door, but saw no one

alwaysaccompanied him, and gave
spirit
sometimes

open

the

The
him

sible
sen-

sign,such as touchinghim on his rightear, if he

and on
his leftear, if
did anything that was
wrong,
for the
he did what
was
right. If any one came
of deceivinghim, or to take him
off his
purpose
guard,then he suddenlyperceivedthe signalon his
rightear ; but if he was an honest man, and intended
him good,he perceived
the signal
his left ear.
on
If any evil thought entered into his mind, and he
feltthe signal
dwelt upon it,he soon
to desist
he was
able to divine
Lastly,by a kind of inspiration,
of similar
the meaning of his dreams, as well as
which came
his
to him in ill health or when
reveries,
disturbed.
So that,during all this time,
mind was
.

Wigan: Opws

cit. p. 167.

70

HALLUCINATIONS

nothing has

occurred

to him

WITH

but what

SANITY.

he has

been

of beforehand.

warned
"

CO-EXISTING

and
day,being in great danger of his life,
havingprayedto God with all his heart that it might
to
him, at daybreak,being
please Him
preserve
and waking,he perceived
between sleeping
his bed a
on
young child clothed in a white robe,whose countenance
of marvellous beauty. This reassured him."*
was
interest attached to it,as
has a peculiar
This case
an
exampleof those hallucinations to which M. Michea
of hallucinations dedoublees,
has given the name
or
those which occur
on
only one side of the body.
consider the conclusions to which
Let us briefly
have
this chapterleads,the illustrations of which we
refer to
purposely multiplied.Many of the cases
have selected
well known, and we
persons who are
them because no one has ever
thoughtof chargingthese
of them have correctly
persons with insanity. Some
of the
regardedtheir hallucinations as the offspring
from an unhealthystate of
or
as
arising
imagination,
the body. Others,led by their belief in the supernatural,
the
of
the
their
opinions
period,
by
vanity,
by
have privately
or
feelings,
explained
by superstitious
One

wishes ; but their

conversation and their actions have givenno evidence
of

disordered

with their

in accordance

them

the

been

intellect ; in

source

of their

own

theymay even have

Frequently,
great deeds.
some

however, the hallucination of the sound

seen

mind

may be
out
withto glideinto the hallucination of insanity,

beingpossible
always to pointout the boun-*
the one condition from the other^
which separates
.dary
limits.
difficultis it at all times to establish precise
so
this chapter,
In concluding
we
are
gladto support
its

J. Bodin

et suiv.

in

Grand

Augevin
in-8vo:

cles Sorciers,
la Demonomanie
p. 11,
At Rouen there is an edition
Paris,1587.
De

8vo, publishedat Aubers

in 1593..

CO-EXISTING

HALLUCINATIONS

our

own

known

opinionsby

the

WITH

SANITY.

of
authority

for his talent and acuteness.

"

71

critic well-

It is

certain,"

"

says
made

this writer, that a wide distinction should be

those cerebral derangements which
between

affect the senses, and those which affect

exclusively
the understanding. There are persons who, haunted
that they are
by yoiees or images,are fullyaware
the dupes of their imagination. What
then occurs
A
in these cases?
certain operationtakes place
in the brain,
which usually
an
operation
spontaneously
results from a physical
But
it goes no
sensation.
further,and the remainder of the brain continues to
If there
performits functions in a normal manner.
in this it is altogether
is insanity
a partial
insanity,
and the mind, properlyso called,
is unaffected.
It
The
might be termed insanityof the sensations.
other individuals do not judgecorrectly
of their hallucination
of the sensations
; they believe in the reality
at the same
time they explain
theyperceive,
them by referring
them to supernatural
causes, to the
intervention
of a superiorpower,
"c.
In other
sensible.
In our
respectstheir conduct is perfectly
insane than the
opinion these persons are no more
first. Consideringsuch matters
from
different
a
of the sensations
pointof view,theyjudgedifferently
other conclusions
they have experienced
; they draw
from them, but the disturbance has not passedbeyond
the sphere of their sensational faculties. In order
that the derangement should be real and coufirmed,
that it should deserve the name
of insanity,
to
so
as
accord with the etymologyof the word, the intellect
less defective,
be more
must
and the individual no
or
longermaster of his judgment or his will."*
*

A.

de Chambre

Analyse de VOuvrage de M. Szafhowshi

sur
de
Hallucinations,an 'point du vue de la Psychologie,
et de la Medecine
VHistoire,
legale. Gazette Medicate,6 Avril,
:

les

"

1850.

72

CHAPTEE

HALLUCINATIONS

Section
In

the

I.

INVOLVING

hallucinations

The

"

we

cases

INSANITY.

simpleand

isolated.
"

hitherto considered

have

but
unaffected,

remained

III.

in those which

the

mind

follow there

insanity.The reason, abandoningthe reins it has

long held with a firm hand, is replacedby error,
and decrees now
whose caprices
pass unquestioned.
the
invests the conduct
In the same
one
as
proportion
does the other
with prudenceand circumspection,
so
and prebestow upon it the characters of obstinacy
cipitation
is

not,however,be

It must

alwaystakes
unhappy man
the influence
it ; and
his

becomes
when

when

even

and
hide

supposedthat this change

when
the
place at once.
Frequently,
feels that he is beginningto yieldto
he struggles
of the hallucination,
against
the delusion becomes

an

the disease has taken

It may

to

about

him, but he
morose.
Moreover,
full possession
of him, he

from those
sufferings
silent,sorrowful,and

illusion.

firmed,
con-

greater,he endeavours

his torments

stillstrives against
it,convinced
of

more

that he is the victim

happen that

even

his actions

by the hallucination ; but in general

which holds
it carries with it a profoundimpression,
and to all its
the patientin complete subjection,
obedience.
promptingshe pays implicit
the hallucinated
Hallucinations of hearing.Sometimes
in his ears
hears a voice whispering
strange
are

not

controlled

"

words

or

the

most

mostlyduringthe

extravagantcommands.
silence of the

It

night,
earlyin

is

the

INVOLVING

HALLUCINATIONS

73

INSANITY.

morning,upon waking up, or in obscure and gloomy

beard.
Do we
that these invisible voices are
places,
of a physiological
in this an exaggeration
not perceive
amongst mankind ? Is it not,
phenomenon common
of
at these hours that those vague
in fact,
feelings
fear are
cannot
againstwhich reason
experienced,
alwaysbe on its guard? Hallucinations of hearing
their number
the most common,
are
being estimated
Dr. Baillarger
to form two-thirds of all that occur.
attributes the

of hallucinations

occurrence

at these

but the case

to a diminution in the attention,
periods
of Blake (p.83) is not favourable to this opinion.
the gowas
aged fifty-one,
Example 21. M. IN".,
vernor,
in 1812, of a largetown
in Grermany,
which
rose
againstthe Trench army duringits retreat. The
disturbances
the mind
of

high

razor

followed

of the governor
treason, and

these

Under

which

when

these

events

unsettled

he believed he"was accused

therefore dishonoured.
was
:

he
circumstances,

cut

his throat with

he recovered

his senses, he heard voices

of his wound, the voices still

Cured
accusinghim.
pursuedhim ; he imaginedhe was surrounded by spies
and denounced
by his enemies. The voices repeated
that he had betrayedhis trust,
to him, day and night,
that he was
and that he had no
native
alterdishonoured,
but to destroyhimself.
They successively
addressed him in all the European languageswith
which he was
heard less distinctly
acquainted:one was
than the rest,because it made use of Russian,
which M. N. spoke with less facility
than the other
languages. In the midst of these differentvoices the
invalid readily
that of a lady,
who bade
distinguished
him

take

M.
more
answer

become

courage,

JN".would

and have confidence.

often retire into

with
readily

the voices ; he

to converse
privacy
would question
and

and
them, he would use words of defiance,
the persons he believed
enragedin addressing

7i

HALLUCINATIONS

lie

INVOLVING

INSANITY.

with ; he was
convinced that his
conversing
could divine his most
enemies, by various means,
secret thoughts,
convey to him reproaches,
menaces,
evil
with
and
which theyoverwhelmed
him.
counsels,
On all other points
his reasoning
was
perfectly
correct,
was

for his intellect was

M.

sound.

JN".passedthe

where

he

kept

interested him

open

If

house.

at

the

his

chateau,

conversation

but if it
longerheard the voices,
them
he perceived
and would
slackened,
imperfectly,

then

leave the

voices.
the

he

of 1812

summer

He

now

no

company, in order to listen to

became
anxious and disturbed.
he

autumn
following

beset

to Paris.

came

The

the
In
same

and tormented
during the journey,
him after his arrival. The voices continually
repeated, Kill yourself you cannot survive your
honour."
"I will
^No,no !" repliedthe sufferer,
terminate my existence when I have been justified
; I
will not bequeatha dishonoured name
to my daughter."
Placed in my charge,"
"the invalid
says Esquirol,
kepthis room, but did not communicate his secret to

symptoms

him

"

"

"

"

At

me.

I should
the

the end of two

prolongmy

voices

which

months

visits.

he

seemed

I advised
him

tormented

anxious

him

call

to

babblers.

This

succeeded,and, when they came, he made use

of it to designatetheir horrible importunity.I
ventured to speakto him of his disease and the object
word

of his residence at Paris.

He

then detailed to

all

me

he had suffered ; he listened more

to my
attentively
and disputed
arguments, discussed my objections,
my
reminded
voices
he
to
the
of
the
as
cause
opinion
;
in Paris
exhibiting
the so-called invisible woman,
who, when spoken to,
Science,'he said, has
repliedfrom a distance.
of machines,they
made such progress, that,by means
transmit the voice to a greatdistance.
can
You
have postedone
hundred leaguesover
a
that

me

at that

time

theywere
'

"

'

'

76

HALLUCINATIONS

with.

INVOLVING

hallucination

The

was

INSANITY.

the

only evidence

of

cerebral

the sole cause

and was
of all the
disease,
and fears which had tormented
threats,
annoyances,
the patient
for more
than two months, and that notwithstandin
he had
"Was

habit the

cause

recovered
entirely

his

of this continuance

?"*

Example 22.^ The

in

patientin

of the

Government

this

case

hearing.
was

ployed
em-

offices in

Paris,
where he had shown considerable capacity
mented
; but,torby one fixed idea,he began to fail in the
and was
of his duties,
discharge
compelledto leave
one

his situation.

His

reason

was

sound
perfectly

when

having no connexion with his

he was
hallucination ; but on that subject
immovable,
and even
made use of some
arguments
very specious
As
in its favour.
a
we
specimen of his insanity,
he

spoke of

matters

shall transcribea letter which

his

he addressed

to

one

of

:
superiors
"

Sir, I had the honour of writingto you last

which had been committed
a robbery
year concerning
that time, and even
Prom
me.
before,certain
on
"

"

house and at my
both at my own
produced,
noise in my ears, which was
a deafening
office,
quite
time
offered
and
the
same
me
they
insupportable, at
insults. They called out to me concernthe grossest
ing

persons

individuals and various matters

at all hours

of the

out with these infernal

day and night. I was worn
and stillcause
me, at certain
They caused,
annoyances.
that,with all my resolution,
times,such distractions,
unable to combat them successfully.
I am
To completethese ridiculous and annoyingproceedings,
of
theyhave placedme in the asylum Dr.
I intend
me.
Boismont, where they still torment
told oughtto
whom
I am
the magistrates,
addressing
be informed of these proceedings
againstmy liberty.
that the law may
I trust that they will interfere,
so
"

: Des
Esquirol

Maladies

vol. i. p.
Mentales,

160

1838.

HALLUCINATIONS

INVOLVING

77

INSANITY.

and that I may be freed from

to my
interests. I have
prejudicial

take its course,

dition
con-

begged
of them to write,and ask me
theymay
any questions
think proper, so that they may satisfy
in
themselves,
the absence of the medical men,
not only that my
is perfectly
sound at the present time,but
reason
This I hope will induce
that it alwayshas been so.
them
to take proceedings
againstthe persons who
have deprived
of my liberty.
me
so

"

would
and

that in

few

days

house,and

Persons

led

to

me

think

favourable termination

procure

own

my

has

kindness

Tour

who

to this

you

affair,

I shall be free to return

allowed to act

subjectto

are

that

as

I think

to

proper."

hallucinations

of

melancholycharacter make every effort to convince

others of the reality
of their sensations,and accumulate
all kinds of proof in favour of their statements.
Sometimes
their pretended griefsare
so
that careful and
cunninglyrepresented,
repeated
is necessary to detect their disease.
the loss of a sense
does not prevent its being

observation
Even

the

subjectof

hallucination.

This

fact,which

appears to us the best mark of distinction between a

hallucination and an illusion,
proves that images and
which

sensations

have

once

been

impressedon

the

preservedfor a long time.

ing,
Example 23. A clergyman,who had lost his hearin the habit of composingTrench
and Latin
was
in various
and sermons
discourses,
letters,
poems,
tion
languages.He imaginedthat he wrote under the dictaof the ArchangelSt. Michael, declaring
that he
could not otherwise producesuch beautiful and numerous
Mrs. M., agedeighty-two,
who
compositions.*
almost perfectly
was
deaf,imaginedthat her husband,

brain may

who
*

vol.

be

dead

had been
Calmeil

Deuxieme

art.

many

years, walked

Hallucination,
p.

edition.

51 9.

"

on

the roof

en
Dictionnaire,

30

78

HALLUCINATIONS

of the house.
and

INSANITY.

to
continually
calling

was

him.

"Ah,

exclaim, he says he is naked.

glassof

complainsthat
why don't you givehim

wine ?"

She

would

then

weep, and tear her hair.

be
These invisible voices may
internal ; they may
from
come

she

Quick ! bring

clothes. He

some

him

Grod !"

my

"

to eat ;
a

She

conversingwith

would
him

INVOLVING

he has had

thing
no-

soup and

some

groan, cry out,

either external

or

the

clouds,from
neighbouringhouses, from the ground, from the
from chimneys,from cupboards,
of rooms,
corners
also come
"c. ; but they may
from the head, the
other important
stomach, or some
Sir,"said
organ.
a lunatic to
me,
pointingto his stomach, strange
hear a voice
thingstake placethere ; I continually
"

"

which

threatens

and insults me."

his head the whole

He

would

the attitude of

dayin

incline

listening.

Should noises in the ears, as many persons think,

be classed with hallucinations of the organ of hearing?
"We

are

of

this and

opinionthat

belongto illusions ;

for,in most

beating of an
change,which the
organic
exists the
into

similar

artery, or
insane

symptoms

of these cases, there

person

some

other

transforms

real sensation.

bined
hearingmay exist alone,or comand of the other senses.
with those of sight,
Hallucinations ofsight.These hallucinations have
at all times playedan importantpart in the history
is applied
of mankind; and to these more
particularly
is used to designate
the term vision,while visionary
In ancient
the persons that are affected by them.
times, and during the Middle Ages, the belief in
universal.
Castles and graveyards
visions was
were
while there was
haunted by spirits,
a person
scarcely
with an
who had not met
apparition.In our own
times,the northern nations of Europe,some
parts of
and entire countries stillbelieve
own
our
provinces,

Hallucinations

of

"

HALLUCINATIONS

in visions.

INVOLVING

works

The

of authors

histories,which

marvellous

79

INSANITY.

are

filled with

the

ignorantscepticism
as
a parcelof old
eighteenth
centuryrejected
tales. In the present day, science,more
women's
them by means
of natural laws.
explains
enlightened,
Their numbers, and the frequencyof their occurrence,
giveto hallucinations of sightthe second rank
aberrations of the human
in these singular
mind.
had experienced
Example 24. M. N., aged forty,
which he endeavoured to forgetby
domestic troubles,
of the

the

of wine.

use

he had become

Several

months

restless and

30th of

before

odd in his

his illness
The

manner.

without havingindulged
April,184
more
seized with a feverish
freelythan usual,he was
treated by bleeding
and other
delirium,which was
These means
suitable remedies.
produceda temporary
amendment, but symptoms of excitement soon
returned ; he heard the sound of persons threatening
him, he uttered cries of terror, and he constantly
asked

"

for his knife to kill the wretches.

paroxysm
house.
On

of this kind

his entrance
His

was

that he

was

It

in

was

broughtto

my

struck with his bewildered

expressedfear and rage ; he was

constantly
moving about,utteringthreats,or crying

looks.

manner

out, convinced

that there

were

persons

concealed

in

he demanded, "Where
Every moment
are
they ?" The next day he was put in a bath,where,
accordingto a plan that has been adoptedfor some
he remained
eighthours,
years at my establishment,
the douche
d' irrigation,
the patientbeing
receiving

his

room.

confined

as

in

an

apparatus for fractures.*

inquiredwhat

was

the

meaning

He

tinually
con-

of such

des Bains prolonges

et des Irrigations
continues
dans le Traitement des Formes aiguesde la Folie,et en particulicr
de la Manic: par A.Brierre de Boismont.
Memoirc
de VAcademie
de Medecine, t. xiii. 4to, 1848.
*

De

VEmploi

"

80

HALLUCINATIONS

INVOLVING

INSANITY.

treatment, called for the

and
commissaryof police,
requestedto be set at liberty.Observingthat he
excited by the sightof the attendants,
was
violently
Eor six days he was
nately
alterI left him quitealone.
bathed,purged,nauseated,and allowed only
At the end of this time
limited supplyof food.
a
he seemed
more
calm, and requestedparticularly
to speakwith me.
he spoke as follows :
On my presenting
myself,
and with
Sir,I was broughtto your establishment,
"

"

reason

excitement

and

statements
sense

common

reproachher

which

in

was

did

the

agaiustmy
know

that

state of

great
most
extravagant
wife were
wanting
I have nothing to
a

if my mind has been

less true that it was
caused

with.

it is not
scene

time

I said

things; my
in

the

for at

But

witnessed,and

which

tracted,
dis-

by a

will relate

to you.
"

in the

was

ordered

me

in consequence

I saw, as
clothed in black

when

bath, which
as
plainly

enter

the

medical

of my

feverish

you

see

had

man

excitement,

now,

man

my apartment,who looked at
faces at me, and endeavoured

made
attentively,
me.
to torment
Indignant at such unpardonable
how much I
conduct,I showed him by my manner
the chimney of
He then approached
was
displeased.
the stove,laid hold of it,and disappeared
throughthe
recovered from this singular
opening. I had scarcely
from under
three men
I saw
when
come
spectacle,
towards me, making the same
my bed; they advanced
gesturesand grimacesas the first. Overcome with
I shouted for my
knife,that I might kill
passion,
them, when they also passedup the chimney,and
them before,
seen
Although I had never
disappeared.
on
my mind,
yet their features are so impressed
them anywhere. Before leaving,
that I should know
they covered my bed with all kinds of disgusting
me

INVOLVING

HALLUCINATIONS

animals.

at
Certainly,

myself;but
would
The

that moment

regardsthe

as

81

INSANITY.

truth

was

beside

of these

facts,I

attest it with

my blood."
in which
calm,collected manner

"''his
historyto

at

least

M. N. related

as
astonishing
tale. I made
no
reply,as I knew by experience
it would onlyserve
to irritate him.
Some days
when the conversation was
after,
renewed, I thought
time to speakto him plainly
it was
about his hallucithat it was
nation.
all
Well," he said, admitting
I not sufficiently
recovered for you to
am
imaginary,
allow me
to return home, where my presence is absolutely
me

was

as

([his
"

'

At

"

necessary ?"
the end of

recovered his

dupe of
which

had

month
He

reason.

M.

was

N.

aware

and promisedto
delusion,
led to

allowed to remain

his illness. He
another

had

completely

he had

been the

avoid the

causes

to
requested

month, when
country. I saw

he would

be
be

able to go direct into the

him at the
end of two years, when he was
well.
perfectly
Hallucinations of sightvary in every conceivable

and, inasmuch as they are generally

merely
highlycoloured picturesof the dailythoughts,
they

manner

may

assume

as

many

forms

as

there

are

individuals.

Example 25. Harrington,author of Oceana, "was

observed to discourse of most thingsas rationally
as
distemper,
excepthis own
fancying
strange
any man
in
the
of
which he
operation his animal spirits,
things
from him in the shapeof birds,
thoughtto transpire
of bees, or the like ; and those about him
of flies,
reportedthat he talked much of good and evil
which made them have frightful
spirits,
apprehensions.
He used sometimes to argue so strenuously
that this
that his doctor was
no
was
depravedimagination,
often put to his shifts for an answer.
such occasions compare himself to
for his admirable

He

would

on

Democritus,who,
discoveries in anatomy,was reckoned
G

82

HALLUCINATIONS

distracted

INYOLYING

his

by

INSANITY.

till Hippocrates
fellow-citizens,

of their mistake."*

cured them

arguments againstthe images

strongest
in hallucinations being external to the individual is
loss of sight. Esquirol
when there is weakness
or
and M. Lelut have quoted several examplesof this.
It is,of course, undeniable that in total blindness the
One

of the

hallucinations must

be seated in the brain.

than
Example 26. An old man, who died at more
sat down
to table during
eightyyears of age, never
the latter part of his life without fancyinghimself
surrounded
by a number of boon companionswhom
This octogeDarian
he had known
fifty
years previously.
which
had onlyvery feeble sightwith one
eye, over
shade.
also he wore
a green
Every now and then he
his own
saw
image in front of him, which seemed to
be reflected by the green shade.
related to Dr. Abercrombie
Dr. Dewar, of Stirling,
a

tion.
very remarkable instance of this kind of hallucina"
It occurred in a lady who was
quiteblind,
and sunk. She never
disorganized
with a
seeinga little old woman
crutch,who seemed to walk before her.

her eyes beingalso

walked out without
red cloak and
She had

illusions when

no

within doors. "t

asylumin the Faubourg St. Antoine there

old lady,
was
an
eightyyears of age, who had been blind
for many years. Every morning she had the door and
In the

windows

of her

apartment set

wide

open, to allow a
filled the room,

of persons to pass out who

she could
and whose dresses and ornaments

number

perfectly

distinguish.
Example 27. A lunatic was in the habit of seeing,
the wall of his cell,
a number
to the rightof him, near
whom
he would sometimes address
of beautiful women,
with compliments.This man
sometimes
with insults,
*

Biography,vol. v. p. 405.
f Abercrombie : Opus cit. p. 379.
British

84

HALLUCINATIONS

INVOLVING

others

drawings: amongst

the

of the
portraits
I entered his cell,"
When
notice, he was
drawingthe
spectrehe pretendedhad appeared
were

"

his mother.

devil and

INSANITY.

says the author of this

likeness of a girlwhose

"

to him.

Edward

"

III.

was

of his most

one

acknowledgmentof

and in

had

Blake

the monarch's

in oils in three
portrait
as
were
likelyto
questions

such

embarrassed

have
the

him ; but
unaffected manner,

most

sion,
condescen-

his

drawn

sittings.I put

visitors,

constant

he

answered

and

without

them

in

tation.
hesi-

any

these persons have themselves announced,or

do they send in their cards ?' ' No ; but I recognise
"

Do

'

"

I
they appear.
Antony last night,but

them

when

Marc

did not
I knew

foot in my house.'
do these illustrious dead visit you ?'
he set

moment

the Roman
'

"

'

"

sometimes

their visits are

to

expect
At

At

the

what

hour

o'clock

one

long,sometimes

see

short.

The

I saw
the unfortunate Job, but
day before yesterday
than two minutes ; I had
he would
not
staymore
wards
hardlytime to make a sketch of him, which I afterbut silence !
Here
is Richard
engraved
do you see
him ?'
Where
III. !'
Oppositeto
'

'

"

"

the

on

you,

other

side of the table

it is his first

'

do you know
his name
?'
My spirit
AVhat
him, but I cannot tell you how.'
recognises

visit/

'

"

How

"

'

"

is he like ?'
"

his

see

ah !
'
"

'

Stern,but handsome
I have

profile
; now
he turns

now

you ask him

would you like

"What

to

life?'
"

converse

'

?'
questions

any
me

at

he is terrible to behold.'

to me,

Could

the

presentI only
face ;
three-quarter
:

'

"

to

'

?'

ask him

"

Certainly.
If he pretends

the murders he committed

duringhis
justify
is already
known to him.
We
Your question
mind
to mind
by intuition and by magnetism.
We

have

reply?'
Majesty's
"

no
'

need
This ;

of words.'

'
"

What

onlyit is somewhat

is his

longer

INVOLVING

HALLUCINATIONS

85

INSANITY.

than lie gave it to me, for you would not understand

the language of spirits.He
says, what
you call
murder and carnage is all nothing; that in slaughtering

twenty thousand

fifteen or
for what
but

is immortal

of them

do

you

is not

no

wrong

onlypreserved,

better

who
world, and the man
of ingratitude,
his assassin is guilty
for it
reproaches
is by his means
he enters into a happierand more
But do not interrupt
state of existence.
me
perfect
;
in a very good position,
he is now
and if you say anything
he will go.'
more,
Blake is a tall man, pale,speakswell,and sometimes
he is not deficient in talent as an
:
eloquently
passes

into

men

"

and artist/'#

engraver

he

when
Spinello,

paintedthe

Lucifer with
he

such

fallen

angels,
represented

terrible appearance
that
and had the
production,

frightened
by his own
before him,
figureof the devil perpetually
was

him

for the

hideous

form

which

who
he

proached
re-

had

givenhim in the picture.

about thirty-five
Example 29. A gentleman,
years
of age, of active habits and good constitution,
living
in the neighbourhood
of London, had complainedfor
about five weeks of slight
headache.
He was
feverish,
inattentive to his occupations,
and negligentof his
family. He had been cupped and had taken some
visited by Dr.
purgativemedicine,when he was
"

Arnould, of Camberwell, who has favoured me with

the following
advice he
history.By that gentleman's
sent to a privateasylum, where
he remained
was
about two

years.
and he was

"

The

account

verbatim
of

as

His delusions very gradually

sided,
subafterwards restored to his family."
which

follows

"

he gave of himself was

almost
One
afternoon,in the month

May, feelinghimself

inclined to
*

little unsettled

he thoughthe
business,

Revue

Britannique,
p.

184.

would

and

take

1823.
Juillet,

not

walk

86

HALLUCINATIONS

into the

INVOLVING

INSANITY.

havingstrolled
into St. Paul's Churchyard,
he stoppedat the shopwindow
of Carrington
and Bowles, and looked at the
of the cathedral. He
which was
one
pictures,
among
had not been longthere before a short,grave-looking,
clothes,
elderlygentleman,dressed in dark-brown
and occathe prints,
came
sionally
up and began to examine
entered
castinga glanceat him, very soon
the view of
into conversation with him, and, praising
St. Paul's which was
exhibited at the window, told
him many
anecdotes of Sir Christopher
Wren, the
and asked him at the same
time if he had
architect,
ascended to the top of the dome.
He replied
ever
in the negative. The stranger then inquiredif he
had dined,and proposedthat they should go to an
in the neighbourhood,
and said that after
eating-house
dinner
was

Cityto

his mind

amuse

and

him up St. Paul's ; it

accompany
gloriousafternoon for a view, and he was so
he would

familiar with the

placethat

he could

pointout

every
of the

objectworthy of attention. The kindness

old gentleman's
induced him to comply with
manner
in some
and they went
the invitation,
to a tavern
the name
of which he did not know. They
dark alley,
dined and very soon
the ball just below

left the
the

table,and

cross,

which

ascended

to

they entered

They had not been there many minutes,when,

while he was
gazingon the extensive prospect,and
with the splendid
view below him, the grave
delighted
old gentlemanpulledout from an inside coat-pocket
somethinglike a compass, having round the edges
curious figures
some
having muttered some
; then
words,he placedit in the centre of the
unintelligible
ball. He felt a great tremblingand a sort of horror
increased by his companion
over
come
him} which was
askinghim if he should like to see any friend
alone.

at

moment

distance,and
doing,for

to

know

what

he

was

if so, the latter could

at

that

show

him

HALLUCINATIONS

INVOLVING

happened that

It
any such person.
been for a long time

past he

weeks

powerfulthat

so

terror,that he should

like to

his father had

health,and

had not visited him.

into his mind

came

bad

in

87

INSANITY.

see

for

sudden
it

some

thought
his

overcame

his father.

He

had

expressedthe wish than the exact person

of his father was
immediatelypresentedto his sight
the mirror,reclining
in his arm-chair,and taking
on
his afternoon sleep.Not havingfully
believed in the
of the stranger to make
good his offer,he
power
no

sooner

became

overwhelmed

with terror at the clearness and

of the vision

presentedto him ; and entreated

his mysteriouscompanion that they might immediately
descend,as he felt himself very ill. The
request was
compliedwith ; and on partingunder
the porticoof the northern
entrance, the stranger
said to him, 'Bemember, you are
the slave of the
of the mirror !' He
returned in the eveningto
man
his house, he does not know
hour ;
at what
exactly
he felt himself unquiet,depressed,
gloomy, apprehensive,
and haunted with thoughtsof the stranger.
truth

For

the last three months

the power
"

of the latter over

inquiredin

He

cast

on

me

took
two

or

from

him."

way
look of
arm,

my

three rooms,
'
It is of no

conscious of

Dr. Arnould

this power

what
a

has been

was

adds,

exercised ?

fidence,
suspicion
mingledwith conand after leadingme
through
and then into the garden,exclaimed,
use

"

there is

no

concealment

him, for all placesare

sees

us

the

man

of

he

and he
was

hears

us

that heard
'

Have
deep agitation,

in the ball below

the

cross

alike open to him

he
I asked him where
nowP
us

"

I not

He

told you

the

on

and that he

in
replied,

top

voice

that he lives

of St.

Paul's,

down to take a walk in the

only comes
and get his dinner in the house in the
churchyard,
dark alley? Since that fatal interview with the
necromancer,'he continued, for such I believe him
'

88

HALLTT

CITATIONS

INVOLVING

INSANITY.

be, lie is continually

draggingme before him on
of
his mirror,and he not only sees me
every moment
the day,but he reads all my thoughts,
and I have a

to

dreadful
free from

consciousness

that

of my life is
placecan afford me

action

no

his

and no
inspection,
from his power.' On my replying
that the
security
afford him protection
darkness
of the night would
what you
from these machinations,
he said, I know
but you are quitemistaken.
I have only told
mean,
part of the building
you of the mirror,but in some
what
which he passedin coming away, he showed
me
which
be called a great bell,and I heard
sounds
of
from
to it ; sounds
came
it, and which went
a
laughter,and of anger, and of pain; there was
dreadful confusion of sounds,and as I listened with
wonder
and affright,
he said, This is my organ of
with
hearing; this great bell is in communication
all other bells within the circle of hieroglyphics,
by
which every word spoken by those under my control
is made
audible to me.'
Seeingme look surprisedat
him, he said, I have not yet told you all ; for he
walls and
his spellsby hieroglyphics
on
practises
houses, and wields his power, like a detestable tyrant
he has
of those whom
he is, over
the minds
as
enchanted,and who are the objectsof his constant
I
spite,within the circle of the hieroglyphics.'
how
asked him what these hieroglyphics
were, and
he perceivedthem ?
He
replied,Signs and symbols
of
their
which
true
ignorance
you, in your
ing
meaning,have taken for letters and words, and readhave
and
as
thought, Day and Martin
you
! they
Warren's
Blacking! Oh, that is all nonsense
are
onlythe mysteriouscharacters which he traces to
mark the boundaryof his dominion,and by which he
preventsall escape from his tremendous
power. How
have I toiled and laboured to get beyond the limits
'

'

'

'

HALLUCINATIONS

89

INSANITY.

INVOLVING

days and
nights,till I fell down under a wall exhausted by
and dropped asleep; but on
fatigue,
waking I saw
the dreadful signsbefore my eyes, and I felt myself
as
completelyunder his infernal spellsat the end as
at the beginningof my journey.' *
of his influence !

Once

I walked

for three

"

There

be

cannot

an

of

instance

hallucination

completelyfollowed out in detail,or better

adapted to produce a conviction in the minds of
not
acquaintedwith these singularphenomena,
persons
than
the one
which
is here related by
Prichard.
In the Middle
Ages this person would
have been considered as possessed,
and would doubtless
have been subjectedto the ceremonies
of exorcism.
in the present
I am
convinced
that,even
day, a similar tale would find many believers. It
all doubt as to the authenticity
of the statements
removes
which
have been made
by persons who are
worthy of credit,and who declare that they have had
have
which
apparitions,
given them extraordinary
information.
The
minute
details into which
they
more

enter,and
their

the

air of truthfulness
sufficient to

are
narratives,

which

attaches to
all

remove

feelings

of mistrust.

highlyprobablethat this person had formerly

visited St. Paul's,but, having become
insane, his
recollections of previousoccurrences
mixed up
were
in a very extravagantmanner.
and
As theygrew more
more
vivid,they became depicted
by the imagination
It is

in

which

manner

caused

the eye

to

mistake

them

for realities.
Hallucinations
cases

are

Treatise

Mind, by

touch.

"

It

is said

that

these

difficultto

to be confounded
*

of

James

because theyare apt

investigate,
with neuralgic
affections and visceral

Insanity,and other
Cowles Prichard,
p. 455.

on

the
affecting

Disorders
London

1835.

90

HALLUCINATIONS

INVOLVING

INSANITY.

illusions ; there can, however, be no

there are
hallucinated persons
some

questionthat
quitecapableof

of their sensations who will declare

judgingcorrectly
that they have
been
pinched or beaten, or have
received electric discharges
different parts of their
on
bodies.
We
Foville,
latelyexamined, with MM.
who
maintained
man
Michon, and Seguir,a young
that the magnetizerswere
operatingon
continually
his breast,his back, his legs,
and that he distinctly
perceivedthe contact of the magneticfluid with his
body. He had not any neuralgicaffection.
Example 30. Mathews, of whose case Haslam has
given a curious report,believed that in some
ment
apartLondon

near

Wall

profoundlyskilled
him by means
He

in

there

was

of villains

gang

who
pneumatic chemistry,
of what

he

termed

an

who

of the seven
very absurd account
composed the gang, and even invented

the

torments

he

heart could

have

gave

sailed
as-

air-loom.
persons
for
names

imagined they inflicted upon him.

Amongst other thingsthey would constrict the fibre
of his tongue laterally,
by which the readiness of
speechwas hindered ; they would spreada magnetic
warp beneath his brain,so that the sentiments of the
no

communication

of the intellect.

Mathews

with
believed

the

operations
they could

in the .bladderof
pleasureproduce a precipitation
calculus ; that they could
a
any person, and form
make the organ of hearingappear to be seated in the
of the air-loom and magnetic
thigh; that by means
they could introduce into the brain
impregnations
force
idea ; that they could violently
some
particular
fluids into the head, elongatethe brain,and many
Mathews
made
other things equallyabsurd.
even
where he believed these persons
a
plan of the room
resided,and drew the whole of the apparatuswhich
he imaginedthey used in their various operations.
at

92

HALLUCINATIONS

myself.

few

INVOLVING

days

after

INSANITY.

attacked

was

with,

fever."*
The

affections of
extraordinary

that have been

in

who

sense

believed

of touch

of the insane are,

in many
nearlyallied to the illusions of

our

the

sense

observed

more
opinion,
the hypochondriac.
Amongst the remarkable

of

the

of touch

instances of hallucination

is the

of

Berbiguier,
running
continually

case

that

goblinswere
his body,restingthemselves upon him in order
over
to fatigue
These
him, and compel him to sit down.
invisible enemies wandered
him day and night;
over
their weight was
so
great that sometimes he was
afraid of beingsuffocated. To defend himself against
their attacks,
he conceived the idea of dexterously
catchingthem beneath his linen,and then pinning
them to his mattress, or enclosing
them in bottles.f
These show themselves
Hallucinations of smell.
of every form of insanity,
at the commencement
and especially
of partial
in cases
insanity.Writers
have remarked
that the presence of saints spreada
sweet
perfume through an apartment,while devils
infect it.
of smell,like those of
Hallucinations
taste,seldom occur
by themselves,but combined with
those of hearing,
sight,or touch. They are far less
than the others.
frequent
Lunatics
who
experiencehallucinations of smell
agreeable
complainthat they are surrounded by fetid and disthe
odours,or imagine theyare breathing
odorous bodies
delicious scents, althoughno
most
"

are

have

been

even

lunatic
*

them

near

declared

some

before

of them

deprivedof
there

Correspondancede Goethe

the

were

et de

1821.

of smell.

sense

cellars

beneath

Bettina, trad. M.

Albin,vol. i. p. 68.
f" Lei Farfadets,ou tous les Demons
de Terre-Neuve du
Monde, par Babiguier
Paris

their illness

ne

sont

Thym,

pas

de

the
Sebast.
I'autre

3 vols. in-8vo.

HALLUCINATIONS

INVOLVING

where
Salpetriere
Hospital,

INSANITY.

93

they had

a
slaughtered
number
of men
and women,
and that every day she
horrible smell from the putrifying
a most
perceived
had in our establishment a ladywho,
bodies.*
We
after attempting
to suffocate herself,
complainedthat
tainted with the smell of charcoal ;
was
everything
smelt vinegar,
she stuffed her nostrils,
but stillthe
odour accompaniedher everywhere.M. Esquirol
same
has reporteda similar case.
Hallucinations
mon
comof taste. These are not more
than the preceding. The
invalids,
especially
"

those

who

in the

first stage of dementia

.with
will express their satisfaction at the
generalparalysis,
are

excellent

repasttheyhave made, praisethe flavour of

the dishes,
the aroma
of the wine, yet all the time
they have eaten nothing. One lady,who has been
remarkable
for her intelligence,
her days in
passes
these imprestastingimaginarydishes. Sometimes
sions
of a distressing
One will believe
nature.
are
he is eatingraw
flesh,bitingarsenic,or devouring
earth ; sulphur and
flames surround
his mouth
;
whilst another imagineshe is swallowingnectar and
ambrosia.f
Hallucinations

with one
other
or
complicated
of the principal
forms of insanity
are
rare, and when
they do occur they have many pointsof resemblance
with pure monomania.
There is generally
observed
of the
some
derangementof the intellectual faculties,
of the tastes,"c.
three
affections,
Take,for example,
recorded by Esquirol,
of the cases
nations.
as
simplehalluciOne of the hallucinated spoke with reverence
and in appropriate
terms
concerningreligion
its
miracles ; yet duringthis serious conversation
and
he was
engaged in drawing a number of ridiculous
objects.Another, who was only affected with hallunot

Lelut
JJes Maladies
*

+ Esquirol:

Opus cit.

Ment.,

vol. i. p.

196, "c.

94

HALLUCINATIONS

INVOLVING

cinations of the organ

to his position,
and

INSANITY.

of

erred with respect

hearing,
of persons,
judged incorrectly
A third,after writingseveral
things,and events.
and well arranged,
suddenly
pages full of enthusiasm
declared that Jesus

about to appear.
cinations
Experiencehas provedbeyond a doubt that hallushow

may

been

never

Christ

was

themselves

insane,but theyare

in persons who have

of the elements of
one

most constantly
met with in mental
insanity
in
nervous
They occur in some
complaints,

and
affections,
Section

II.

General

"

of all the

with

some

many
fevers.

severe

Hallucinations.

"

flammator
in-

tions
Hallucina-

do not appear
simultaneously
for it has often 'happenedthat the
founded
hearingand of sighthave been con-

senses

be common;
hallucinations of
to

in

diseases.

illusions of

touch,of taste,and

of smell.

to show that
concur
Nevertheless,
analogyand reason
and observation has provedthat it
they may co-exist,

is sometimes
It is also

with

the

case.

patients
probablethat,by questioning

and perseverance, it will be found

of all the senses
are
more
common

care

that hallucinations

than is

supposed.
generally
of this kind we
amongst the curious cases
select the following
:
aged forty,
highly
Example 31. Mademoiselle
has alwaysbeen
and therefore very sensitive,
nervous,
extremelychangeable.In her youth she would never
From

"

settle to any serious studies : the medical men

mended
recomto
her parents to allow her in preference

gymnasticexercises. She has an ample

and their intellects
fortune,her parentsare healthy
sound,;but she has a brother whose state is
perfectly
Her appearance is healthy.
very similar to her own.
the first symptoms
Ten years ago she experienced
attend

to

persons with most

forms ; but these visual aberrations did
extraordinary
of her

presentdisorder.

She

saw

HALLUCINATIONS

INTC-LYING

95

INSANITY.

followingher usual occupations.

Her general
health was
out of order,and the uterine
functions deranged. Six months
tions,
ago the hallucinanot

hinder her from

which

hitherto been

had

close to her

bearable and

at

tance,
dis-

the

sightwas no longer
and ultimately
all the others
the onlysense
implicated,
the one
of hearingwas
became involved.
The sense
now

most

came

she heard voices which

every moment
These voices were
to be placedin her stomach.

disordered

seemed

perpetualtorment, and regulatedall her actions ;

theytold her what was passingwithin her, instructed
her in regardto disease,
enablingher to prescribe
a

what

seemed

to her to be suitable remedies.

At

times

she owed
herself eloquently;
to
a power
expressed
for when she spoke from her own
the voices,
impulse
she used much
simplerlanguage. Frequentlythe
voices led her into a high order of subjects
their
:
discourses included geography,
and elocution
grammar,
she expressedherself
; they reprovedher when
badly,and corrected the faults she had committed.
One day the voices persuaded her she was
sessed,
posand she went
to a clergyman that he might
that time her ideas concerning
exorcise her.
From
and threw her into
most
eternitywere
distressing,
the deepestdespair.Once the voices revealed to her
that she should be queen, and playan importantpart
in history
: she kept this to herself for many
months,
waitingfor the fulfilment of the promise; but this not
she perceivedthat the voices had deceived
being realized,
her.
held the most singular
They constantly
and extravagantconversations with her: she was wholly
unable to resist them
unless they said something
comical that made
her laugh. She would
hear them
lently
viomocking her ; then they would assailher more
than ever, perverting
all she said and did.
If
she drank
tell
a glassof sugaredwater, they would
her it was
poisoned; and for many hours she would

she

96

HALLUCINATIONS

be in

INSANITY.

INVOLVING

of

The voices continually

greatalarm.
urged her to drown herself;but to this she felt an
internal repugnance
which preventedher,yet she was
afraid lest she should yield
to this temptation.
even
state

"When

she

out, if

walked

scented with

was

she would

well-dressed

voices would

passedby her, tbe

woman

its
recognise

greathorror. If it was
smell tobacco,yet she

cry

musk, and
perfume,of
a

man,

out

person
that the

at that moment

which

she would

she had

immediately

that these
fullyaware
pretendedodours existed onlyin her imagination.
She often had singular
visions : her apartmentwas
filledwith people
would pass before
; longprocessions
her, or she would see onlyportionsof an individual,
him in profile,
the half of him, or she would
as
see
would be large,
with onlyone
or
or
eye ; the figures
was

small,or deformed,and
shapes. At other
that the individual had
her

as

the most

assume

times

nary
extraordi-

she would

while
lost,

see

he would

the eye
flybefore

if to avoid her.

All the food

she ate had

had lost its natural

flavour.

taste,and
disagreeable
She would

seem

to be

Gruyere cheese,to which she

had a great dislike. If she offered to partakeof a
of these
dish,the voices would often give it one
it.
flavours to hinder her from tasting
she moves
When
about, she feels herself deluged
to her body. At such
with water, the cold striking
to dry her clothes with her
times she endeavours
swallowingvinegaror

hands.
This

she is well

ladysays

arise from

aware

affection ; but

nervous

that these voices

theyare stronger

her and govern

they overcome
so
great that they compel her
months
they choose they told her some

her reason,
Their power is

than

where
to

come

to Paris

She resisted for

her.
to go

back

in order to obtain the best advice.

some

time,because

she

thoughtthe

HALLUCINATIONS

97

INSANITY.

INVOLVING

to M. Bouquier,
lengthshe came
who recommended
"c.
remedies,she said,
blistering,
which could only do her harm, for what she required
and cold baths, and particularly
were
warm
pure
wine.
the
Bordeaux
voices
told
her
to
Yesterday
go
and when
she reached this locality,
to Bercy to get it,
the voices immediately
declared the wine was
good for
nothing.
The voices had persuaded her to take a bath,promising
entered
to be quiet; but she had
scarcely
when they made such a horrible disturbance that she
could not remain
in it. The voices are
unwilling
she should talk,they have therefore confused her
ideas,and she cannot
express herself clearly.In
words, and has
fact,she splutters,
repeats the same

journeyuseless

; at

"

of what

think

to

she wishes

time she is conscious

the

counteract
at
directly

may

the

understand

say ; at the same

In order to
of her condition.

influence

to

of the

voices, she

looks

that they
addressing,

persons

she

is

from

her

eyes

she

what

cannot

clearly.
She perceives
that the voices make
her do most
unreasonable things; she wishes to oppose them, but
is unable,and is compelledto obey them, for they
express

possess
This

irresistibleinfluence.

an

to us
recommended
lady,who was
by
Bouquier,wishes to enter our establishment that
after
may be watched,and her body examined

She says she knows

also is filledwith it. Bor

death.

M.
she
her

it contains air ; her brain

fifteen years her spinal

dried up and destroyed.After speaking

like this,she will add, " I know
this is a real monomania,
cord has been
but
am

of
me

the voices

convinced

are

itwill all end

strongerthan

badly.I

submittingto treatment, but

to remain in one
place."
What

am

it is

curious reflections arise from

my

will. I

trulydesirous
for
impossible
the considera-

98

INYOLYING-

HALLUCINATIONS

INSANITY.

tion of this

case.
First,there is the
extraordinary
derangementof all the senses, and then there is the
derangementof the individual herself;the struggle
of the intellect againstthe revolted senses
mentary
; a mofollowed immeconsciousness of the illusion,
diately
by their triumph over the reason
; and, lastly,
of the will,struggling
in vain
the entire subjection
againstthe power which governs it. It is a subject
worthyof the deepestconsideration of the philosopher.
she is the dupe of her senses, the
knows
The woman
sportof chimeras,yet she cannot escape from their
She has been deceived a hundred times,
influence.
of this,
and feels it always will be so ; yet,in spite

she does whatever

is

one

the voices command

fact,which
psychological

her.

There

will not

escape the
festation
is,this fresh mani-

and that
observer,
of a double principlea duality,
by means
overwhelmed
of which this invalid,
byjibesand jokes,
and horrible suggestions,
and readyto
by menaces
suddenlyfinds herself supported
giveway to despair,
by words of kindness and encouragement. One
one
might say there were two spiritsone evil,
good,
itself. For
each drawing her towards
ten
years,
condition
which
this
has
lasted,
pathological
during
to direct her own
the invalid still continued
affairs,
attend to the management of her property,and fulfil
all her duties to society
; yet for six years these false
notice

of the

"

"

have

sensations
There

is

no

left her

never

change

that
intuitively

her

in her

moment's

habits,only

desert
ultimately
her,and she seeks,in advice which she cannot follow,
of her sufferings.
some
mitigation
in a
of this lady is equallyinteresting
The case
pointof view. Thus the hallucination
medico-legal
which possessed
her, and whose unreal nature she
but which,nevertheless,
she was
recognised,
generally
led her to undertake longjourneys,
to obey,
compelled
reason

will

repose.
she feels

100

HALLUCINATIONS

avoid

to

this

followed
were

misfortune
advice

this

into

unknown

to

ceased

make

to

and
I had

this

morning,
said

is,

Sir,
is

no

The

attended

some

days

They

told

and

madness
The
to

be

will

question
allowed

The

his

friends

prudent
reason

and

his

cannot

conduct

for

taking

away

be

is correct,

just

any

managing

his

and

his
his

of

console

"

the

such

permitted

few

days

to

person

make

but,

conclusive
he

does

and

cause,

search.

regrets.

Ought

that

after

groaned,

In

quite

be

would

and

He

vain

affairs,
civil

wealth

should

left,

result

you.
well.'

my

wishes

words.

arises

liberty,

the

to

nothing

banished

without
in

the

found

naturally

tell

all

He

incoherent

answer

his

provided

time.

had

gold

investigation

an

know

to

they
in,

such

to

until

your

endeavoured
his

time

audible,

into

"

wildered,
be-

truth,

to

it

searched

that

some

some

set

be

him

that

returned
him

threw

voice

from

where

about

am

you

it

promised

occupy

uttered

in

became

became

again

all

hid
the

of the

forgotten

gentleman

to, but

necessarily

have

let

you,

and

voice

advice,

my

entreat

man,

You

this

confused, only

knows.

one

to

the

head

My

house,

gold

After

heard.
were

when
'

there."

the

this

one.

any

riches.

riy

furniture,

and

gold,

ideas

me,

According

hide

must

imperfect glimmering

an

to

and

INSANITY.

property,

itself

my

time

converted

place

and

INVOLVING

we

rights.

see

not

that
no

hate
he

is

valid

101

CHAPTER

HALLUCINATIONS

is

IN

IY.

RELATION

ILLUSIONS.

TO

amongst the insane,and

one
especially
amongst maniacs, than to mistake
ferent
person for another,or an objectfor somethingdifNothing

more

to what

common

it is.

Such

mistakes

perpetually-

are

thus the transformation of the windmills

occurring
; and
into giants,
in the history
of Don
Quixote,is an
of
idea which will belong to all ages.
These errors
the

occur

senses

in persons

of the soundest

intellect

insane;but,in the former,the false

ideas are corrected by the experience
and the judgment.
It was
the existence of illusions which,in
the eighteenth
century,established in the different
as

well

as

in the

philosophythe doctrine that the senses

deceived us, and could giveus no reliable information.
Yet a littlereflection will satisfy
us that the senses
do report correctly
concerningthe objectswhich
if there
Their duty is to inform us
affect them.
exists in such a body,or in such an agent,a property
which
or
properties
produce in us such and such a
sensation;but it is not their provinceto make us
with the nature
of this cause
or
acquainted
quality.
the
of
the
of
sense
Thus,
specialobjects
sightare
When
we
judge of the distance
space and colour.
and form of an object,
we
simplymake a conjecture,
which no more
depends upon the evidence afforded
of sight,
than the opinionwhich we
by the sense
schools

form

body

of

of the nature
does

upon

vibrations which

the

and

the

evidence

reach it. So

distance

of

of the

ear

sonorous

from

the

that,correctly
speak-

102

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

deceive us,
never
ing,the senses
by the judgments which
of the

true evidence

When

established

which

separatethem

which

appears

absence,in
while

to

certain
from

us

selves
our-

the

upon

Mernoire

sur

les Illusions,

distinctive characters

hallucinations.

The

one

characteristic is the

hallucination

of a
presence
to laythe foundation of an
your
well-known

form

we

the most

the

that

deceive

we

senses.

his
Esquirol
published
he

but

figureis
orator

illusion.
of

that

; he

of any external object,

material object
is necessary

sees

man

affirms

cat,of Napoleon,or
armies

fightiDgin

the

labours
clouds,angelssoundingtrumpets. This man
under an
illusion. But if,in the stillness of the
night,he hears voices speakingto him ; if,in profound
he
that
one
no
darkness,
perceives
persons
tion.
else can
discover,he then labours under a hallucinaof sightand hearing
The absence of the senses
while it would
would not prevent the hallucination,
form a complete obstacle to the occurrence
of the
observed in a state
frequently
and are easily
corrected by the reason.
It
of health,
is needless to refer to exampleswhich have been so
often quoted;such as the square tower which appears
illusion.

Illusions

round, or

the

river
"

these

are

apparent movement
have long been
cases

of

in the bank
understood

but

other illusions which the progress of science

has onlyrecently
such as the Giant of the
explained;
there

are

Morgana, or the Castles of the

FairyMorgana, and the mirage.
the
At
certain times a giant shows himself on
summit
of the Brocken
(theloftiest of the Hartz
Mountains),to the astonishment of the inhabitants
and of travellers. This prodigyhad been for many
Brocken, the Fata

years the source

Haue, who was
was

fortunate

of the most
desirous of

enough to

marvellous

when
tales,

the matter,
While he was

examininginto

witness

it.

M.

EELATION

TO

ILLUSIONS.

103

his hat was

almost carried away
lookingat the giant,
by a violent gust of wind ; he suddenlyraised his
hand to his head to protecthis hat,and the colossal
made
another
figuredid the same ; he immediately
movement
by bendinghis body, an action which was
repeatedby the spectral
figure.M. Haue then called
the landlord of the inn to participate
in his discovery,
when theyjointly
with the
repeatedhis experiments,
results. The wonder was
thus solved,
and was
same
found to be an optical
phenomenon. When the rising
sun
(and,accordingto analogy,the case will be the
his rays over
at the settingsun) throws
the
same
Brocken
to
standingopposite
upon the body of a man
fine light
around or hoveringpast him,
clouds,floating
he needs onlyto fix his eyes steadfastly
upon them, and,
he will see the singular
in all probability,
of
spectacle
his own
shadow extendingto the lengthof five or six
hundred feet,
at the distance of about two miles before
him.*

referred to,has related

Brewster,in the work already
similar phenomena as occurring
in Westmoreland
and
other mountainous
countries.
Troops of cavaliers,
armies marching backwards
and forwards,
have been
in the air,arising
from the reflection of horses
seen
and peaceful
travellers who were
placedon the opposite
mountains.
A

great number
give rise to

may
condition

and

the

of very different circumstances

illusions. Ignoranceis the chief

knowledgethere is,the less

hear of the subject. Some
countries (many of
we
the provincesin France, and other country places)
filled with traditions due solely
to illusions of
are
sight.
A strongimpression,
the recollection of any startling
event, may, by the association of the ideas,
producean illusion.
*

more

Philosophical
Magazine,vol. vi. p.

234.

London, 1798.

104

HALLUCINATIONS

"

It

was

in

IS

Paris,"says Dendy, "

at the soiree of

days after the death of

Marshal
Ney, the servant,usheringin the Marechal
M. le Marechal
were
Aine, announced
Ney. We

M.

Bellart, and

few

startled ; and, may I confess to you, the eidolon of

for a momeut
the Prince of Moskwa
to
was
as perfect
*
sightas reality."

my

Pear, remorse,

and

darkness

all favourable to

are

the

of illusions. To these different causes

production
be referred those apparitions
must
which
depend
the presence of any particular
on
object
; such as the
the
or
arrangementof a pieceof draperyor tapestry,
of a pieceof furniture,
seen
position
by a paleand
uncertain light.
"When the mind is thus prepared,
the most familiar
objects
may become transformed into phantoms.Ellis
relates

anecdote

an

of this

kind, which

he had from

of a vessel at Newcastlethe captain

eye-witness,
upon-Tyne.
Example 33. His cook,he said,chanced to die on
This honest fellow,
their passage homewards.
having
had one
of his legs a little shorter than the other,
used to walk in that way which
our
vulgaridiom
A few nightsafter his body
calls an up and down."
had been committed
to the deep,our
captainwas
alarmed by his mate with an account
that the cook
was
walkingbefore the ship,and that all hands were
The captain,
deck to see him.
after an oath or
on
for having been disturbed,
ordered them
two
to let
him alone,
and try which (theshipor he) should get
first to Newcastle.
portunity,
But, turningout,on further imhe honestly
confessed that he had like to
have caughtthe contagion
seeingsomething
; for on
an

"

in

move

way so
used,and withal

he

was

wont

to
*

similar to that which

havinga
wear, he

cap

on

so

an

old friend

like that which

verily
thoughtthere

Dendy : Opus cit. p.

56.

was

KELATTOtf

TO

105

ILLUSIONS.
,

to believe.
reportthan he was at firstwilling
A general
panicdiffused itself. He ordered the ship
but not a man
would
to be steered towards the object,
he
the helm ! Compelled to do this himself,
move
that the ridiculous cause
found,on a nearer
approach,
of all their terror was
part of a maintop,the remains
of some
wreck floating
before them.
Unless he had
ventured to make this near
approachto the supposed
ghost,the tale of the walkingcook had long been in
the mouths, and excited the fears of many
honest and
very brave fellows in the Wapping of Newcastle-uponTyne.*

in the

more

Instances

of this kind

number

explaina

are

numerous,

of statements

which

and
are

serve

to

with

met

in different writers.
and yielding
King Theodoric,blinded by jealousy,
of his courtesans,ordered the
to the evil suggestions
virtuous men
of the most
senator Lymmachus, one
of his time,to be put to death.
this
was
Scarcely
cruel order executed,when the king was
seized with
and perpetually
reproachedhimself with his
remorse,
One day a new
crime.
kind of fish was
placedupon
when
his table,
he suddenly
uttered a cry of alarm,
for the head of the fish appearedto him like that of
the unfortunate
Lymmachus. This vision plunged
him into a deep melancholy,
which
lasted for the
remainder

of his life.f
Bessus,surrounded by his
up

to

the

pleasuresof

self
guests,and givinghimthe feast,
ceased to pay

attention to his flatterers.

to

conversation
in

that

no

He

one

listened
else

attentively

heard,when

denly,
sud-

transportof rage, he rushed from his couch,

seized his sword, and running to the nest of some
swallows,he struck the poor birds,and killed them.
*

Hibbert : Opus cit. p. 16.

Antiquities.
f Procopius:

Ellis'sedition of Brand's
Be

Bello Italico.

Popular

106

HALLUCINATIONS

"

IN

"

Imagine,"he said, the insolence of those birds,

which dared to reproachme
with the murder
of my
father !"
the parasites
slunk
Surprisedat this sight,
Some

away.

time

after it

was

known

that Bessus

and that this action arose

from the
really
guilty,
reproachesof his conscience.*
instances in which
Historyhas recorded numerous
illusions of sightand hearinghave occurred in the
form
of an
epidemic. One of the most familiar
examplesof this is where clouds are converted into
armies
and
various
kinds
of figures. Religious
laws
at the
opinions,opticalphenomena, physical
time unknown
severe
or disorders
fevers,
pestilences,
of the brain, may
each,at times,afford a natural
of these occurrences.
explanation
was

"

"

At

the battle of Plataea the air resounded

with

fearful cry, which the Athenians

The Persians were
so
god Pan.

alarmed

theyfled.

to be derived from

The

panicis said

word

attributed

to the

at it that

this circumstance.

Pliny says that,duringthe war of the Romans

alarmed by the noise
againstthe Cimbri,they were
of

and the sound

arms

from

come

trumpets,which

of

seemed

to

the heavens.

Plutarch

states

Coriolanus,during his battle

that

Castor and Pollux,mounted

on
Tarquin,saw
in the foremost ranks,
white horses,
fighting
valiantly
and that theyinstantly
carried the news
of the victory

with

to Rome.

days after
on
Josephus,

the feast of the

few

Plavius

and

Passover,says

the 27th of

incredible

May, a certain prodigious

phenomenon appeared. I

of it would seem
to be a
suppose the account
it not related by those that saw
were
it,and
not

the events

nature

to

as
*

that

followed

deserve

such

Plutarchus

De

it of

so

were

considerable

signals
; for,before

Sera numinus

fable,

vindicata.

sun-

108

HALLUCINATIONS

of the

world

IN

of

patching
or
spirits,
employed in disothers to these gloomy regions,
conceived
they beheld the apparitionof those beings whom
their national mythologyassociated with snch scenes.

verge

In such moments

of undecided

hurry,and

Christian

the violence,

of ideas incident to the

ancients

the
situation,
deities."*

confusion

amid
battle,

supposedthat they saw their

And
in the same
the
way, in aftertimes,
warrior beheld an
image of his tutelar

saint.

It may be asked how

be the dupes of the same

of persons could
illusion. Besides the reasons

multitude

alreadygiven,and amongst which ignorance,

and disease are
the
fear,superstition,
conspicuous,
gotten;
contagiousinfluence of example must not be fora
singlecry suffices to alarm a multitude.
who
believes he has seen
An
a
individual,
natural
superhis
c
ommunicates
viction
conappearance, speedily
than himself.
to others not more
enlightened
often has the storybeen cited of the man
who
How
the statue, and cried out that it bent
contemplated
affirmed that
its head,while those around positively
motive has been the
! Another
they saw it move
which governments have found in promoting
utility
doubt theyhave
is no
these opinions
; so that there
resulted from artifice. In examiningthe
frequently
ruins of Hadrian's Villa,in the neighbourhoodof
Tivoli,we observed in the Temple of Canopus the
remains
of long tubes,which served to convey the

we

have

answers

of the oracle.

hearinghave produceda number of

populardelusions. The murmuring of the wind has
voices of the dead
been converted into the plaintive
the prayers of the living
imploring
; tombs, caves, and
grottoeshave been regardedas the abidingplacesof
have traversed a
; and
departedspirits
persons who
Illusions of

"Walter Scott

Opus cit. p. 11.

RELATION

field of battle have

who

TO

heard

109

ILLUSIONS.

the

of the warriors

groans

died in the strife.

"We
order
between

dwelt

have

point

to

them

at
out

and

some

the

in
lengthupon illusions,
dhTerence

hallucinations

which

there

but, while

is

fully

have
considered
it
we
distinction,
in the first instance,to give a general
necessary,
of the two
in consequence
of illusions,
description

admitting the

united.
For the same
being so frequently
tions,
when
speakingof the etiologyof hallucinashall often be compelledto include that of
we

affections
reason,

illusions.
Sometimes
afterwards

an

and is
itself,
which
hallucination,
may

illusion first shows

replacedby a
succeed it.
or
complicate
to the Hospital
Example 34. Dr. Martin, physician
the following
to M.
for the Aged, communicated
case
of a plethoric
A man,
Bollex.
habit,after
agedfifty,
noticingan alteration in his sight,which caused
versed,
redouble, sometimes
objectsto appear sometimes
was
suddenlyseized with all the symptoms of
cerebral congestion,
threatening
apoplexy.Three full
of leeches
from the arm, and the application
bleedings
relieved the congestion
a
experienced
; but he then
hallucination,
singular
accompaniedby squinting.At
and
contracted,
longeror shorter intervals his eyelids
turned to the
the globesof his eyes were
alternately
rightand to the left ; at these times his imagination
he described,
presentedto him objectsand persons, whom
and whom
he pretendedto follow with his
eyes as far as the dining-roomor the kitchen,both
where he
of which were
quiteseparatefrom the room
The
in bed.
who was
vinced
was
patient,
thoroughlyconof the reality
mately
ultiof these false perceptions,
died from another attack of apoplexy.
nation.
This case
shows an illusion passinginto a halluci-

110

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

illusions which
at first are
hallucinations,
regardedas false,when the disease increases,
may
Like

to be considered

come

real.

as

Example 35. Towards the end of 1835, Madame

matic
N., a laundress,who was afflictedwith violent rheupains,exchanged her occupationfor that of a
sempstress. Kot being expertat this kind of work,
she was
obligedto sit up late at night in order to
she fell
obtain her living. In spiteof her exertions,
attacked with a violent inflammation
into want, and was
of the eyes, which afterwards became chronic. As
four hands at
she continued sewing,she would
see
once,

four

needles,and

four

seams

she had

vision in both eyes, in consequence

Madame
in the visual axes.

of

double

divergence
slight

N. at firstunderstood

phenomena ; but at the end

of some
days,her indigencehaving in the meantime
on
increased,
they had producedsuch an impression
did accomplish
her mind, that she believed she really
her misfortunes,
at once, and that Grod,pitying
four seams
had performed
a miracle in her favour.*
Example 36. Cardan relates that,when stayingin
Paris,happeningto look at his hands,he was greatly
alarmed at perceiving
a red
spot on the index finger
In the evening he received a
of the righthand.
letter from his son-in-law,
informinghim of his son's
who urgentlydesired him to come
to
imprisonment,
the nature

he

Milan, where

of these

was

detained.

The

mark

continued

days,when it had reached

fifty-three
red as blood.
then as
the end of the finger
; it was
His son
having been executed,the mark speedily
appeared,
diminished : the day after his death it had nearlydistrace of it.f
and in two days there was
no
to increase

for

Hoffbauer

Sourds-muets
notes de MM.

Medecine
trad, de

Esquirolet

legalerelative

aux

A lienes et

aux

des
l'Alleniand,
par Chambeyron, avec
vol.
8vo.
1
1821.
38.
en
Paris,
Itard,p.

f Cardanus

De

Vita

prqficia.

BELATION

The
The

illusions

house

as

Irish

almost

endless

and

thingsis

of persons

variety.

regardedall the persons

each playeda distinct part

not

of her friends

One

her enemy,

was

all had their

standing,and each acted

illusion lasted a long time. Mrs.
her brother,who
had been dead

common.
un-

in the

D.

generaltransformation.
one

Ill

ILLUSIONS.

present an

transformation
Miss

TO

in this
another

character
particular
accordingly.This

and

M.

believed she

for many

saw

years, in

the person
of several invalids. Sauvages,
under the
mentions a peculiar
of tentoin vertigineux,
affection
name

of the

hearingto

hearing which
the rightof him

consists

in

the words

the

person

which

have

and vice versa.

uttered to the left,
Illusions of hearingare very frequentamongst the

been

insane

; a

kind word

addressed

to

another

person, or
into jeers,

of the lips,
is construed
simplemovement
curses, or blessings.
like hallucinations,
have often terminated
Illusions,
and murders.
in quarrels,
duels,suicides,
turned
Example 37. M. C, who had been deranged,rehis familybefore he was
to
completely
recovered.
The next
day he went into the cellar,
where
his wife followed him ; and his sister-in-law,
Their profinding
theydid not return, did the same.
longed
a

absence
ascertain

the

alarmed
cause,

and

the

servant,who

went

to

hastilyreturned,uttering

cries of terror,and fled from the house.

Her broken
and expression
of alarm showed that some
sentences
The
had occurred.
on
catastrophe
police,
dead upon
goingto the spot,found the two women
the ground, and welteringin their blood.
C. was

terrible

seated

on

cask,and

razor

covered

with

blood

at

all the replyhe made

beingquestioned,
that he had seen
the devil,
and had defended
was
This man
himself against
him.
was
againplacedin
confinement
at Charenton,and in 1825 was
removed
his feet.

On

112

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

privateasylum,where I saw him for about a

having returned,he claimed his
year. His reason
the advice of MM.
which he obtained,
liberty,
against
Some
Esquiroland Marc.
years after he attacked
he was
the female with whom
living,
takingher for
devil who
a
reproachedhim with his crimes : she
saved her lifeby jumping out of the window.
Twelve
days after,C. died in the asylum of M. Pressat,
himself surrounded
in a transportof rage, believing
by phantoms and devils.*
invalids accumulate sand and small pebbles,
Some
them to be preciousstones.
M. V. passes
believing
the day in examiningwith his glassthese pretended
beneath the weight
jewels. He returns home sinking
to

of his riches.

Illusions of the

lead
frequently

the

been

insane

person to
D. suffers from

Madame

struck.

of touch will

sense

think

he

has

eruptionof

an

the

skin,which

regardsas the marks of blows

that have been given her during the night. It is
and internal pains
certain that rheumatic,neuralgic,
giverise to illusions of touch in many of the insane.
We

associate with illusions all those false sensations

disease of the internal organs, as

"c. ; all those of the hypostomach, intestines,
chondriac
from

arise

which
the

she

which

have

been

spoken

of

as

internal

hallucinations.
Most

of these

illusions

are

associated

with

the

and passionsof
ideas,habits,
previousoccupations,
that she was
the invalid. A young
lady told me
unable
wore

to

rest,because

masks, and

she

was

all the persons

in the midst of

around

her

perpetual

like many
carnival. This illusion,
others,remained
until she had been with me
some
quiteinexplicable,

time,when

I learnt that it

had

paidto

bal masque

in
originated

visit she

at the opera.

A. Brierre de Boismont
: Observations
homocide.
Monomanie
Paris,1827.
*

sur
medico-legales

la

BELATION

of

Illusions

who

licked

them

for

the

than

hear

poisonous

of

be

Illusions

she

was

lamented.
the

most

of

case

her

having

by

leads

cially
espe-

melancholy,

his

food

him

to

has

attempt

in,

she

During
tender

time.

long

illusion,

and

Gruislain

has

the
to

mistook

many
solicitude

became

who

woman

poor

brought

an

all

simultaneously.

for

joined

son

been

of

seat

aiFected
last

may

the

be

may

may

when

which

idea

an

sense

the

common,

more

complain

person

patient

mistaking

apartment,
is

mon.
com-

starvation.

by

them

his

of

case

accompanied

the

taste

Each

the

Nothing

monomania

to

suicide

of

exceedingly

are

related

walls

oranges.

in

taste

hereafter

have

"We

and

smell

113

ILLUSIONS.

TO

One

army.
the
him

for

years
upon

she

the

son

continued
the

deranged
day

asylum

same

idiot

lated
re-

idiot,

an

the

as

she
to

boy.

one

had
bestow

so

114

V.

CHAPTEE

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

DEMENTIA,

MONOMANIA,
AND

GENEEAL

STUPIDITY,

MANIA,

PARALYSIS.

hallucinations

exist by themselves
may
it is far more
without any complication,
to
common
find them
combined
with some
form of insanity.
Although

lunatics
out of every hundred
Accordingto Esquirol,
less affected by hallucinations.
or
eightyare more
Eecent

observations have shown

that this number

is

high. "In 145 cases at the Bicetre,"says M.

Baudry, 56 had hallucinations."" These,1833,"
p. 14.
In our
out of 66 lunatics,
38 had
own
establishment,
too

'

"

hallucinations.
Hallucinations

most

are

frequentin

monomania.

partlyfrom the nature of the insanity

partlyfrom these phenomena being more

This arises

and
itself,
observed
easily
the
invariably

in such
case

This is not, however,

for in melancholia
viduals
indisome

will maintain

cases.

obstinate silence for many

hallucination is onlyrevealed

an

years, and the secret

It may,
by chance.

however, be stated generally,

the actions
that the more
extravagantand singular
the more
there is to supof the individuals,
reason
pose
that

they are

the

result of hallucinations

or

illusions.

Example 38. "I have seen," says Marc, "in the

advanced in years, and
asylum of Dr. Pressat,a man
of fortune.
affected with melancholyfrom reverse
For many years he had never
spoken a word. His
and licking
the
consisted in smelling
sole occupation
walls of his

apartment,and

the sillof his door

he

116

HALLUCINATIONS

hallucinations

IN

of

STTJi?IDITT,

MONOMANIA,

sight,either

of

hearingand

bined
com-

separate.
Example 39. On the 3rd December, 1839, M. D.
received into my establishment,
was
coming from the
Eicetre,where he had been placedtwo months previously
or

for

insanity.The son of a very

rich merchant, and having himself enjoyedall the
his fortune gradually
luxuries of wealth,he had seen
fortunes.
series of misthrough an uninterrupted
dissipated
duced
Compelledto become a teacher,often rethe deprivations
to the merest necessaries of life,
exercised a depressing
influence
which he experienced
his thoughts,
which ultimately
ended in insanity.
over
When

of

act

an

him,

saw

I found

alarmed

look,timid,and

him

with

bewildered

at the

question.
slightest
of a generalfeeling
of cold
He complained
a
very
common
symptom in lypemania; but what tormented
than anythingelse,
the sound of unhim more
friendly
was
and the
which issued from the walls,
voices,
presence of invisible agents, who placedarticles of
in the inside of his bed,in
value within his pillow,
or
order that he might be taken for a thief and become
"

dishonoured.
repose.

It

idea

This

never

to
impossible

was

left him
convince

moment's
him

of the

his fears ; kindness had no

effect
insensible to every consolation.
upon him ; he was
I had his pillow
to diminish his anxiety,
At length,
of
groundlessness

unsewed, which

he

pretendedwas

filledwith diamonds

amined
exHaving carefully
its contents, he was
tranquilfor the rest of
the day; but on the next the old idea returned,and
desired againto convince him, he told me,
when we
that the invisible
with the deepest despondency,
the diamonds before
agents had taken care to remove

by

the malice of his enemies.

hand.
This

unhappy man
duringthe day. At

was

worse

that time he

in the
was

night than

in the habit of

seeinga

man

enter

for the purpose

At other times

his

room

who

117

PARALYSIS.

GENERAL

AND

DEMENTIA,

MANIA,

removed

his clothes

them with preciousstones.

filling
his persecutors,
coming in greater

of

numbers, would put him in a bath and ill-treat him ;

they would take him up, and transporthim to
His
different towns in France, Africa,and America.
filled
seemed
to him
plate,the walls,the curtains,
who had come
to take
with people,
with sailors,
or
him away.
"When
his meals were
served,he would
not take the portionintended for him, but that of
other person, for he now
some
thoughtit was intended
him
terrible
His
drinks caused
to poison him.
anguish; he would never
empty his glass,thinking
He had a great
that the poisonwas
at the bottom.
where there was
dread of being left alone in a room
he should be accused of havingstolen
fearing
money,
with remarkable
it. Yet\this man
would converse
fixed upon any subject
when his attention was
ability
which might happen to come
up.
M. D., who for some
time had eaten but very little,
began to feel that piecesof copper and sponge were

placedin

his throat and

stomach.

He

did not

conceal

and
wife,my children,
He
asked
myselfplottedtogetherto poison him.
our
pardonsfor this idea,feelingthat it must seem
else had
very strange,and admitted that,if any one
said such a thing,he would justlybe regardedas
he said,
what he had told us was the truth.
insane;still,
from

that

us

The

lifeof

moment

he

man

believed my

is

he passes from

series of contradictions
one

extreme

to

in

another,and

to-daybelie those of yesterday.The

of these
conduct of the lunatic is onlyan exaggeration
eccentricities. Thus, we
see
an
unhappy creature,
who trembles at the thoughtof beingpoisoned,
condemning
mitting
himself to all the horrors of famine,subto real suffering
to avoid imaginary
torments,
and who fears death,
yet bringsit on himself. It is

the

acts

of

118

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

MONOMANIA,

STUPIDITY,

partakeof the same food or drink

his fears.
wine,nothingcan tranquillize

in vain that others

of the

same

the extreme

At the end of four months

emaciation

injurywhich his system had

In spiteof his
received from his long abstinence.
and his speedily-approaching
utter prostration
end,
in his idea ; he was
the unhappy man
vinced
conpersisted
other strange
that sponges, keys,and many
of M.

D.

showed

the

To prevent
put into his stomach.
he would endeavour
his food touchingthe plates,
to
it fell,
hold it suspendedin the air,and when
his
anguishwas horrible to behold. On the very day of
his death he declared that I had poisonedhim ; that
his pillows
full of diamonds,and that he should
were
He died,saying
be accused of having stolen them.
that the morsel which he had eaten was
poisoned.
The hallucinations of the lypemaniac
correspondto
and nature of their disease,
to the character
the cause
and to the nature of
of their thoughtsand passions,
substances

were

previousoccupations.Those who have been

in medicines,
in any of the
or
engaged in chemistry,
haunted
believe themselves
sciences,
by physicians,
or
magnetism. Those who have been rich,
electricity,
who have lost
who have been engagedin business,
or
that the police
or
money, imaginetheywish to steal,
their

are

in search of them.
Ascetic

is
insanity

results. When

attended

with most

melancholy

the unfortunate

person who is attacked

he thinks he is
hallucinations,

by it is surrounded by
to the influence
yielding

of the

who
devil,

governs

all

his actions.
The

fear of the
had

mind.

the
devil,

an
formerly

This

dread of future

immense

demonomania, which

influence
was

ment,
punishover

the

considerably

appeared
during the eighteenthcentury,has rewith the restoration of religious
as
feelings,
though evil was the inevitable shadow of good. In

diminished

DEMENTIA,

MANIA,

GENERAL

AND

119

PARALYSIS.

the space of six years we have had

in our
establishment.
cases

as

many

as

fifteen

opinionthat this form of madness

is frequently
met with in the provincial
asylumsfor
the insane,owing,as he thinks,to the circumstance
such deep root in
that materialism has not taken
France as might have been expected.*He considers
Dr. Macario

these

is of

lunatics

have

hallucinations

numerous

and

illusions.
demonomaniacs

Some

carried up into the air,

seized with horror and alarm :
are

to hell,or
transported
theywitness the torments

believe themselves

of the

transformed

damned.

Others

into

animals,trees,or
fruits ; or they are reduced to ashes,and then,like a
new
pretend that they are resuscitated and
phoenix,
renewed.
Many are surrounded by hideous reptiles
dead bodies.
Some declare they have sold their
or
that they have signedthe compact
souls to the devil,
with their blood,and are doomed
tion.
to eternal damna-

they shall never

die,and that at the end of the world theywill be left
alone upon the earth.
Some
are
more
happy ; the
has taught
devil has taken them under his protection,
them the secret of making gold,tells them what is to
the mysteries
of hell,
and
to them
happen, displays
hence,
grants them the power of working miracles
at their command, the lightning
toe thunder
flashes,
There

are

some

who

believe

the
rolls,
return

rain

descends,the

earth opens, and the dead

to life.

C, of foreignextraction,
Example 40. Madame
aged 48, has alwaysbeen animated, sensitive,and
romantic.
Brought up in the midst of superstitious
customs, and without education,she has had for the
last six years a kind of intermittent
melancholy,
*

Etudes

Cliniquessur
Medico-psycliologiques.
Mai, 1843.
Macario:

et suiv.

Annates
la Demonomanie
Vol. i. lre serie,
pp. 440
"

120

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

MONOMANIA,

STUPIDITY,

itselfin a new
attacks,
presented
who for a long time had neglected
form.
This lady,
became uneasy in her conscience,
her religions
duties,
lost. Haunted
and believed she should be eternally
by this idea, she abstained for several days from
"When she was
broughtto
takingany nourishment.
my house she had constant fits of raving. Quiet at
she afterwards burst into tears, complaining
first,
surrounded
and that she was
that she saw
devils,
by
"
flames.
I am
damned, my children are damned,
time accompanying
save
me," she cried,and at the same
she
the words with the most fearful shrieks,
the wall,broke the windows,
struck her head against
She was
for
and tore her clothes.
calling
constantly
drink,as though she was burnt up by an internal fire.

which,after

For

several

daysshe

three

that time the

was

tranquil
; but

at the end

returned,her hair seemed

wild,and, with her
eyes were

ideas

same

end, her
prolongedhowlings,gave
to

stand

on

possessed.A
which
The

every
terror

countenance

thick

and
but

her the appearance

saliva flowed from her

and then she

now

of

spat at

of

one

mouth,

the attendants.

depictedin
despairwhich were
indicated the effects of
too truly

her
her

visions.
frightful
During the last month of her illness her cries
that she was
so
were
obligedto be placed
perpetual,
in a room
by herself. There,alwayscrouchingdown,
her body disfigured
by the blows she continually
sunk in their
eyes fixed,
jaundiced,
sockets,and blood-shot ; her skin cadaverous,
and wrinkled ; her appearance threatening
; her

inflicted on

herself;her

voice hoarse with

cryingout
constantly

that she

body and
she was
her with constant
tormented
apparitions
and perpeof the most fearful despair,
the picture
tually
and
deliver
her
attendants
to
the
save
besought
lost and

damned, that

the devil

was

in her

was

"

her from her fate.

MANIA,

DEMENTIA,

This fearful
her

body.

refused

From

she

drinkingfrom
even
refusing

it had
her

her food.
fifteen

horrible taste.

eyes

121

PARALYSIS.

Towards

the end

of her

dayswithout

eating,only
time to time a cup of coffee,
frequently
it
that
burnt her,and that
that,saying
was

breath,the

Her

GENERAL

frenzydisturbed all the functions of

an
early
periodof the illness she had

to take

existence

AND

and

smell

This

of which

nostrils

from the

arose
was

most

became

now

state of

offensive.

filled with

purulentmucus, announcing the approach of death.

During the latter days of her life a circumstance
occurred which shows the extraordinary
influence that
diseases exercise over
nervous
the physical
organization.
Wasted
to the last degree,
and havingtaken no
food for a considerable time, this patienthad so
twisted her limbs together,
and had rolled herself up
with such

power,

would

restore

in the

same

that

no

effortswhich

her to her natural

could be made

position.She

died

of

lucination
hala prey to the
same
rigidity,
and declaring
she would not die.
In women
these demoniacal apparitions
often
are
associated with derangement of the sexual feelings,
and
mania
explain the hystericalsymptoms, the erotoand the nymphomania which are so common
in this sex.
Instances of this kind are
exceedingly
state

numerous.

at Nantes
Example 41. An unhappy woman
tormented
by a demon, who presentedhimself to

in

most

beautiful form.

He

addressed

was

her

her in most

but concealed his criminal intentions,

endearinglanguage,
and then gainedher affections. When
he had
obtained
her assent
to his suit,he extended
his
arms, and takingher feet in one
hand, with the other
he touched the crown
of her head,thus signingthe
She had for her husband a
compact between them.
brave soldier,who
was
entirelyignorant of this
abominable

alliance.

The

invisible adulterer

even

122

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

MONOMANIA,

visited her in the bed where

STUPIDITY,

her husband

was

sleeping

beside her.
For

six years

the

not daringto
misfortune,

In the seventh

concealed

woman

confess

so

her terrible

horrible

crime.

year, tortured

of her
by the reproaches
she felt terrified,
much
as
conscience,
by her long
of infamyas by the fear of her Saviour,at the
course
she trembled,lest his judgment
thought of whom
should come
suddenlyupon her,and she should be
damned.

hastened to confess her sin

She,therefore,
the priest. She visited the sacred places,
plored
and imthe assistance of the saints ; but no confession,
tion.
almsgivingcould procure her consolaprayer, no

to

no

her
of

her to his pasEveryday the demon subjected

sion,
before.
At
than
even
more
length
furiously
and her husband,hearing
became public,
disgrace

it,looked

At this time St.

upon her with horror.
When
the unarrived with his attendants.
happy

Bernard

learnt

woman

this,she

hastened

tremblingto

throw

herself at his feet ; told him, in a flood of tears,

her horrible sufferings,
the insults of the demon
to

whom

she

prey, and how useless all that the

directed had been : she added, that her

was

priestshad

had informed

tormentor

her of the arrival of the

holy

to
her,with dreadful threats,
visit him, saying,
that such a proceedingwould not
the abbe was
avail her,for,as soon
as
gone, he, who
had hitherto been her lover,would become her most
of Grod,hearing these
cruel persecutor.The man
with words of mercy,
the woman
comforted
things,
and promisedher the assistance of Heaven; but,as
to him
he directed her to come
nightwas approaching,
ingly
Accordthe next day,and to trust in her Saviour.
she visited him in the morning,and reported
to
man,

and had

him

the

"

"

forbidden

and
blasphemies

threats

of

the

incubus.

fear of his threats,"said Saint Bernard,

but take my staff and placeit in your bed,in case
Have

no

124

HALLUCINATIONS

form

IN

MONOMANIA,

STUPIDITY,

of

with all the charms

angels,or of men
gifted
which the imagination
bestow upon them.
can
They
refer to the head of the asylum.
frequently
B. is persuadedshe is about
Example 42. Madame
to be married to a man
of birth and influence,
who
has all her sympathies.
Possessed with this idea,she
is oblivious of her real husband.
Every night,she
tells me, she receives a visit from the angelRaphael,
fair young
a beautiful,
with a palecomplexion,
man,
clothed in black,and who speaksto her in the most
graciousmanner.
Example 43. Mademoiselle
Z., aged seventeen,
was
brought to our establishment on account of a
mental
derangement caused by love. The first
symptoms had shown themselves three days previously.
Her countenance
ment.
expresseda joyousexciteHer lover never
quitsher ; he follows her everywhere,
and calls her by the most
endearingnames.
When
he goes away she throws herself on her knees,
asks his pardon,and entreats him not to reduce her
to despair.She sees
him in the clouds, crowned
with roses, and from whence
he regardsher with
looks of tenderness.
One
of the most
interesting
witnessed was
her singing
to her lover
scenes
we
ever
the ballad of La
lunatics who

Folle.

had been in

Such
our

years, would gatherround

marked
delight.
To

show

the attraction,
that
house for more
than ten
was

her,and

listen to her with

his

this ideal lover broughther

affection,
and surrounded her with delicious
bouquetsof flowers,
perfumes. See these roses,"she would say, "what
delicious perfumethey give; the room
is fiiled
a
with it." The
Z. were
thoughts of Mademoiselle
that it was
concentrated on
so
one
object,
scarcely
few words from her.
a
possibleto obtain even
"

Her
the

excitement
voice of her

rapidlydiminished:
lover ; but

her

she stillheard
reason

was

soon

MANIA,

AND

DEMENTIA,

GENEEAL

125

PAEALTSIS.

restored,and at the end of eight days all her

symptoms disappeared.
The
Monomania
of Nostalgiahome sickness is
seldom observed in the asylumsfor the insane. Under
"

"

the influence of their

see

and

their

these unhappy perinsanity,

sons

country, their home, their parents,

their friends with smiles

their

countenances

beings and speak

affords them.

We

of

their

on

lipsand joy in

with
they converse
the pleasurewhich

attended

case

invisible
the

sight

of dementia

companied
ac-

with

where
the patient's
words
paralysis,
were
audible,
and,while in his own
scarcely
house,he
was
was
subjectto paroxysms of rage. JNTo sooner
his family,
than
he separatedfrom
he refused all
nourishment,would allow no one to approachhim,
cries.
and uttered frightful
Eightdays were passed
in the most
turn
rigidabstinence ; satisfied that his rethe onlything that could save
home
was
him,
we
immediatelywrote to his wife. As soon as he saw
her he consented
to take some
broth,and this man,
almost dying,was
able to enter a carwho seemed
riage
with the assistance of onlya single
person.
and
illusions almost
Hallucinations
company
always acCalenture
to sailors.
a febriledisease peculiar
The irresistible desire felt by these persons to throw
themselves into the sea, arises from their mistaking
enamelled with flowers ; they
it for verdant fields,
fresh with moisture,
long to traverse these fertile plains,
and to which their imaginationimpartsthe presence
shades and the sweetest
of cooling
perfume of
the flowers.
At other times,it is for the
purpose of
and to be freed from their
escapingfrom their vessel,
miserable thoughts,
of a phantom.
or from the presence
which existed some
Vampirism and Lycanthropy,
centuries ago as epidemics,
were
accompanied by
"

hallucinations and illusions.

The

other varietiesof monomania

may

also be

ac-

126

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

STUPIDITY,

hallucinations ; but those we

have
the kinds which present themselves

companied by
dwelt upon

MONOMANIA,

are

frequently."What we have
these,renders it unnecessary to
most

said with

regardto

into further

enter

details.
Stupidity.
There
to be

lunatics who

are

resemble

unconscious
perfectly

them

theyseem

statues:

of all which

passes around
their mouths
wide open,
fixed,

their eyes are

and theylook like idiots.
;

of
Greorget
gave the name
kind of insanity
to this particular
stupidite
; Esguirol
of dementia
demence aigue;
considers it as a variety
and M. Baillarger,
the highestdegreeof a pecuas
liar
form of melancholia.
this
to
According
writer,*
around these lunatics is changed. They
everything
"

prey to all kinds of hallucinations and illusions ;

in a house
they will believe that they are in a desert,

are

of bad
been
take
scar

repute,in a foreigncountry; that they have

in prison. Some will
sent to the galleys,
or
are
the baths for boats,the
the bath-room for hell,
of a blister for the mark of the galleys,
the other

lunatics for
for women,

risen from their graves, for prisoners,

for soldiers in disguise
the other
; or, on

men

for men.
hand, theywill mistake women
and threateningphantoms, or
hideous
around

them

Others

appears

hear

or

see

everybody

to be drunk.

which
voices,
frightful

threaten to kill

Others

burn

them.

insult

Their

beds

with the noise of clocks and tambourines

of fire-arms rattle around

them

them,and
are

the

filled

sions
explo-

their relations

enemies,and imploretheir
with bullets,
their
assistance ; their bodies are pierced
the ground,or they have the
blood streams
upon
them by pressing
sensation of some
one
suffocating
are

with
struggling

their

their chests.

on
*

chez les Alienes

: De VEtat designe
Baillarger

Stupidite"A

nnales Med.

Nos.
-Psychol.,

1 et 2.

le Norn de
Paris,3 843.

sous

AND

DEMENTIA,

MANIA,

GENERAL

127

PARALYSIS.

It is
the
nine

not to recognise
in this description
impossible
In
highestdegree of melancholymonomania.
recorded by M. Baillarger
all had either
cases

hallucinations

illusions.

or

M.

at the head
B., aged twenty-five,
of one
of the Government
was
offices,
brought to
On two occasions he
Charenton,August 12th,1833.
had attacks of insanity.The symptoms, at the commencement
of the last attack,seemed to have been

Example 44.

those of acute

pale,his
would

delirium.

At

his entrance

M.

B.

was

his countenance
had lost all expression,
eyes fixed,
and denoted the most profoundidiotcy.
He

remain

the whole

day in the same

place,
fectly
perand without payingthe slightest
tion
attensilent,
to what was
passingaround him. His memory
seemed completely
The stupor into which he
gone.
had fallen was
so
profound,that it was necessary to
feed him, and instead of the usual
with a sort of long blouse.
A

blister

appliedto
and

the neck

towards

dress he

was

vided
pro-

produced some

the end of December

provement,
imhe

was

cured.
perfectly
The state in which
cannot

be

better

M. B. has been for three months

described

than

as

long

dream.

Everythingaround him,he said,seemed transformed :

he had the impression
of there havingbeen a general
annihilation. The earth trembled and openedbeneath
his feet,
and he felt as though he should be engulfed
in a deepabyss. When
he laid hold of the persons
who were
near
him, it was to prevent them falling
which resembled
the craters of volover
canoes.
precipices
M.
for hell

B. mistook

(he

for boats.

had

He

refused

the bath-room
to enter

of Charenton

it),and

thought that all who

drowned themselves.
It appearedto
that he had been wounded, and that
to trickle on to the ground.

were

him

the baths
with

afterwards

his blood
The

him

tinued
con-

blister he

128

HALLUCINATIONS

had had

on

IN

his neck

was

MONOMANIA,
the mark

STUPIDITY,

of the

and
galleys,
by this brand

he

thoughthe was dishonoured for ever

of infamy. He could not at all understand who were
the strange-looking
persons around him ; he at last
regardedthem as persons who had risen from the
dead.
and

his brother in the midst of torments,

heard the cries of his relatives,
who
constantly
He

saw

his assistance. He
beingmurdered,imploring
surrounded
was
by the noise of fire-arms ; balls
traversed his body without wounding him, and killed
other people.Everything
confused and disordered
was
in his mind : he no longerdistinguished
nightfrom
lieved
day ; the months seemed to him like years. He beand
he had broughtall these evils upon himself,
for that reason
made several attemptsto commit suicide.
in the Supplementau DicIn the article Stupidite,
were

tionnaire

des

observed

that this

de

JMedecine,we

have

disease may, like sleep,

present
of which is characterized
different conditions,
one

two

by

Dictionnaires

other

and
completesuspensionof the faculties,
by the existence of dreams.

the

Mania.
The

with which the thoughts,

the recollections,
rapidity
and imagespass throughthe mind of the maniac,
the difficulty
which he has in formingcomparisons,
the
he finds in fixing
his attention,
all concur
impossibility
of hallucinations and illusions.
to favour the production
This complication
is therefore very common
in the
maniac.
in

one

MM.

Aubanel

hundred

and

and

Thore

have stated that

maniacs
eighty-one

they had

observed

instances of hallucinations.
fifty-six
Kone
of these cases
presentedhallucinations of all
the senses.
These physicians
have justlyremarked
would be considerably
but
that this number
higher,
notice in the
that many
hallucinations escape our
midst of the agitation
and other troubles which afflict

the

AND

DEMENTIA,

MANIA,

In

maniac.

GENEKAL

maniacs

seven

establishment at the time of

in his

M.

when

our

of

a
man
P., aged thirty-nine,

with

had conducted
abilities,

the entire

in

were

last returns, all had

our

but
good linguist,

management

fidence
greatcon-

the business

in Paris for

house

largecommercial

who

hallucinations.

either illusions or

Example 45.
and
intelligence

129

PAEALTSIS.

of

twenty years,

left in his hands.

was

Every one supposedthat M. P. had now attained his

utmost
wishes,when it was perceivedhis conduct
embarked
He
was
no
longerthe same.
largesums
in speculations
of money
quite distinct from those
which had been carried on previously,
these
were
nor
he had hitherto
transactions conducted with the ability
In spiteof a promisehe had
shown.
given his
he continued to speculate
on
partner to the contrary,
his

account.

own

remark

itself. It
a

of considerable

here suggests
importance
who up to
frequently
happens that a man
himself with the

certain time has conducted

commits
integrity,
in

or

some

way

breach of trust,embezzles money,

robs his employer,
nished
peopleare astoa

and

indignant,and
punishment. There
have

unfortunate

persons
act which

crime,an

was

the
is

sufficient number

call the attention

mental

aberration.

act
no

receives its pointed

apdoubt that many

as
expiatedin prison,

the result of disease.

of this kind have

a

greatest

under

come

of times to induce
of

to
magistrates

An

invalid

was

our

cumstance
Cirnotice

to
specially
this speciesof
sent to us
by
us

Dr.

of Angers, to ascertain whether

the
Ollivier,
reallyinsane,for, on examining his
patientwas

accounts, there

found

of more
than
deficiency
10,000 francs. Greatlyconcerned,his familywere
endeavouringto buy off the persons whom
earnestly

he

had

doubt in

was

robbed.
our

mind

Two

months'

that it

was

observation
a

case

left

no

of dementia

130

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

with

These
paralysis.
during the time that

MONOMANIA,

STUPIDITY,

embezzlements
the

disease

had taken

place

being engendered.
in
who
was
C,
employed a banking-house,
had had a violent fall upon his head, but, after a
time,he was able to return to his employment. An
of his accounts
examination
ciency
provedthere was a defiof several thousand francs ; the strict integrity
and attention to business which he had previously
and his emshown
ployers
preventedhis being prosecuted,
contented with dismissing
him. Shortly
were
I immediately
afterwards he was
sent to my house.
without any
perceivedthere was
generalparalysis,
of the mental

other disturbance

was

faculties than

of memory.
His constant
was
anxiety
his situation,
where he imaginedhe was
in the

to

loss

return

to

wanted.

As

all that had

passedduringthe
time that the disease was
a
being developedwas
blank.
The man
stillupright,
but his mind was
was
irrevocably
destroyed.
preceding
case,

person, whose
becomes
irreproachable,

alwaysbeen
acts in

an

conduct

therefore,a

When,

has

unsettled,and

eccentric,
strange,or reprehensible
manner,

he should be

at the
watched,and frequently
carefully
end of a few months, sooner
will
or
later,insanity
and in the majorityof cases
begin to show itself,
of dementia
the form
with general
will assume
paralysis.

The

conduct
;

which

he

M.

P.

seized with

lasted fifteen

and

seemed

had

no

had

was

of

to be

returned

could not resist

days.
complete;

longerthe same
while
previously,

Having

was

violent attack of
His
but

plained
ex-

mania,
rapid

recovery was
observed
it was

he

decision of character that he

his self-esteem had

to

his usual

than

once,

creased.
greatlyin-

M.
occupations,

againenteringinto

which, more

afterwards

soon

hazardous

must

have

P.

lations,
specucaused

132

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

had
Scarcely

"

MONOMANIA,

I said these words

STUPIDITY,

when

he loosened

his grasp, became calm,and himself assisted in executing

itself so opporthe idea which had suggested
tunely.
Assisted by his wife,whom
he had no more

sparedthan myself,I

surrounded

him

with

cords,

towels,and curtains. In this state he wished to rise ;

that he was
bound,his transportsof rage
but, finding
had not come
to
men
were
so
that,if some
violent,
dreadful catastrophe
have
must
a
our
assistance,
ensued."
I received M.

When
stillbore

traces

P. into my

he
establishment,
struggle.I had him
remained
eighthours,

of his recent

placedin the bath,where he

stream
a continued
receiving
of treatment

mode

in

success

calm

cases

which

of water

I have

then he would

saw

before him

which

times he

declare that he

Christ,the emperor, and that

we

on

was

all around

was

very
Grod,Jesus

all devils. He

were

heaps of gold and

he bestowed

his head ;

employedwith great

At

of this kind.

on

stones,
precious

him.

During the nighthe had a paroxysm of rage, and

endeavoured to destroythe walls of his apartment.
of the attendants with
Five days after he struck one
an

iron bar he had taken from

the

his window

for his

he afterwards

that a
doingthis,
voice had told him that he had the power of restoring
and he was
desirous of killing
the
the dead to life,
attendant, in order to cut off his head, and then
He
resuscitate him.
saw
lions,
constantly
leopards,
allof which he described most
and cameleons,
giraffes,
admirably.
himself less
he expressed
As his disease increased,
in English.
in French, and all his monologues were
It has been long observed that the insane,in their
of their
delirium,almost alwaysreturn to the use
less
own
language, althoughthey are sometimes
familiar with it than that of the countrytheyinhabit.
as
assigned,

reason

M.

imitated

often

P.

GENEBAL

AND

DEMENTIA,

MANIA,

noise of

the

133

PABALYSIS.

trumpets; at
leopards
; at

hunting lions and

decorated
other times the walls of his apartmentwere
The persons present
stones.
with gold and precious
and supposing
the change,
seemed changedinto others,
he then spoketo them correctly
concerningmatters
he
with which
acquainted.Sometimes
they were
imaginedhe was growingso tall he should touch the
and to avoid this he would double himself up.
ceiling,
those

he

times

was

These hallucinations and illusions continued

;

his

alteration

in

months

for two
there

was

no

changesof structure
and it was
dropsical,
there

was

fallen

in

state of

such

prey
received
an
questionsubsequently
that M.

of three months

speech; all
congestion
rapidlyset in,

symptoms of cerebral
and two days after he died
How
did it happen that

informed

the

hesitation in his

the

have

sinkingfrom

was

the end

At

defect and

should

appearance ; but
; his legsbecame

his

evident he

effects of his disease.

good,and

was
appetite

goingon

were

ruptedly
uninter-

tion
powerfulorganiza! This
to insanity
"We

answer

married

P. had

coma.

againstthe

were

advice

and that this had been

of his relations and friends,
constant

of

murder

of vexation

source

The

by the mob,

him ; for in
of revengof his temperament,the impossibility
ing

men

themselves
cannot

even

be

source

becomes

of

great griefto

the

cause

comprehendedby

Hallucinations

or

mortification.

of his relations at Rome

one

had also been

at

and

may

show

of torment, such
other persons.

in the maniac

themselves

of his disease ; they may

it,complicateit,terminate at the same

the

commencement

maniac

happens that

sometimes

converted

into

time,

illusion becomes

the

and
hallucination,

the persons

mistakes

animals
frightful

cede
pre-

it has ceased.

continue when
It

as

that

afterwards,
by

vice
are

versa.

present for

natural process of

134
the

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

mind, he

MONOMANIA,

detaches the

STUPIDITY,

image from

the

idea,and

before his eyes ; then, terrified by his own

creation,with shrieks and cries he engages in

placesit

imaginaryanimal. At other
times,the maniac, having mistaken a stranger for
he was
one
some
with,afterwards sees
acquainted
this person before him, and enters into conversation
with him.
These changes are also noticed in other
forms of insanity.
of child-bed,
In puerperal
mania, or the insanity
the most
extravaganthallucinations of sightand
into a state of violent
hearingthrow the patients
tormented
by the fear of death
agitation
; theyare
and undergo all the agoniesof
of beingpoisoned,
or
despair.
this disorder
have published
In an article* we
on
furious contest with the

have recorded the presence of hallucinations. Those

The patients
hear voices
of hearingare very common.

we

their ears, in
of
suicide. Out

soundingin
commit
two

had
The

hundred

one

mania recorded
puerperal
a tendencyto suicide.

of

cases

urgingthem

cases

some

at

the illusion has converted

of his enemy,
or
Another
insult him.

window,

he

because

the floor of his

he

He

thinks

you

himself

the
explain

attacks you,
into the person

imagines you

throws

eleven

Bethlem,thirty-

hallucinations and illusions often

acts and resolutions of the maniac.

because

and

to

mock
out

and

of the

the street is level with

apartment,or

he mistakes

it for

garden.
refuse their
their firstadmission,
on
Many lunatics,
the
food,thinkingit is poisoned.Some contemplate

flower

heavens
clouds
are

in
are

gorgeous

kind

of

their eyes the

in the midst of them

ecstasy,for

gold,and
palacesand mounted

of pure

Folie des Femmes

en
vol. ix. p. 472.
Praticiens,

to

horsemen.

des Medecines
Couche."Bibliotkeque

In

AND

DEMENTIA,

MANIA,

of

consequence

GENEKAL

the

135

PAEALTSIS.

of the patient,
agitation
of obtaining
impossibility

and the
irritability,
from him, it is often very difficult to trace
replies
these eccentric or dangerousacts to their true causes
;
but they are
the less the result of hallucinations
none
his

and illusions.
Dementia.
Sect.

Hallucinations

I.
"

of the

word

in

Dementia.

dementia

"

If

the

always been
restricted to the definition which is generally
given
it
in
the
then
the
of
of
cases
insanity
present day,
included under that head would rarelypresent the
phenomena of hallucinations and illusions.
different degrees which
exist between
the
The
first weakening of the intellect and its complete
meaning

obliteration
have
a

numberless.

are

had

There

are

and
onlya momentary incoherence,

conversation

intellect.

their

if there

as

The

themselves

show

these

What

the

"

enables

maniacal
to

us

monomaniacal
dementia

then

resume

defect whatever
of

at

only
longer or

attracted

most

presentsitself under
the

and

in

dementia

persons

has

attention is that dementia

types

no

symptoms

in

intervals.

shorter

was

lunatics who

monomaniacal.

our

two

This

establish the

followingclassification:
plete
dementia,maniacal dementia,and com; to

which

it is necessary to add,senile

dementia.
it is scarcely
Regardingdementia in this new light,
that our
results should differ materially
surprising
those of MM.

from

Aubanel

and Thore

thus,while

they have only observed

instance of hallucination in forty-five
of dementia,
cases
iD onlytwenty-onecases
cinations
have found halluwe

these
one

gentlemen state

that

and illusions in

Example
never

46.

showed

no

Mademoiselle
any

less than

sixteen of them.

C, aged seventy-two,
symptoms of derangement until

136

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

MONOMANIA,

STUPIDITY,

Instead of leadinga sedentary

seventy-first
year.
she was
tinually
conlife,
accordingto her nsual habits,
about.
changingher residence and travelling
Her family
could not persuade
her to remain in one
therefore placed
under my charge.
and she was
place,
dishonest person had
This lady believed that some
himself of her papers, and had committed
possessed
of her proin order to obtain possession
forgeries
perty.

her

three other persons of

conversation was
Her

She likewise accused

being in league with

unconnected, and her
she would

him.
memory

converse

defective ; but frequently

in a rational manner,

and these lucid intervals would

On

this lady,
we
questioning
months, during the night,she

last for

days.

learned that for

had

some

persons in
she could not

seen

bedroom, who conversed in a way

When
I resided
understand,and disturbed her rest.
she said, I was
in the country,"
accompanied
peared,
they disapby persons of importance; sometimes
be ridingin cabriolets.
then againthey would
to the
Very often I met an attendant belonging
I
as
soon
as
chateau,who made his appearance
steppedinto the street,and whose duty it was to
protectme."
and the
During her examination she spokerationally,
if
would have been exceedingly
puzzled,
magistrates

her

"

"

When
forgeries.
they
for theywere
it was
a plot,
were
gone, she assured me
she had recognised.
whom
persons in disguise
the
Some
days this lady,who still remembered
she had

events

not

of her

alluded

to

the

and
past life,

gave reasonable answers

pletely
put to her,became com-

which were
questions
deranged; she believed the king had granted
and insisted she was
her a pension,
onlyimprisoned
her of
of depriving
in my
house for the purpose
often
her property. During the night she would
she
with imaginarypersons ; sometimes
converse

to the

answered
while

at

AND

DEMENTIA,

MANIA,

them

in

assured

137

PARALYSIS.

or
respectful
friendly
manner,

other times

morning she

GENERAL

would

she

that

insult them.

One

inmate,Madame
D.,
to her in the middle of the night (each
had come
person is fastened in a separateapartment) to sayand that she had
she was
the Goddess of Insanity,
proclaimedthis throughoutthe country. She then
and pretendedshe was
changedthe subject,
drawinga
that she was
likeness of Destiny,
Madame
Georges,
that I ought to allow her to go out to counteract
the
forgeries.All these communications were made in a
lest the imaginary
low and confidential tone of voice,
me

an

"

"

persons
The

for two
victim

should overhear them.

state of Mademoiselle

C. remained

the

years ; she always believed she was

of others.
Nearly every day she asked

same

the
me

to allow her to go out to attend her church ; but her

intention was
This lady died at eighty
to escape.

considerable firmness of character,

years of age, retaining
but subject
hallucinations without
to the same
the dementia
There

are

havingincreased.
some

cases

of dementia

in which

the

pressions
affected by external imonly slightly
of associating
; they have lost the power
and their memory
is defective,
but they
their ideas,
stillcapableof holdinga conversation for a few
are
minutes at a time. A ladywho was
in this state was
troubled with hallucinations.
She imaginedthat her

patientsare

brother,who
an

She

room
adjoining
was

for many years, lived in

she heard him groan and complain.

had been

convinced

dead

that he knocked

at the

walls,that

run
excited,
dying; she would become greatly
to him, and utteringcries of
wildlyabout,calling
lamentation.
puted
During the night she saw and disof
with peoplewho struck her ; in consequence
that
undressed.
This ladycomplained
this,she never
she was
surrounded by disagreeable
odours,and that

he

was

138

HALLUCINATIONS

her food

IN

poisoned;

was

'drybread,and
The

would

to

STUPIDITY,

she would

drink

monomamaeal

continue

MONOMANIA,

therefore

nothingbut

form, of the
advanced

very

onlyeat

water.

hallucination

stage of

the

may
disease.

Madame

whose
is related
case
M., aged eighty-one,
at page 77,has entirely
lost her memory
; she does
her children,
not know
and her life,
past and present,
is a blank. During four years that she has been in
my
establishment

the

Dementia

frequentlypresents

be

maniac

the two.

who

is

another

; while

dementia

continued

who

is still a

the

very difficult to
lunatic will seem

One

the verge of dementia

to be in a state of

alreadyon

will

seem

maniac.

the diagnosis
soon
increases,
intermediate

itself under

it is sometimes

type,and

between
distinguish
to

has

her.

to torment

maniacal

hallucination

same

state

may
giverise to considerable

the

When

clear ; but

becomes

continue

disease
the

long time, and

embarrassment.

Example 47. M. B., an artist of considerable

niacal
was
attacked,fifteen years ago, with macelebrity,
which has since passedinto dementia.
insanity,
He
but
has been several times restored to liberty,
his excitement
when any political
disturbance took place,
lucinatio
At those times he had halalwaysreturned.
of the
he

senses

compelledto

was

that persons wished

and
became
suspicious,

he

He

would

During his lucid

write concerninghis
way which
In
his mind.
a

and
elector,

breathe
to

injureor poisonhim

shut

round

an

gined
taste ; he imainfected atmosphere,

himself

it, with

up
his

in

his

sword,
fifteen hundred
or
people.
intervals he would
speak and
and
art in an
agreeablemanner,

pace
threateningto kill twelve
room.

in

of smell and

gave no indication of the disorder of

his delirium he imaginedhe was
an

must

go and vote ; that he

was

landed

140

very

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

MONOMANIA,
The

manner.
plausible

but up to this time

stillcontinued.

dementia

STUPIDITY,
has

increased,

the hallucinations and

illusions

In

is nearly
dementia,where the memory
complete
and feelings
are
obliterated,
gone, where the passions
and the patients
pay a child-like obedience to their
lucinations
we
attendants,
may stilldetect the existence of haland illusions.
has always
Example 49. M. C, aged sixty-three,
been of weak intellect,
nate.
and, at the same
time,obstiHis children have been obligedto separate
from him.
Arrived at the last stageof dementia,in
which he recognises
no
one, he is broughtto my
when
he goes to
because every night,
establishment,
bed, he is terrified at the sightof murderers,who are
his mind,
goingto kill him. While this idea occupies
he continues to call out to the assassins,
to shout for
and to struggle,
if he was
as
assistance,
defending
himself.
Some

This

days before

againtormented
We

condition

attended

years, with whom

lasted for several months.

his death

the

hallucination

him.
a

ladyin
it was

state of dementia

for ten

to keep
impossible

communication,for she fellinto

she

same

up any
furious state ever
when-

and continued to utter all

approached,
with
sorts of absurdities.
Every night she disputed
contradicted and annoyed her ; these
persons who
violent in the extreme, and continued
were
quarrels
for hours together. It was
easy to follow the course
of the dialogue.
of the quarrel
by means
of the last
Senile dementia,which is only a variety
tions.
form, is also sometimes accompaniedby hallucinaold lady,eighty
knew
-two years of
We
an
subjectto a false
age, who from time to time was
This lady,
character.
sensation of a very singular
had a largewhite wall,told us she was
whose
room
entertained by the sightof thousands
very agreeably
was

G-ENERAL

AND

DEMENTIA,

MANIA,

141

PAEALTSIS.

who descended the wall for the purpose

of
people,
goingto "fete. They carried with them their dresses
of

for the

festival. The

women,

and

with

children.
their

delightat

consisted

company
"We have

number,

heard

of men,

her

cry out
the variety
of their

costumes, and the haste with which

theydescended.
of the promenadersdiminished :
the number
Gradually
she only perceiveda few solitary
groups, and by
"We have
since met
degreesthey all disappeared.

with

similar

two

II.

Sect.

in very old ladies.

Hallucinations in Dementia
with

"

cases

ral
Gene-

Paralysis.It

at first seem
singularthat
may
form of insanity
should be capable

"

the

most

severe

of

being complicatedwith hallucinations. How, in

who cannot
fact,are we to believe that a man
speak
whose memory
is gone, who is blind,
his mouth
plain,
half open, his lipshanging down, his step tottering
and uncertain,
be excited by anything?
theless,
Nevercan
shows that it does occur.
"What
experience
have
said at page 135, regardingthe different
we
degrees and types of dementia,will also apply to
of derangedintellect accompaniedby paralysis.
cases
"We speak here onlyof paralysis
with insanity,
and
not of that of the disease,
which has been described
some
years back under the titleof progressive
general
without insanity.
paralysis
Examples of hallucinations in this kind of insanity
far from

are

that

but

numerous,

insane

there

can

be

no

doubt

with

and in a
paralysis
state of dementia,have hallucinations of sightand
and in a
hearing. Out of eightlunatics,
paralysed
some

state of

persons,

dementia,whom

four have been

Example
to

50.

so

we

have had in

our

ment,
establish-

affected.

Madame
,

longed
beaged sixty-five,

and has
literary
family,
by her writings. At

her conversation is unconnected,

her

herself been
the

tinguished
dis-

present time

speechhesitating,

142

HALLUCINATIONS

and

her memory
gone
wreck, the idea that

STUPIDITY,

MONOMANIA,

IN

but in the midst

she

been

has

of this total

poetess still

Every morning she tells me, in a voice full

of emotion, that she has been visited by an
angel
clothed in white,who spoke to her.
During the day
she said to me,
My angelspoke to me, and engaged
to go out and visit my
me
daughter." The angel is
and fair;it is a recollection of the
young, beautiful,
past. At times she imagines she partakesof an
all the dishes
and will describe to me
excellent repast,
To hear her,you would suppose that
she has tasted.
the
she stillassisted at the banquet. The meats
on
table are exquisite
; they giveforth the most
savoury
survives.

"

smells, and

the

wines

are

of

the

most

celebrated

growths. Unless she is speakingof her poems and

her conversation wanders perpetually.
her writings,
the person had arrived at the
In the following
case
when
he suddenly
stage of the disease,
very worst
condition,and uttered
emerged from his speechless
cries and howls which nothingcould allay.
Example 51. M. B., who has been insane and
to have entirely
for nearlyfour years, seems
paralytic
time to time he
of speech. From
lost the power
utters
hoarse, inarticulate cries ; this will last for
silent for
fifteen days,and after that he will remain
his speech,and
he recovers
At
times
month.
a
utters

number

is under
He

the

of sentences,which all show that he

hallucination.
influence of a frightful

believes there is

to devour

His

him.

hand, and ready

frightenthe creature

shark close at
efforts to

He
sends
drive it away are terrible to behold.
forth cries that may be heard a long way off,and
dashes himself againstthe walls of his room
; his

and

features

are

his
distorted,

sockets,and the
to
impossible

sweat

afford him

eyes

pours
any

from
starting
from his body.
is
and one
relief,
are

their
It is
com-

MANIA,

AND

DEMENTIA,
remain

GENEEAL

143

PAEALTSIS.

helpless spectator of a struggle

it is most
which
distressingto witness.
This
hallucination
produced very serious results.
One
day he imagined that his sister,who
anxiously

pelledto

attended
with

him,

upon

and

razor,

was

able to

who

was

by it,that

she

shark

tried to wound

avoid

present

the

was

his

cuts

her.

but

he

Hallucinations

of his

one

frightfulscene,
five days after.

was

Imbecility,

in

at

her

Fortunatelyshe

at this

died

rushed

cousins,

so

affected

Idiotism,

and

Cretinism.
For

the

production of hallucinations it is necessary

that certain
faculties,
amongst which the imagination
holds an important place,should
be able to perform
But when
their functions.
the intellect is destroyed,
in the last stage of dementia, or where
it has never
as
and
of the
existed,as in idiotism
cretinism, errors
cannot
take place.
senses
A

distinction

must

be made

where

the

imbecile

has

portion of intelligence where, for instance, he

has memory,
is capable of being taught, or of observing
where
he
experiences fear and sometimes
venges
re;
It seems
himself.
to
us
beyond a doubt
that reprehensibleand criminal
acts have
been
mitted
comunder
the influence
of hallucinations
by imbeciles
some

"

and

illusions.

unquestionablya
of

his

mind

credulous

renders

hands

of

mental

faculties

him

designing men

hallucinations.

The

proves

insane

being, and
a

that

docile
the
he

imbecile
this

instrument

examination
may

be

is

condition
in the

of

his

governed by

144

CHAPTER
HALLUCINATIONS

The

IN

effect of alcoholic

known

to render

them

here ;

VI.

we

TKEMENS.

DELIKITTM

on
liquors

too well

are

man

it necessary for us to dwell upon

shall therefore confine ourselves to

noticingsome
particulars
concerningthe insanity
which they giverise to.
In those lunatic asylumswhich are devoted to the
of the middle classes of society,
one-tenth
reception
of the inmates, says M. Royer-Collard,#
become
insane throughthe abuse of spirituous
or wine.
liquors
At

Charenton

number

the

is four times

cause

attributes
mental
It is
this

to

the

that
same

diseases which

of

of the

have

M.

women.

one-third

cause

from

insane

men

under

come

to remember
that in some
important
propensityto drink does not show

of

this

Bayle
all the

his notice. f
individuals
itself until

after the appearance of the mental disease ; thus in

females of most estimable character it makes its
some
appearance at the change of life.
In the houses for the reception
of pauper lunatics
these proportions
still greater. Out of 1679
are
into the Bicetre from

insane admitted
M.

Ramou

"

considered

"

1808

formerlyhouse-surgeonto
that 126

of these

were

the

to

1813,

hospital

due to excessive

out of
drinking;while,accordingto M. Esquirol,
26 were
to be attri264 females at the Salpetriere,
*

des Boissons ferDeV Usage et de VAbus

mentees
et distillees. These de Concours.
Paris, 1838.
f Bayle : Traite des Maladies du Ccrveau etde ses Membranes.
H.

Royer-Collard
"

Paris,1826.

HALLUCINATIONS

butecl

to
solely

TN

DELIRIUM

the abuse

of wine

functional disorders which

excessive

from

145

TREMENS.

spirits.The
producedin the insane

are

or

drinkingmanifest themselves
forms ; but those only will be

under

noticed
many different
here which relate to sensation,
and which show themselves
by illusions and hallucinations of the senses.
These

double ; everything
around
see
patients
objects
them is in motion ; they are haunted by shadows and
of
or
voices,
spectres
; they hear the sound of many
separatenoises ; they believe their food is poisoned,
and they are annoyedby disagreeable
odours.
M. Viardot,translator of the Nouvelles Busses
of
M. G-ogol,
says that the Zaporogh Cossacks,who
indulgein the immoderate use of spirituous
liquors,
often attacked

are

they are

then

mentions

the

with

beset
case

of

delirium

with
one

tremens, and

demoniacal
man

who

visions.
saw

that
He

enormous

out their claws,endeavouring

to
scorpions
stretching
layhold of him, and who died in convulsions on the
third day,when
he thought theyhad actually
seized
him. (Revue des Deux
Mondes.)
The existence of these peculiarand distressing
hallucinations has been commented
ou
by the writers
of every country. We read in the American
Journal
that all kiuds of animals introduce themselves
ofInsanity,
of the sick man
into the room
into
; theyglide
the coverings,
his bed, or walk over
threaten and
or
him with hideous grimaces.*
torment

From

the

numerous

cases

of this kind which

are

broughtin the

of every year to my establishment,

course
I have selected
mostlyfrom amongst publicans,

the

following
Example 52. M., aged twenty-seven,stout,small,
and of a lymphatic
temperament. In consequence of
his occupation,
he had been in the habit of drinking
:

"

*j
*

Annul.

Med.-Psych.p. 466.
L

1850.
Juillet,

148

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

DELIEITJM

of brandy.
largequantities
admission

into my
he stuttered and was
On

the

day

TKEMENS.

Three

days before his

house his friends perceived
that
affected with a general
trembling.

of his

admission

his

symptoms

had

tons,
greatlyincreased ; the walls were covered with skelewho climbed up them and
phantoms,and devils,
then disappeared.
Sometimes
this appearance
was
confined to a space not largerthan a sheet of paper.
which were
before him became transformed
The objects
in a most
Thus he brought
manner.
extraordinary
his medical man
a jug and
a woman's
cap, which he
declared

had

assumed

In his delirium

of certain persons.
mitting
imaginedhe saw his wife com-

he

the most

the form

sanguinaryoutrages.

This illusion

greattyexcited him. He fancied he heard the voices

of the dying. It was
under these circumstances he
was
broughtto my establishment.
him he trembled violently,
and
"When I questioned
His wife,he
the visions he had seen.
related to me
but this was
mere
said,had denied their existence,
her part. He
dissimulation on
pointedthem out
and asked me
if I did not see
them.
with his finger,
stoopingdown to
During the whole night he was
which issued from the floor
seize all kinds of objects,
of the
room.
Presentlyhe would shriek out,
by the horrible aspect of the phantoms;
frightened
that they
then he would signalothers to approach,
might mingle together. I have noticed above the
frequencyof this symptom, and shown that it mostly
of animals,
consists of the figures
or insects.*
reptiles,
combined
Two baths,each of eighthours' duration,
sufficient to
of cold water,was
with the irrigation
this man, upon whom
cure
dropsof opium
twenty-five
had producedno effect.
Hydropisiechezles AUenes buveurs,
et de sa Guerison
par V Usagemodere du Vin et de V Eau-de-vie
8 Aout, 1844.
Gazette des Hojritaux,
*

BrierredeBoismont

DeV

"

148

HALLUCINATIONS

confusion

for

he
resolution,

before

DELIRIUM

IX

though a

felt what

it

undaunted

of the most

man

confessed

TREMENS.

to

that

me

he

had

never

terrified.
completely
constantly
During the whole of that night he was
of spectres,
tormented
with a variety
of
sometimes
peoplewho had been long dead,and at other times of
friends who were
living;and harassed himself with
gettingout of bed,to ascertain whether
continually
real or not.
the peoplehe saw
Nor could he
were
alwaystell who were and who were not real customers,
that
into the rooms
in the day-time,
as
so
they came
the subject
of observation,
and
his conduct became
ing,
drinkthough it was for a time attributed to private
other
it was
at last suspected
to arise from some
I was
when
sent
cause
for,the familywere
; and
under the full conviction that he was
insane,although
they confessed that,in everythingelse,except the
he was
foolish notion of seeingapparitions,
perfectly
rational and steady
during the whole of the
; and
and his
his case
to me
time that he was
relating
mind was
occupied he felt the most gratifying
fully
for in all that time he had not seen
one
relief,
tion
apparihe was
elated with pleasure,
indeed,when
; and
to

was

be

"

"

I should

I told him

not

send

him

to

York, for

his

But whilst
complaintI could cure at home.
and had suffered him to
I was
writinga prescription,
him suddenly
be at rest,I saw
get up, and go with a
What
did you do that
hurried step to the door.
a

was

'

looked

He

for ?'

ashamed

and

mortified.

He

had

well whilst in conversation

with me, that he

he saw
enter
could not believe that the soldier whom

been
the

so

room

was

phantom,and

he

got up

to

convince

himself.
the medical
particularly
treatment
adopted;but it may be as well justto state
led to the complaint,
the circumstances which probably
of cure.
time previously
he
Some
and the principle
"

I need

not

here

detail

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

DELIKITTM

TKEMENS.

149

tempted,
who atquarrelwith a drunken soldier,
his house
to enter
againsthis inclination,
unseasonable
at an
hour, and in the struggleto
him out, the soldier drew his bayonet,and,
turn
the temples,divided the
having struck him across
temporalartery; in consequence of which he bled a
there
before a surgeon arrived,
as
very largequantity
knew
who
no
one
that,in such a case, simple
was
with the nuger upon the spouting
artery
compression
He had scarcely
would stop the effusion of blood.
recovered from the effects of this loss of blood,when
to accompany
he undertook
a friend in his walkingmiles
match against
time,in which he went forty-two
Elated with success, he spent the
in nine hours.
whole of the following
day in drinking; but found
of
out
himself,a short time afterwards,so much
to the resolution of abstaining
health,that he came
of the
in the course
from liquor. It was
altogether
that abstinence from his usual habits
week following
for several
that he had the disease. It keptincreasing
days,tillI saw him, allowinghim no time for rest.
he able to get rid of these shadows by
Never was
night when in bed, nor by day when in motion,
though he sometimes walked miles with that view,
He
of company.
and at others got into a variety
he suffered even
told me
bodilypain,from the severe
lashingof a waggoner with his whip,who came
every
of
his
but
who
to
corner
a
bed,
particular
night
when
he jumped out of bed to
always disappeared
The
retort,which he did several nightssuccessively.
removed
whole of this complaintwas
by
effectually
After
and active purgatives.
bleedingwith leeches,
he saw
no
more
the first employmentof these means
and after the second,only
phantomsin the day-time,
in his bedroom, between
his milkman
saw
once
and waking. He
has remained
perfectly
sleeping
and can
rational and well ever
since,
go out in the

had

had

150

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

DELIKTTJM

TEEMENS.

viction
conhaving received a perfect
of the nature of ghosts."*
has
The hallucinations vary greatly
; theyare, as
been already
remarked,the reflection of the character
and habits of the invalid. Sometimes,however,they
which a matter
of
in an association of ideas,
originate
chance has givenrise to.
hallucinations occasioned
The
by drinkingmay
producevery serious results. M. R. had experienced
to
great domestic troubles,which he endeavoured
forgetby plunging into continual drunkenness,a
One day he saw
affected his mind.
habit which soon
which made
him a sign to
an
figure,
extraordinary
and fellinto the street ;
follow it ; he rose, pursuedit,
He wa3
he had, in fact,
gone through the window.
stunned
brought to me, completely
by his fall; he
thoughthe stillsaw the phantom,and answered the
put to him in a confused
questionswhich were
and abstinence
A few days'confinement
manner.

dark

as

well

as

restored his

ever,

reason.

who

Writers
recorded

many
the sensations.

treated

have

examplesof

It may,
of hallucinations.
variety
disorder may

show

of

this disease have

these

derangementsof
in fact,
giverise to a vast
This complication
of the

itself at the commencement

of the

and it is importantto bear this in mind,

insanity,
for if one
patientfalls through a window, thinking
it is equally
that he is following
some
strangefigure,
he mistakes
for another to attack a person whom
possible

for

an

It may be
drunkenness
certain
The

monster.

said,Why separatethe
from

those

of drunkenness

reason

the action of

is this :

delirium

shows

hallucinations of

producedby

The

Edinburgh Medical

1810.

or

drugs?

and
disease,
*

enemy

"

is

very

frequent

itself accompaniedby symptoms

and

SurgicalJournal,vol. vii. p.

288.

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

of

insanity,

abuse

of

which

of

liquors

intoxicating

by

produced
rarely
of

of

many

Besides
from
not

until

these

agents

of

still

action

intoxicating

reality
further

form

part

this

best

and

country,

require

to

be
is

body
while

of

symptoms

considered

have

been
in

only
the

temporary

are

their

be

hand,

liquors,

observations
are

itself

other

the

on

is, the

"

may

"

drugs

in

them

this, their
that

in

with

meet

that

cause

the

On

insanity.

of

symptom

primary

the

151

TREMENS.

DELIRIUM

we

eifects

investigated.
different

very

insanity

made,
a

lucinations
hal-

the

separate

so

these

does

that,
lucinations
hal-

chapter.

152

*
CHAPTEE

"

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

VII.

NERVOUS

DISEASES,

NOT

STITUTINGCON-

INSANITY.

Haying

examined

now

in relation to the
we

pass

on

the

of Hallucinations
subject
forms of mental disease,
principal

to the consideration

with certain

nervous

affections which,in

insanity.In

verge upon
diseases will be noticed which
of hallucinations

of them

most

this

in connexion
some

series

presentthe phenomena

in
or
frequently,
peculiarities.

marked
presentsome
in relation
1. Catalepsy

respects,
only those

to

which

Hallucinations.

they
"

The

which attends the existence of hallucinations

difficulty
in catalepsy
arises from the changeswhich the intellectual
faculties undergo in this singular
In
state.
less completely
more
fact,theyare generally
or
pended.
susand that
our
own
Nevertheless,
experience
of others prove that there are
few cataleptics
some
who have dreams or visioDs concerning
which
objects
have strongly
affected them.
In a case
recorded in
the memoirs
of the Academie
Boyale des Sciences,
the catalepsy
was
producedby anxiety
concerningan
importantlawsuit. During the attack the patient
of his legalaffairs. Dr.
account
accurate
gave an
Hamilton, in one of his essays (Revue Brittanique)
has related the historyof a young
girlwho, when
,

she

was

in this state,heard all that

was

said around

her.
The
Epilepsyin relation to Hallucinations.
of epilepsy
with insanity
would
frequent
complication
lead us to expect the occurrence
of hallucinations.
2.

"

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

NERYOES

153

DISEASES.

Esquirol
np at the Salpetriere,
of three hundred
epileptic
patients,

In the tables drawn

found

that,out
half

than

more

Many

insane.

were

before they were

patients,

of these

entirely

deprived of sensation,had various hallucinations ;

they imaginedthey saw luminous bodies,which made
fearful of being burnt.
them
They beheld dark
and threatened to
which gradually
objects,
enlarged,
envelopethem in total darkness
theyheard a noise
like thunder,the roll of drums, the clatter of arms,
and the tumult
of an
engagement ; theysmelt the
most noxious odours,and complainedtheywere
struck
:

and

covered

them
adds
most

with blows.

These

hallucinations caused

the

Perhaps it is this feeling,

greatestalarm.
Esquirol,which gives to the physiognomyof
of terror or of indigthat expression
epileptics
nation
which is peculiar
to these patients
duringtheir

attacks.

These

did not

escape the notice .ofHibbert

have specially
called attention

remarks

and of Paterson,who
to the existence of hallucinations

in

epilepsy.Dr.
patientwho was

Gregory,in his lectures,

speaksof a
liable to epileptic
in whom
the paroxysm
was
fits,
of an old woman
generally
precededby the apparition
in a red cloak,who seemed
to come
up to him and
"

strike him

the

on

head

instant he fell down

Amongst
met
an

with

the

succeeded

crutch ; at

that

attended,we

the attack

others in whom

was

the

have

precededby
hallucination

the attack.

Example
monomania

have

we
patients

and
apparition,

her

in the fit."*

in whom

many

with

54. M.

of

imaginesthat

seized ten

years ago with

since which he
melancholycharacter,

he

L.

is

relentless enemies.
*

was

subjectto
He

Paterson

often
:

the

of
persecutions
hears them
making

Loc. cit.

154

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

NEBVOTTS

DISEASES,

remarks
to him, and
disgusting
they prevent his
hood
sleeping
by their wicked proposals.From his childthis patient
attacks of
was
subjectto irregular
which were
often preceded
epilepsy,
by a hallucination,
before
moment
a flash of lightning.The
resembling
he used to see the figure
of
losinghis consciousness,
him like the shadows of a
a demon, which
approached
phantasmagoria
; he then uttered a loud cry, saying,
"Here
is the devil!" and fell on the ground.
Sometimes
strange figuresaddress the epileptic
;
him to do a certain act.
theyinsult him or command
It is highly
mitted
probablethat many of the crimes comby these unfortunate persons, and for which
have been severely
the results of
some
were
punished,
hallucinations of hearing and

of sight.
55. JacquesMounin, of Berne,was

Example
fits. At their
to epileptic
symptoms of greatexcitement
attacks

he rushed

like

termination

he

and after one

madman

into the

liable
showed
of these

country,

He
assassinated three men.
was
successively
where he
followed,
secured,and thrown into prison,
to the reason
for his actions.
as
was
interrogated
recollected killing
Mounin
stated that he perfectly
his relative,
who was
the three men, especially
one
which he very much regretted.He said that,during
himself surrounded
he saw
of fury,
these paroxysms
by flames,and that the colour of blood delighted
and

him.*
Several lunatics have told

us

theywere

dazzled

by

sightof a largecrimson halo,which shone like

of
In the majority
to the attack.
lightning
previous
have recorded the hallucination preceded
the cases
we
the

the attack.
M.

Bellodf has

quotedthe

case

of

young

ales
Brierre de Boismont : Observations Medico-leg
Monomanie
homicide,p. 24. Paris,1827.
f Annal. Med.-Psych.^.384. Nov. 1843.
*

man,
sur

la

156

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

NERVOUS

DISEASES,

affection which

of phenopresentsa greatervariety
mena
than hysteria."When
to the monologues
listening
of hysterical
we
patients,
may often detect
them speakingor replying
to beingswhom
theysee,
with whom
or
theyimagine theyare conversing
; at
other times they complaintheyare breathing
a foetid
has a disagreeable
atmosphere,and that everything
taste.

The

hallucinations which

divided into two

series

in the

in

occur

in the other there is

the

one

be

hysteria
may
is

reason

affected,
un-

insanit}^.

C. has for many years been

Example 56. Madame
to attacks of hysteria.At the time of their
subject
she is timid,anxious,and alarmed,and at
occurrence
that she does
lengthher fears become so extreme
nothingbut call out for help. This excessive terror
is caused by the horrible phantoms which show themselves
and
during the attack,and who mock, insult,
threaten

to strike her.

his work

Hibbert,in
when

the

of

excitement

height,its

effects

on

are

that

Hallucinations,
says,
women
hysterical

is at its

similar to those

producedby

the nitrous

oxide gas, which is considered to have a

influence on
the blood.
This writer speaks
peculiar
of

whose

woman,

alwayswarned

was

of her

own

Sauvages states
in the
are
patients
M.

says, that

Michea

is related

by Portius,who#
attack by the apof an hysterical
pearance
image,as in a mirror.
that
the
during the paroxysm
habit of seeingfrightful
spectres.
case

hallucinations

very
attacked the

which
epidemichysteria
of Elizabeth of Louviers.*
female proselytes
nor
are
Hysteriamay exist with insanity,
common

in the

uncommon

which
*

it

disorder
Michea

were

such

cases

is,therefore,
necessary to ascertain to
the hallucinations belong. "When they

Delire des

Sensations,
p.

298.

Paris,1846.

show themselves

as

157

INSANITY.

CONSTITUTING

NOT

of,or duringthe attack,

precursors

it,then there can be no hesitation in

of hysteria.
regardingthem as a complication
Example 57. Mademoiselle $.,aged 46, believes she
and

is the
To

with

cease

cause

of all the evil which

would

her, one

hear

crime.
every possible
her,and givenher over

suppose

"

happensin
she

had

the wTorld.

committed

she says, " has forsaken

Satan."
This aberration

God,"
unto

itself in the form

which first showed
intellect,
is now
characterized by singingof
of melancholy,
and monologues,spoken with
songs, by recitations,
of the voice.
and at the summit
extreme
volubility
of the

S. is conscious

of the

of this
absurdity
be regardedas
conduct,and feels that it may justly
pulse
by an irresistibleiminsanity
; but she is compelled
These periodsof
to utter these thingsaloud.
excitement are succeeded by stronghysterical
attacks,
and violent
in which she experiences
long-continued

Mademoiselle

in the womb.
She
spasm commences
that her disease has its seat in the abdomen.

convulsions.
asserts

During
;

The

attack, the

the

she

become

formed
trans-

hideous

sees

his appearance

attendants

she

phantoms,or the devil makes

fancies she is possessed,
utters

and prays to be delivered from the

piercingshrieks,
laughsand weeps, and
apparitions
; she alternately
hours,returns to her usual
then, at the end of some
state.

who have come

women
hysterical
under our
connected
notice,the hallucinations were
who had a religious
with ideas of love ; while in others,
tendency,theytook the form of angelsor devils. In
*this respectthe hallucinations onlyfollowed the laws
by which theyare usuallygoverned.
in insanity,
often shows itselfwith erotomania
Hysteria,
and nymphomania. It is probablethat the
which have hitherto been coninstincts and passions,
trolled
burst forth with the greater
now
by education,
In

many

insane

158

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

violence in consequence

NEEYOES

DISEASES,

of the restraint

theyhave

so

longundergone.
The hallucinations

commonly alongwith
the premonitory
but they
symptoms of the hysteria,
also take place during the attack,when
the
may
mental faculties are partially
retained ; theymay also
show

themselves
of

senses

may
illusions.
to
regard
4. Hallucinations

who, from
it were,
His

most

at its termination.

hearingand

but allthe

occur

the focus of

of

The

tions
hallucina-

the most

sightare

be involved ; it is the

common,

with

same

The hypoHypochondriasis.
chondriac
his moral condition,
becomes,as
all kinds of diseases,
is necessarily

in

"

to hallucinations and
illusions.
predisposed
of the
constant
and uninterrupted
contemplation

various forms

favourable

of disease is most

to their

thingfor these persons

production.It is a common
musical sounds,
to complainof explosions,
whistlings,
noises in the head.
and other extraordinary
They
"

declare,"says M. Dubois
is in

state of

and

d'Amiens,

"

that their brain

it is dried up and hardened,

that they are on the point of

that
ebullition,

maintain

losingtheir sightand their hearing."

Some imaginetheyperceive
a snake or a fish moving
whose case
has been reA lady,
about their person.
ported
by M. Falret,said her skin looked as if it was
covered with scales like those of

rected
carp ; but she corof touch.
Some

by the sense
impression
hot and cold,either
complainthat theyare alternately
in differents parts of
or
successively,
simultaneously
this

their bodies.
the celebrated writer and

physician,
who fellinto a hypochondriacal
condition,
continually
His
complainedof the state of his digestive
organs.
which
work on Solitude is filledwith melancholyideas,
This state
increased by the French Eevolution.
were
followed by wakefulness,
of things
was
illusions,
optical
Zimmerman,

CONSTITUTING

NOT

159

INSANITY.

of

phantoms during the night.

increased by the use
had tremblingand giddiness,
followed by fainting
coffee ; the least exertion was
;
the

and
He
of

there

was

in his

own

appearance

opinions
; there
a

loss of

weakness

which

his ideas,and
nervous

of moral firmness and of confidence

want

confusion in
slight
with a timidity
and
memory,
contrasted with his
strongly
was

character.
previous
addition

In

to

these

numerous

symptoms arising
at an earlyperiod

he exhibited
hypochondriasis,
in his extreme
to melancholy
love of
a
disposition
afterwards increased until
solitude. This propensity
exclusive form of insanity,
it assumed
an
producinga
continual fear of seeingsome
his house
enter
one
for the purpose of robbinghim.*
Example 58. M. L. has been tormented for more

from

than

twenty years

with

disease of the stomach

has

not

whatever
tumour

the idea that he has

serious

and

which, however,
intestines,
deprivedhim of an excellent appetitefor
before him.
He
comes
even
perceivesa
in the left hypochondrium,
which M. Louis

and other medical

men

are

unable

to

detect.

Two

years ago he

began to imaginehe was surrounded by

enemies,and that everybodyregardedhim with suspicion,
and made grimacesat him. He has frequently
sequently
thoughthe was insulted and threatened,and has conannoyed inoffensive persons, who had not

"even

looked at him.

Example 59. M. J.,aged twenty-two,a teacher of

German, had suffered for some
years from painsin
the bowels.
The chief symptom was
kind of obstruction
a
and pain,which he had vainly
endeavoured
get rid of.

This young man, who had received an

education superior
to his present position,
had met
with all kinds of obstacles to his success
in life.

to

Louyer-Yillermay: Traite dcs Maladies

ticidier de

VHysterieet de V

Nerveuses

Hypocondrie,t. i. p.

421.

et en

par-

160

HALLUCINATIONS

combination

IN

of

physicaland

produceda disordered
he was
brought to our
On
had
and
his

his entrance

DISEASES,

moral

of the

state

sufferinghad
for which
intellect,

establishment.

he told

us

that the visceral disease

undoubtedlyproduceda state of hypochondriasis,

that this,as it increased,had at lengthaffected
meaning
brain,and givenrise to incoherent ideas and unidea was, that his friends
that theyhad subjected
him
produced his illness,
acts.

had

NEEYOTTS

His

constant

magneticinfluences,and that they had at length

placeda magnetizerin his inside. He endeavoured
which the magnetizer
the operations
to explain
to me
In listening
to his narrative,
carried on within him.
to trace the chain of ideas by
it was
most interesting
arrived at the notion which
which he had gradually
He held conversations with the
now
possessedhim.
he could not
magnetizer,whom
compel to leave
to

him.
Two

blisters to the

employment of
which

his

soon

and a judicious
legs,
goodliving,
ment,
mind, produceda rapid amend-

enabled

us

to restore

him

to

his

family.
5. Hallucinations

in Chorea.

"

Hallucinations

are

in the presentday.
in chorea as it occurs
very rare
in the epidemic
It was, however, quitethe reverse
chorea of the Middle Ages. During the dance,says

Hecker, these invalids

apparitions
; theywere
and their imagination
insensible to all external impressions,
whose names
to them spirits,
presented
they
rather shouted out. At a later period
or
pronounced,
declared theywere
of them
plungedin a river
many
the reason
of blood,and that that was
theyjumped
the
so
high. Others, during their ecstasy, saw
heavens open, and beheld the Virginand the Saviour
ing
his throne ; these visions varyingin form accordon
which the religious
to the different impressions
M.

saw

CONSTITUTING

NOT

of

creeds

who

had

One

of

them

that

he

of

the

with

Medecine

conflict.

Memoire

hospital

striking
a

animal

of

class

the

with

la

sur

rabid

and

du

Choree

died

his

patients,
Lyons.

at

bed,

wolf.
in

ing
think-

Another
the

midst

"

vol.
:

Nouveau

xii.

p.

314.

Traite

traduit

Moyen-age,
Annul.

Dubois.

Ferdinand

M.

par

Trolliet

several

Legale,
t

violently

enraged

an

this
in

care

struggling

was

tion.*
imagina-

their

mentioned

has

in

his

expired

Hecker

l'Allemand

under

been

fought

Trolliet

on

"

hallucinations

of

examples

produced

M.

Hydrophobia.

6.

had

period

the

161

INSANITY.

d'Hyg.

1834.
de

la

Rage.

Paris,

1820.

de
et

de

162

VIII.

CHAPTEE

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

Hallucinations
Ant

DEEAMS.

JSightmaee.

in

studied nervous
diseases,
carefully
tween
will have littledoubt of the analogywhich exists becurious facts
nightmare and insanity
; the
one

which
mind

who

AND

NIGHTMAEE

we

has

witnessed

have

leave

no

doubt

in

own

our

the question. A distinguished

writer,
upon
attacked with nightmare,
imaginedhe was leaping

when

in the

with

his hair

terror, and

spoke,he

We

air.

at these

end, his countenance

utteringinarticulate sounds

would

"

say,
am

what

wonderful

passingover
moments

some

he stillimaginedhe
often

him,

seen

times,

filled with

on

like the wind, I

For

have

when

he

thing,I fly

mountains
after he

was

and cipices."
preawake

sailing
through space.
speciesof nightmare,which we
particular
was

observed, consists

in the

sensation

of

have

flying

ground. The person seems

the greatest
but the
rapidity,

close to the surface of the

alongwith
pursues
enemy, or the danger,from which he flies,
close
and
him.
to
The
him as quickly,
alwayskeeps
and as if he
alarm wakes him up. he feels fatigued,
had gone a longdistance.
Distressingemotions will produce nightmarein
and delicate lady,
A young
of a
nervous
persons.
temperament, avoided all alarming and
susceptible
she heard an anecdote
for whenever
tales,
distressing
Toto be disturbed.
of this kind,her rest was
sure
to be

carried

164

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

cessive

hour and under the same

nightsat the same
A ladyhad a feeling
form.
of discomfort upon going
after she would see some
to sleep
one
; soon
ing
pursuher for the purpose of killing
She started
her.
from
her sleepwith the fright.The same
vision
occurred for several successive nights. She dreaded
goiugto bed ; her rest was disturbed ; and,in spiteof
she yielded
to the influence of the phantom.
herself,
By degreesthis miserable sensation passedaway, and
to her

she returned

for several successive

that

us

his bed-clothes

nightsmen

came

told
and

struggle ensued

; a

to

between

by their carryingthem
uncovered,he awoke.
completely
away : when he was
In other cases, the hallucinations of nightmare,
selves
however
distressing
they may be, do not show themA medical man,
by any external movements.
in the habit of readingin bed, has had his
who was
wife tell him, on
her waking up, that she had
had
a
long and frightful
nightmare: he had not,
however, perceivedher to be disturbed in the
degree.
slightest
them,

which

man

young

at the foot of his bed in order

placedthemselves
remove

usual state.

terminated

Sometimes

the

persons are
is not real ;

happensto them
awake, and
they were

that what

conscious

theyreason

endeavour

to

as

prove

though
that the

lady saw the wall

young
open, and from the aperture there emerged a death's
and at the
head, which placeditselfupon a skeleton,
sensations

same

false.

are

time advanced

was
apparition

herself and
terminated
Writers
which

towards

to

Satisfied that this

her.

she
illusion,

endeavour

would

her
allay

reason

fears

with

the matter

by her waking up.

have

cat,or

supposedto
Under

an

these

be

described
some

other

in
of nightmare,
variety

animal,or
the chest

placedupon

circumstances

violent

a
or

monster, is
stomach.

is
oppression

165

DREAMS.

AKD

TSTIGHTMAEE

feltin these parts ; the sufferer tries to rid himself of

the imaginaryweight,which threatens to stiBe him,
expresses the greatestalarm.
tioned,
exampleswhich have hitherto been men-

and his countenance

In

the

hallucinations

produced by nightmare
the person has woke up ; but they
have ceased when
in the waking state,and be mistaken
may continue
for realities. Lastly,
nightmaremay be complicated
with insanity.
thecary,
Example 60. In a convent at Auvergne, an apothere
where
who
was
sleepiDgin a room
several other persons, had an attack of nightwere
mare,
he accused his companions
and in consequence
themselves
deavoured
of having thrown
him, and enupon
him.
His companionsdenied
to strangle
and
declared he had passedthe night
the charge,
and in a state of violent agitation.
without sleeping,
self,
To convince him, theyplacedhim in a room
by himhavingfirst givenhim a good supper, and made
had the same
food.
He
him partakeof indigestible
attack ; but this time he declared it was
producedby
There was
he minutely described.
a demon, whom
jecting
of disabusing
him of this idea but by submeans
no
him to a regularcourse
of treatment.*
and
mania, hysteria,
Epilepsy,hypochondriasis,
somnambulism, have sometimes the nightmare as a
panies
precursory symptom ; while at other times it accomthe

them.

dreams

Sensual

seem

to

be associated

nightmare.
individual,says Jason, lately
Example 61. An
to me,
came
saying: Sir,if you do not assist me,
of me, I am wastingaway, you see
what is to become
how pale and thin I am
nothing but skin and
; I am
bone, I who had always a good figureand was
with
matter
What
is the
moderatelystout."

with

"

"

"

Schoenckius

Obs. 253.

166

HALLUCINATIONS

you ?" I asked

disease?"

"

"

what

to

IN

do

attribute your
"and you
replied,

you

I will tell

you," he
be surprised.JN"early
will certainly
a
every night,
.to me, comes
female,whose person is not unknown
"

throws

close to me,

that
violently

so

me

herself
I

on

breathe
searcely

can

out, she stifles me, and the more

I able to do
out, the less am
power in my limbs,and
to the spot."
"

There

chest,and presses

my

I endeavour

so.

she holds

to

call

lose all

soon

bound

me

if I cry

and fixed

I replied I knew
is nothingastonishing,"
"

that it was
nightmare all this is only
immediately
the effect of the imagination
a phantom, and
A phantom!" he cried, an
effect of the imagination
with my
! I am
telling
you of what I have seen
even
Frequently,
eyes, and touched with my hands.
"

"

"

"

"

when

am

awake, and with

her

all my

senses

about

me,

herself upon me ; it
come
seen
and
is in vain that I tryto repulseher ; fear,
anxiety,
I have

and throw

strengthbeing greater than mine, throw me

that I am quite
into such a state of languor,
incapable
to
of defendingmyself. I have sought everywhere
her

obtain relief from

I

this miserable

vainlyendeavoured

to

condition."

disabuse this

man

of his

he
insane idea ; but after two or three conversations,
began to be convinced of the nature of his malady,

hopes of beingcured.*
show
The hallucinations of nightmaresometimes
themselves in the form of an epidemic.
The first battalion of the regiment
Examine 62.
of which," says Dr. Parent, I
of Latour-d'Auvergne,
the surgeon, was
was
quarteredat Palmi in Calabria,
when it received peremptory orders to march with all
to Tropea,and there oppose the landingof
despatch
which had threatened
troopsfrom the enemy'sflotilla,
and to entertain

"

"

Jason
Obs. 253.

Be

Morbis

"c,
Cerebri,

cap.

xxvi.,et Schoenckius

NIGHTMARE

these

parts.
troops had to
The

It

AND

in the month

was

of June, and the

nearlyfortymiles of country.

traverse

battalion started at

and
midnight,

its destination till about

seven

haviog scarcelyrested,and
On

from

the heat.

were

readyprepared.
"

As

167

DEEAMS.

did not arrive at

o'clock in the

evening,

having suffered

much

its arrival itsrations and quarters

this battalion had

the

come

it was
furthest,

the last to arrive,

and

had the worst barracks

consequently
assignedto it,eighthundred men
beingplaced
where usually
onlyhalf that number would have been
lodged.They were huddled togetheron straw placed
they
upon the ground,and as they had no coverings,
could not

abbey.
the

undress
The

battalion

themselves.

inhabitants
would

not

had
be

It

was

an

old deserted

warned
previously
able

to

us

rest, for that

assembled there every night,

and that already
spirits
other regimentshad failed in the experiment. "We
our
merelylaughedat their credulity
; but what was
to hear the most
about midnight,
frightful
surprise,
all
issue
from
of
the
and
cries
building, to see
parts
alarm ! I questhe soldiers rushingout in the greatest
tioned
them as to the cause
of their fear,and they
the devil dwelt in the abbey; that they
all told me
him enter through an openingof the door
had seen
in the form of a largeblack dog
of their chamber
with curlyhair,who
had bounded
them, ran
upon
their chests with the rapidity
of lightning,
and
over
the side opposite
to the one
at which
on
disappeared
he had entered.
to
fears,and endeavoured
them
that the event
depended upon simple
satisfy
than the
and natural causes, and was
nothingmore
result of their imagination.We
were
quiteunable
to convince them, or to induce them to re-enter their
quarters. They passedthe remainder of the nighton
and scattered about in different parts
the seashore,
"

We

ridiculed their

168

EST

HALLUCINATIONS

of the town.

The

the
day I again questioned
and
of the oldest
and
some
Serjeants,
corporals,
soldiers. They assured me
they were not persons to
or
give way to fear,nor did they believe in spirits
vinced
conghosts,
yet theyseemed to me to be perfectly
that the scene
which had taken placein the
but a real
abbey was no effect of the imagination,
event.
According to these men, they had scarcely
fallen asleepwhen
the dog entered; they saw
him
and were
he
almost suffocated when
quiteplainly,
leapedupon their chests.
the whole of that day at Tropea,
We
remained
and the town
being full of troops,we were
obliged
to retain the same
quarters: we could onlypersuade
the soldiers to go to rest by promising
to pass the
I retired at half-past
eleven with
nightwith them.
the majorof the battalion ; the officers throughcuriosity
next

"

scattered

were

AVe

had

no

about

in the

that
expectation

the

different
scene

rooms.

of the ceding
prewho
soldiers,

The
nightwould be renewed.
re-assured by the presence of their officers,
who
were
when, at one o'clock
kept watch,had fallen asleep,
in the morning, from all the rooms
at the same
who
time, the same
forth,and the men
cry came
had seen
fearful
the dog jump on to their chests,
of being suffocated,
left their quarters,
resolved not
to them
to return
again. AVe were
up, wide awake,
and on the watch to see what would happen; but,as
be supposed,
nothingmade its appearance.
may easily
returned
The enemy'sflotillahaving sailed away, we
the next day to Palmi.
Since the event which has
have traversed the kingdom of
we
justbeen recorded,
of the year, our
soldiers have
Naples at all periods
often been crowded
togetherin the same
way, but
this phenomenon has never
shown itself again."*
*

des Sciences Medicales,

vol. xxxiv.,Art.
Incube;'obs. comnmnique'e par M. le docteur Parent.
Grand

Dictionnaire

that
probable

lbiJ

DREAMS.

AND

NIGHTMARE

the forced march

and the

great
to affect the respiratory
heat had combined
organs,
them
to nightmare(incubus,
and had predisposed
favoured also by the uncomfortable locality
ephialtes),
where they were
obligedto sleepwith their clothes
and possibly
also by
on, by the rarefaction of the air,
noxious gas.
its containing
some
It is

Hallucinations
The

analogywhich
of

dreams

those

and

in

Dreams.

exists between
of the

writers who

the

tions
hallucina-

waking state,have

consider

hallucination

duced
inas

phenomenon, to range the two series

pathological
in the same
category. An Englishwriter,who has
the
this theory,
maintained
says, that in both cases
horses have run
but,with this
away with the carriage,
the driver is drunk, while
that in insanity
difference,
vol. i.p. 189.)
in dreams he is asleep.(The Antiquary,
of regardingthe questionwas
If this manner

admitted,it would follow

that

no

person
for
those
whom
of
the charge
insanity,

could escape
it spares in

less attacked by it
or
daytime would be more
duringthe night.The absoluteness of the proposition
The act of dreaming,in the
is its best refutation.
dition
congreatmajorityof cases, is a purelyphysiological
of the
continuance
a
; it presentsitself as
To prove this,
of the thinkingprinciple.
operations
it is sufficient to produceexamplesof mental operations,
conceived
and actions,
which have been
places,
fore
and executed
during sleep. Dreams should,therebe divided into two series,
as
according
they are
or
pathological.
physiological
modifies the
The
condition of sleep necessarily
is
In fact,in dreams,man
nocturnal hallucinations.
no
;
longermaster of his will or of his movements
in abeyance; he loses the
in generalthe senses
are
the

power

of identification ; he confounds

time and space ;

1V0

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

he believes without

in the most extravagant

surprise
things,both as regardspersons and events ; he has
no
his attention ; his imagination
is
power of fixing
unbounded
often extraordinary-.
All
; his memory
these pyschological
conditions are met with in dreams,
and

establish

difference between

them

and

the

hallucinationsof the waking state.

Voltaire
the

imaginedone

first canto

day

of the Henriade

that he

had

dreamed

different to what

had

he

composed it. Struck with this singularity I

said in a dream," he writes,
"thingswhich I could
scarcelyhave said when awake ; I must, therefore,
have had thoughtsand reflections in spiteof myself,
and without havingtaken the least part in them.
I
had neither will nor liberty,
and yet I associated my
ideas with propriety,
and sometimes with genius."
The
hallucinations of dreams
show
frequently
themselves in the state between sleeping
and waking.
Purkingieand Gruthuisen have termed them the
elements of dreams.
Cerebral
congestion seems
favourable to their production
a general
; but to make
of this statement
is contrary to expeproposition
rience,
for thousands of persons dream without having
any signsof congestion.
The
or
subjectof a dream may be the precise,
of what was
the subject
nearlyprecise,
representation
of the hallucination,
of a hallucination
just as the subject
of what formed
may be the exact reproduction
a

"

"

dream.

Abercrombie, in his work On the Intellectual

Powers, is of opinionthat dreams and hallucinations
allied. In support of this doctrine he
are
closely
has related the followingcase
An
eminent
:
medical friend,
under
havingsat up late one evening,
considerable anxiety,
about one
of his children who
fell asleepin his chair,and had a frightful
was
ill,
iman
dream, in which the prominentfigurewas
"

"

172

HALLUCINATIONS

succession of ideas in
vision of the
the

whole

jarof
had

water

IN

wonders

his

fell when

from

which

the association of

he

saw

hell,though the
ecstasy commenced,
he

when

spilledits contents
existence."*
ordinary
hallucinations

of the

and

of heaven

which

us

in which

Prophet Mahommed,

not

The

to remind

as
sleep,

in

occur

ideas,or

returned
dreams

to

arise

the recollection

are

taken place.Amongst
previously
the many curious instances of this kind,the following
and show
what
of the most
are
some
interesting,
singularevents and combinations of thought may
with dreams.
originate
friend of mine," says
Example 63. A particular
connected with one of the principal
Abercrombie, was
at his placeat the
bauks in Glasgow,and was
is paid,when
tellers' table,where money
a
person
of six pounds.
entered demanding payment of a sum
who were, in turn,
There were
several people
waiting,

of things
which have

"

"

entitled to

be attended

to

before

him, but he was

noisy; and being,

and rather
extremelyimpatient,
noying,
besides,a remarkable stammerer, he became so anthat another gentlemanrequested
my friend
He did
and get rid of him.
his money
to pay him
of impatience
but with an expression
so
accordingly,
to attend to him before his turn, and
at being obliged
At the end of
of the transaction.
thought no more
the
the year, which was
eightor nine months after,
the
books of the bank could not be made to balance,
being exactlysix pounds. Several days
deficiency
cover
and nightshad been spent in endeavouringto disthe

error,

but

without

success

when

at

last

and went
home, much fatigued,
of being at his place in the
He
dreamt
to bed.
with the stammerer,
bank, and the whole transaction,

my

friend returned

"

Opus cit. p.

25.

AND

NIGHTMARE

as

detailed,
passedbefore him

now

awoke

He
dream

to lead

was

discovered

soon

the

manner

the

indebted

in

sum,

for
(ortithe),

which

noble

exactly

of Bowland, a gentleman
vale of Gala, was
cuted
prose-

considerable

very

of teind

arrears

he

in the balance."*

error

Example 64. "Mr. E.,

landed property in the
a

this person

paidto

sum

the

examination,

on

and that it
of interests,

book

for the

for

the

impressionthat
of what
discovery

to be
mentioned, had been neglected

inserted in the

of

to

in all its particulars.

search of; and,

that

now

accounted

full

him

in
anxiously

so

was

under

173

DREAMS.

the
family,

the

he

accumulated
said to be

was

titulars

(layimpropriators
of the tithes).Mr. E. was
strongly
impressed
with the belief that his father had, by a form of process
to the law of Scotland,purchasedthese
peculiar
that the preteinds from the titular,
and. therefore,
sent
after
was
an
prosecution
groundless. But,
to

industrious

search among
his father's papers, an investigati
of the public records, and
careful
a

had transacted
law
all persons who
evidence could be recovered
business for his father,
no

inquiryamoug

to

supporthis

hand

when

defence.

he conceived

and
inevitable,

he

had

The

periodwas

now

near

at

the loss of his lawsuit to be

formed

his determination

to

and make
the best bargain
day,,
he could in the way of compromise. He went
stances
to bed with this resolution,
and, with all the circumof the case
in his mind, had a dream
floating
His father,
who had been
to the following
purpose.
many
years dead,appearedto him, he thought,and
disturbed in his mind.
In
asked him why he was
not surprised
dreams men
at such apparitions.
are
Mr. E. thought that he informed
his father of the
of his distress,
cause
adding,that the payment of a

ride to

Edinburgh next

Opus cit. p.

280.

174

HALLUCINATIONS

considerable

EN

of money
the more
was
unpleasant
he had a strong consciousness that it

sum

him, because
not due,though he was
unable
was
to recover
any
evidence in support of his belief. You are right,
my
t
he
s
hade
I
did
son,'replied paternal
acquirea right
;
to these teinds,for payment
of which you are now
to the transaction
prosecuted.The papers relating
in the hands of Mr.
are
a writer (orattorney),
who is now
retired from professional
business,and
resides at Inveresk,near
a
Edinburgh. He was
that occasion for a particular
person I employed on
to

'

'

but

reason,

who

never

transacted business

on

on

any

'

pursued the vision, that

which is now
a matter
forgotten

to pay his

came

gettingchange for

and that

we

Mr.

may have
of a very old date ;
call it to his recollection by this token,

but you may

that,when I
in

occasion

It is very possible,'

account.

my

other

account, there

culty
diffi-

was

Portugalpieceof gold,

forced to drink out the balance at

were

tavern.
"

Mr.

words

awoke

R.

of the

in

vision

thoughtit worth

the

morning,with all
imprintedon his mind,

while to ride

across

the

the
and

country to

to Edinburgh.
Inveresk, instead of going straight

When

he

came

there

he waited

on

the

gentleman

dream, a very old man ; without

sayinganythingof the vision,he inquiredwhether
he remembered
having conducted such a matter for
his deceased father. The old gentleman could not
to his recollection,
at first bring the circumstance
but, on mention of the Portugalpieceof gold,the
mentioned

in

the

He made an immediate
whole returned upon his memory.
search for the papers, and recovered them, so
that Mr. R. carried to Edinburgh the documents
"

which he was
on
gain the cause
losing. There cannot be a doubt
gentlemanhad heard the circumstances from

necessary
verge of
this

to

the
that
his

KTGHTMAEE

AXT"

175

DEEAAIS.

father,but had entirely

forgottenthem, until the
of his mind
to the
frequentand intense application
connected, at length
subjectwith which they were
rise to

gave
them

train of

association

which

recalled

in the dream."*

There

well

are

which have

authenticated

givennotice

at the time

or

occurred

of
soon

an

instances of dreams

event

after.

that
"

occurring
clergymanhad
was

city(Edinburgh)from a short distance

in the country,and was
at an inn,when
he
sleeping
dreamt
of seeinga fire,
of his children in
and one
the midst of it. He awoke with the impression,
and
his return
left town
home.
When
he
on
instantly
arrived within sightof his house,he found it on fire,
and got there in time to assist in savingone of his
children,who, in the alarm and confuson,had been
left in a situation of danger."
This case
simpleand natural
may be explainedon
without
to the superprinciples,
having recourse
natural.
Let us suppose that the gentlemanhad a
who had shown
servant
great carelessness in regard
and had often given rise in his mind
to fire,
to a
strong apprehensionthat he might set fire to the
house ; his anxietymight be increased by beingfrom
circumstance
home, and the same
might make the
servant
still more
careless. Perhaps there was
on
that day,in the neighbourhood
of his house,some
fair
or
periodical
merry-making,from which the servant
to return
home in a state of intoxication.
was
very likely
It was
natural that these impressions
most
should be embodied
into a dream
of his house being
and that the circumstance might lead to the
on
fire,
dream beingfulfilled."*
anecdote of Ben Jonson
Example 65. The following
is related in the Heads
of Conversations,
publishedby
to this

come

"

Abercrombie

Opus

cit.p. 288.

lb. p. 291.

176

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

of Druminond

the executors

of Hawthornden

(Drum-

mond's

Works, p. 224). Jonson told him,that "when

the First
the king" James
to England,about
came
the time that the plaguewas
in London, he beingin
the country at Sir Robert
Cotton's house with old
Cambden, he saw in a vision his eldest son, then a
"

child and at London, appear unto him

young
his forehead,
the mark of a bloodycross
as
on
had

been

Mr.

Cambden'

him

it

not

be

from
He
of

with

but

was

if it

which,amazed, he
unto
God, and in the morning he came
to tell him, who
s chamber
persuaded

cut

prayedunto

with

an

In
dejected.

sword

; at

at which
apprehension,

the meantime

his wife of the death of that

"

appearedto him," he said, of

that growth he thinks he shall

there

he should

came

letters

boy in the plague.

and
a manlyshape,
be

at

the

time of

the resurrection."*

Antiquityhas suppliedus with a

has since been frequently
celebrated dream, which
published.Two friends had arrived at Megara, and
took up their abode in different houses.
Scarcely
his companion
of them
when
had one
fallen asleep,
appeared before him, statingthat his landlord had
formed
a plan to assassinate
him, and begging his
friend to come
to his assistance as quickly
as
possible.
satisfied that it was
The
other woke
up, but feeling
onlythe delusion of a dream, soon returned to sleep.
him to make
and implored
Again his friend appeared,
haste,for his murderers were
enteringhis apartment.
Example

66.

astonished at the
he was
disturbed,
continuance of his dream, and felt inclined to go to
his friend,but, being fatigued and reasoningas
before,he againarrangedhimself to sleep. For the
he was
but now
third time his friend appeared,
pale,
he said,"you
and disfigured."Alas!"
bleeding,
A

second

time

Ferriar

Opus cit.p.

58.

FIGHTMAEE

AND

requested
you, and the
At daybreakyou will
deed is done ; now
avenge me.
meet, at the gate of the town, a cart filledwith dung,
have not

to

come

stop it,order

when

177

DEEAMS.

me

it to be

unloaded,and you will find my

midst ; provideme
rites of burial,
and punishmy murderers."

body

concealed

in

the

and
pertinacity
longeradmitted of

This

the minuteness

with

the

of the details

hesitation ; the friend got up,

went
to the gate that had been named, found the cart,
and soon
stoppedthe driver,who appearedagitated,
no

body of his companion.*

Even admitting
the truth of this tale,
and supposing
that it has not become magnified
and embellished
in the telling,
explainedby
yet it may be easily
natural causes.
The separation
of the two friends
in a strange town
after the fatigues
of the voyage
sufficient to produce in the mind forebodings
of
was
which duringthe silence of the night fear preevil,
sented
in the form of assassins. This idea having
entered the mind,the imagination
would complete
once
the rest. With regardto the episode
of the cart,which
there is nothingopposed
it seems
difficultto explain,
in the courtto the idea that it might have been seen
yard
of the house, and the principle
of the association
discovered the

of ideas connected

it with the events

of the dream.

Cicero,Plutarch,and other ancient writers have

the following
anecdote : Simonides having
preserved
his journeyfound the dead body of a man
on
who
to him, had it buried ; when
unknown
he was
was
the man
about to embark
appearedto him in his
and warned him not to go in the vessel or he
sleep,
would
perish.This warning made him change his
and he afterwards learned that the vessel
intentions,
in which

he had intended
*

+ Cicero.
the

to sail had

been

wrecked.*

Divin. lib. i. " xxvii.

See Valerius Maximus, bk. i. ch. i. Plutarch
Cicero

Pythian Oracles.

De

On

178

HALLUCINATIONS

opinion,"says

"The

the truth is sometimes

an

IN

"

illustrious

revealed to

writer, that
in our
dreams,

us

amongst all the nations of the world. ) The

of antiquity
have held this faith;
men
amongst
greatest
the Scipios,
the two Catos,
others,Alexander,Caesar,
of them men
of feeble
and Brutus, who were
none
exists

Old

and

intellect.

The

numerous

examples of

myselfI
matter.

dreams

satisfied with my
than once
I have more

am

furnish

Testaments

New

being fulfilled. For

in the
own
experience
found

that

dreams

thingsin which we are interested ;

wish to disputeor defend by arguments
but if we
thingswhich are beyond the scope of human reason,
we
attempt what is impossible."*
the illustrious Bossuet,in his funeral oration
Lastly,
Anne
of Gronzaga,
the Princess Palatine,
attributes
on
dream.
her conversion to a mysterious
marvellous dream; one
a
"This," he said,"was
of those which
Grod Himself
producesthrough the
in which the images are
of his angels; one
ministry
and we
and orderly
are
arranged,
permittedto
clearly
obtain a glimpse of celestial things. The princess
fancied she was
walkingalone in a forest,when she
in a small cottage.She approached
found a blind man
do forewarn

of

us

him

him, and asked

birth,or

if he had

it was

whether

told her that he

was

been

blind

from

his

the result of accident.

blind.

born

'

You

are

He

ignorant,

how beautiful
then,'she said, of the effect of light,
it is ; nor can you conceive the glory
and
and pleasant
of the sun.'
I have never,'he said, enjoyed
splendour
I
the sightof that beautiful object,
nor
can
I believe it to be
form any idea of it ; nevertheless,
then seemed
glorious.'The blind man
surpassingly
and assuminga tone
to change his voice and manner,
he continued, should
of authority,
My example,'
'

'

'

'

'

Bernardin

de Saint-Pierre : Paul

et

Virginie.

ISO

HALLUCINATIONS

is sometimes

so

it enables the person to

tance,
placedat a considerable dis-

great,that

substances
distinguish
and

are

of which

those around

him

are

conscious.
quiteun-

influence of
deny the extraordinary
but there
atmosphereupon certain organizations,
would

Some
the

IN

numerous

aware

of

facts which

peraments
prove the existence of temthat their possessor is
so
susceptible,
coming atmospheric
changeslong before

they take place.

The

character affords an

moral

for observation.

All

those who

equallycurious field
have loved strongly

passionbestows on them a kind of

which reveals the woman
whom
vision,
supernatural
signs; she is not
theylove or hate by unappreciable
yet nevertheless they feel conscious of her
seen,
know

that the

presence.
To presentiments
are

allied antipathies
and
closely

viduals
sympathies.Well-authenticated cases show that indikind of shudder
the
have experienced
a
on
danger.
approach of an enemy, or any unknown
of carefully
had the opportunity
Some
years ago we
instinctive feeling,
an
noticinga ladywho possessed
itself immediately
manifested
which
precedingher
introduction to a stranger The sensation which she
was
alwaysconfirmed by the result.
experienced
but
Much
presentiments,
might be said concerning
the subject.
forbear from enteringfurther on
we
and serious minds
rejectsuch
Unimpressionable
but sensitive persons believe in them.
doctrines,
most

borne

instances
out

they are

not

realized

where

In

theyare

niscences
the result,
they consist either of remiof a simplecoincidence.
Nevertheless,

by
or

that any

unexpected event, any

constant
a
a
restlessness,
change
strong conviction,
in the habits,
a sudden
feelingof fear,may giverise
which it would be unwise to reject
to presentiments
it is

quitecertain

NIGHTMARE

with

AND

This
incredulity.
systematic
to

seems

in

us

with what

accordance

is observed

181

DKEAMS.

with

view of the matter

sense, and

common

to take

place.
Presentiments
therefore explained,
in
are
causes
cases, by natural
; yet, without
many
chargedwith a love of the marvellous,may

great

being
not

we

which seem
to deviate
say that there are occurrences
from the ordinary
of events,and at least depend
course
known
which
upon relations stillmost imperfectly
"

exist between
man

or

on

"

the

exalted condition of

an

connected

are

and
spiritual

with that class

physicalnature of
the nervous
system ;
of phenomena which

included under

?
magnetism and somnambulism
Example 67. Mademoiselle R., who was possessed
of an excellent understanding,
and who was
religious
without being bigoted,
before her marriage,
resided,
with her uncle,a medical man
of eminence,and a
are

member
some

of the Institute.
distance

from

At

this time

mother, who lived in the

under a dangerousdisease.
labouring

that she

to

not

was

the

one,

of

cure

Spain,while

surrounded
Parisian

the other

she heard her mother

her

Christian

persons

who

name,

the

was

that she beheld

menting
die,and laby her children,
had emigrated
parish,
to

at Paris.

sently
Pre-

call her several times

by

in her
name
saw,
; she
her mother,and
surrounded

that she
same

at

was

her

country,and was
One nightthis young
ladydreamed
her mother
about
pale,melancholy,
of whom

she

askingfor

was

go into the next

invalid made

daughterwho
whom

dream, the
ing
who, thinkher granddaughter
of the
to fetch her,when
room

signs to them
in Paris,and

was

she

wished

to

see.

that
not

it
her

Her

her

was

daughter,
grandlook

pressed
ex-

the greatestgrief
at her absence ; all at once
her countenance
the pallorof
changed; it assumed

death,and
The next

she sank

down

lifelesson

day Mademoiselle

her bed.

E., seemingvery

much

182

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

D. beggedher to tell him the cause

of her
depressed,
of her dream,
grief.She related to him the particulars
which
weighed so heavily upon her spirits.D.,
findingher in this state of mind, pressedher to his
heart,and told her that the information was onlytoo

true, for her mother

dead ; but

was

entered

he

into

further

no

explanations.
Mademoiselle
months
after,

Some

of her uncle's absence

order, found
"What

letter which

to

had

vantage
R-.,takingadput his papers in
laid aside.

been

on
readingin it all the parsurprise
ticulars
which had passedin her dream,and which D.
had passedover
to cause
in silence,
being unwilling
her further excitement when her mind was
alreadyso
aifected.
strongly
made to us by the ladyherself,
This statement
was
in whom
confidence.
we
placethe most perfect
Great
caution is necessary in judging of such
the one justrecorded ; the explanation
occurrences
as
which has been appliedto the clergyman's
dream,
mentioned
by Abercrombie (p.175),mightbe brought

her

was

forward

in the

present case
do
explanations

but

confess

must

we

satisfy
us, and that
of the
these events seem
rather to belong to some
of our being.
deepestmysteries
shall relate
As bearingupon these reflections,
we
the following
anecdote,mentioned
by Dr. Sigmond,

that

these

who

received it from

not

the widow

privatesecretaryand friend
One
day,in the presence of
had turned

of M.

Colmache, the
of M. de Talleyrand.
the minister,
the conversation
of those sudden
subject

upon the
warningswhich have been looked upon
from the world of spirits
to man
observed
any

note

that it would

be

Example68.

"

difficultto find

had not, in the course

somethingof the kind.
who

as

of his

cations
communisome
a

man

one

of

life,
rienced
expe-

"
remember," said Talleyrand,
upon

NIGHTMAEE

occasion,having

one

with

moment,
know

not

never

once

to

an

been

this moment

life. Without

I should
inspiration

tale.

I had

friend Beaumetz.
whom

with

whence

it

that
not

came

that

sudden

have been

single

one

nameless

returned,and yet upon

it saved my
my

gifted,for
and

unknown

183

DEEAMS.

AND

I
power.
; it has

one

occasion

and

rious
myste-

here

to

tell

with my
a shipin concert
freighted
He was
a good fellow,
Beaumetz,

I had

ever

lived

on

the most

intimate

stormy times, when it needed

but almost
to bind men
not onlyfriendship
together,
I could not
godlikecourage to show that friendship,
strations
but prizemost
highlyall his bold and loyaldemonterms

and

in those

of kindness

and attachment

to

me.

I had

to doubt his friendship.On

the
singlereason
he had givenme, on several occasions,
most
contrary,
positive
proofof his devotion to my interest and wellbeing. We had fled from France ; we had arrived at
New
York
together,and we had lived in perfect
harmony during our stay there. So, after having
resolved upon
improvingthe little money that was
it was, still in partnership
and
left by speculation,
that we
small vessel for India,
a
freighted
together,
friended
trustingto all the goodly chances which had bein our
us
escape from danger and from
to brave the
more
death,to venture once
conjointly
of a yet longerand more
turous
advenand perils
storms
embarked
for our
Everythingwas
voyage.
all paid,
and farewells all taken,
departure
; bills were
and we were
waitingfor a fair wind with most eager
beingpreparedto embark at any hour of
expectation,
in obedience to the warning of the
the day or night,
seemed to irritate
captain. This state of uncertainty
the temper of poor Beaumetz
to an
extraordinary
degree,and, unable to remain quietlyat home, he
hurried to and from the citywith an eager, restless
for
which at times excited my astonishment,
activity,
not

184

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

great calmness and

of temper. One day he entered our
lodging,
placidity
labouringunder great excitement,although
evidently
commanding himself to appear calm. I was engaged
in writingletters to Europe ; and
at that moment
lookingover my shoulder,he said,with forced gaity,

he had

'

What

ever

been

need

to waste

they will
me,

and

let

time in

reach

never
us

for

remarkable

take

penning those

Come

their destination.
turn

the

on

letters ?
with

Battery; perhaps

choppinground ; we may be nearer

our
departurethan we imagine.' The day was very
blowing hard, and I
fine,although the wind was
suffered myselfto be persuaded. Beaumetz, I remembered
unusual officiousan
afterwards,
displayed
in aidingme
to close my desk and put away my
ness
papers, handing me, with hurried eagerness, my hat
and cane, and doing other services to quicken my
departure,which at the time I attributed to the
with
restless desire for change,the love of activity
devoured
he seems
to have been
which
during the
whole periodof our
delay. We walked through the
had seized my
streets to the Battery. He
crowded
and hurried me
along,seeminglyin eager haste
arm,
the wind

to

be

may

When

advance.

arrived

had

we

the

at

broad

esplanade the glorythen,as now, of New York

Beaumetz
quickenedhis step still more, until we
talked loud
arrived close to the water's edge. He
and quickly,
admiringin energeticterms the beauty
the shadygroves
of the scenery, the Brooklynheights,
the shipsridingat anchor,and the busy
of the island,
he paused
the peopledwharf,when suddenly
on
scene
"

"

in his

mad,

incoherent

discourse

"

for I had

freed my
before him.

his grasp, and stood immovable

Stayinghis wild and rapidsteps,I fixed my
and
turned
his face.
He
aside,cowed

arm

'

from

Beaumetz,'

shouted,

'

you

mean

eye upon

dismayed.

to murder

me

NIGHTMARE

185

DREAMS.

AND

from the heightinto the sea

you intend to throw me
below.
Deny it,monster, if you can.' The maniac
for a moment
stared at me
care
especial
; but I took
my gaze from his countenance, and he
a few incoherent
quailedbeneath it. He stammered

not

avert

to

words, and

strove

with extended
and
left,

but I barred his passage

looked vacantlyrightand

to pass me,

He

arms.

upon my neck, and burst

'tis true, my friend ! The

flunghimself

then

into tears.

'

thought has

haunted

'Tis true

"

day

me

from

the lurid fire of hell.

you

here.

edge

of

would

Look

the

have

his eye
bubbles
tossed

on

by

his

the

white
but

excitement

mad

foot of the

instant

demon

the

parched lips;

night,like a flash
for this I brought

within

The

done.'

same

was

in another

parapet:

unsettled,and

was

It

stand

! you

been

and

he

the

work

had

left him

foam

stood

was

under

in

longer

no

which

he

to lead him
for he suffered me
labouring,
A
few days'repose,
home
without
a
singleword.
abstinence,
bleeding,
completelyrestored him to his
former self,
the circumstance
and, what is most extraordinary,

had been

was

Eate
It

metz

between

us.

watching by the bed-side

received letters which
Talleyrand

whilst

was

to return
to

mentioned

My

at work."

was

friend that
him

never

to

; he

France

did so, and

alone.
prosecute the speculation

of his
enabled

left BeauThe

Prince

Talleyrandcould never
speak of the precedingevent
without
shuddering,and to the latest hour of his
for an instant gifted
existence believed that
he was
with an extraordinary
and during a quick and
light,
revealed to
vivid flash the possible
and the true was
a strong and
powerfulmind," and that upon this the
whole
of his destinyhinged.
This speciesof momentary
is
exaltation,"
says Dr. Sigmond, "which
with the most
but is remembered
not againrepeated,
"

"

186

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

vivid

is what is more
known
impression,
immediately
o" fantasia."* In France
it is named
by the name
presentiment

We

have

read, in the Souvenirs

statement:
following

de Madame

de

Crequi,the
Example 69. The Prince Radziwil had adopted
of his orphan nieces.
She resided at a chateau
one
in Gallicia. In the chateau was
a
largehall,which
separatedthe apartments of the princefrom those of
his children,
and throughwhich it was
necessary to
out
to the other,withpass, in order to get from the one
going into the open air. The young Agnes, only
"

five

or

taken

six years of age, screamed every time she

through the great hall,pointingwith an
of terror

of

looked

was

pression
ex-

the Sibyl
picturerepresenting
hung over the door. For a long
to

Cuma, which
time they endeavoured
which

was

upon

to
as

this repugnance,
childish fancy; but the

overcome
a

effects of these

the child

that at

own

serious to
so
attemptswere
lengthshe was permittedto have her

twelve years she continued to traverse

clemencie
court or the garden,exposedto all the in-

and for ten

the

open

or

of the
the

weather,rather

doorwaywhich producedsuch

The

way,

time

married,and

pass

through

of
feeling

alarm.

to be
the young countess was
largepartyhad assembled at the chateau

came
a

than

when

eveningthe company proceeded

where
the wedding dance
to the great hall,
had alwaystaken place. Animated
by the youthful
around her,Agnes entered into all the amuse*
spirits
of her friends.
ments
however, had she
Scarcely,
passed beneath the doorway than she wished to
over
retreat,and acknowledgedthe fear which came
her.
They had made her,as was usual,pass in first,
and her uncle,laughher friends,
and her betrothed,

for the occasion.

Forbes Winslow's

In the

Journal,vol.
Psychological

i. p. 586.

188

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

appearedto him, and proposedthat he should finish

for hiin,providedhe would give him his
the sonata
he continued
soul. Carried away by the hallucination,
and accepted
his dream
the devil's proposition
; he
heard the long-desired
sonata executed
then distinctly
the violin ;
in a most charmingand effectivemanner
on
after this he awoke
to
in a transportof delight,
ran
the ending which
his desk,and wrote
from memory
This is,perhaps,the most
he heard in his dream.
instance of this kind of hallucination

remarkable

on

record.*
Condorcet

that,when engaged in
often
he was
calculations,

related of himself

profoundand obscure
state and retire
to leave them in an incomplete
obliged
than
to rest ; and that the remainingstepshad more
themselves in his dreams. Dr. Franklin
once
presented
Cabanis that the bearingsand issue of
also informed
events,which had puzzledhim when awake,
political
unfolded to him in his dreams.
not unfrequently
were
Hernias says it was whilst he slepthe heard a voice
some

dictate to him

the

Some

Pasteur.

work

which

he

maintain

persons

has

entitled the

the Divina

Corn-

by a dream.
suggested
Galen
became
a
physicianin consequence of a
a
dream, in which Apolloappearedto him on two
him immediately
different occasions,
and commanded
to devote himself to the studyof medicine.
nected
that dreams may presenta conIt is well known
series of events
so
that,
represented
forcibly
the dreamer
starts from his sleepwith his mind
as
stronglyimpressedby what has passed,it requires

media

was

some

evidence

been
are

to

convince

him

that the whole

has

which
Dreams
of his imagination.
offspring
several successive
marked
on
thus strongly
may recur
nights. I remember," says M. A. Maury,in
the

"

Moreau, de

la Sarthe

Melanges de

Litterature.

NIGHTMARE

his Memoire

AND

(p.31), "to

during the

of

189

DREAMS.

have

dreamed

eighttimes,

month, of a person who

always had the same
figureand appearance, but of
I had not the slightest
whom
knowledge,and who,
most
probably,only existed in my imagination."
"What was
stillmore
he frequently
continued
strange,
in
actions,
duringa dream, which he had commenced
the preceding
one.
It often happensthat dialogues
carried on in a
are
dream.
These may relate to every variety
of subject,
not only occupying,
but wearyingthe mind
during
its sleep,
discussion in which
it does not
by some
feel that it has even
the advantageof its adversary.
There is the impressionof two distinct individuals
of whom
one
holdingopposite
opinions,
triumphsover
the other,and yet it is one
and the same
person.
Saint Augustin relates the following
case
:
of education,who
devoted
Example 71. A man
himself to the studyof Plato,stated that one
night,
before he had retired to rest,he saw
a philosopher,
with whom
he was
to him,and expound
come
intimate,
to him certain propositions
in Plato ; a thingwhich
course

one

"

he had hitherto refused to do.

asked

this

how
philosopher

these

house,when

to

matters

he had

it
him

refused

The
was

next

day,having

that he

in another

to do

"

so

had

plained
ex-

person's

in his own, the

nothing of the

philosopherreplied, I have done

kind, althoughI did dream that I had."
Thus," adds Saint Augustin, the one beingperfectly
and
heard
of
awake, saw
a phantom
by means
what the other experienced
in a dream."
"For my own
part,"he further observes,"if the
had been related to me
matter
by any ordinary
person,
I should have rejected
it as- unworthy of belief;but
the individual in question
not one
who was
was
likely
"

"

to have been
*

Saint

deceived."*

Augustin: Cite de Dieu, liv. xviii. ch.

xviii.

190

HALLUCINATIONS

The

IN

hallucinations of dreams

rated
oblitegenerally
pression,
on
waking up, or, if they leave a partialiminfluence on the
they have no perceptible
conduct ; this,however,is not the case when theyare
when
the precursors of mental
disease,nor
they
occur
duringsleepin the insane ; theythen become
extremelyvivid,and are firmlyengraven on the
dreams have been mentioned
Pathological
memory.
and there can
be no
doubt that at
by all observers,
times they may afford useful indications.
the

G-alen mentions
of his

one

this

same

The
that he

an

invalid who

dreamed

of stone; and soon

afterwards
struck with paralysis.

Conrad

bitten

was

of

made

legswas
legwas

learned

case

are

on

Gresner

dreamed

the left side of his

night
chest by a

one

long after,a serious disease showed

which
itself at this part in the form of a carbuncle,
terminated his existence in about five days. Nervous,
often precededby
mental
and especially
are
diseases,
dreams.
extraordinary
Odier,of Geneva, was consulted in 1778 by a lady
of Lyons,who, the nightbefore she was attacked with
dreamed
that her mother-in-law
to
came
insanity,
for the purpose of
her with a dagger in her hand
her. This impression
was
so
strong,that it was
killing
prolongedinto the waking state,and acquiredsuch
that it ultimately
lancholy
an
produceda fixed meintensity
and all the characters of actual insanity.
and a preoccupied
state
A tendencyto mysticism
serpent;

not

of the mind

have the

may

same

effect.

Example 72. In the year 1610," says Yan

long meditation,by which I was
Helmont^ 't:"fter
and during which I had endeavoured
greatlyexhljftisted,
to obtain some
knowledgeof the nature of
carried
soul,I fell asleep. Soon after I was
my
human
and I
reason,
beyond the realms of mere
and obscurely-lighted
chamin a large
found myself
"

ETGHTMABE

ber ;

righthand I saw a table with a

which spoketo
a
it,containing
liquor,

on

upon

191

DREAMS.

A.KD

follows

my
'

Do

you

desire honour

and riches ?'

bottle
me

as
was

I paced about,
hearingthese words.
On my
myselfwhat this could mean.
questioning
in the wall,through
a window
righthand I perceived
made
whose brilliancy
which there came
me
a
light,
and changed the
forget the words of the liquid,
of my thoughts; for I was
current
contemplating
thingswhich surpassedall description.The light
lasted but an instant,and with a feeling
of desolation
I returned to my
bottle,and carried it away
I felt desirous of tastingthe contents,
with me.
I succeeded in openand, with considerable difficulty,
ing
I
with
o
f
awoke.
This
a feeling
it,when,
horror,
left me
with a strong desire to know
occurrence
my
wish
for
which lasted
soul,a
three-and-twenty
years,
that is to say, until 1633, when I had a vision,
during

astounded

at

very soul manifested itselfto my astonished

sight.It consisted of a perfectly
homogeneous light,

which

my

and brilliantspiritual
essence.
composedof a crystalline
like a pea in its husk,
contained in an envelope
It was

and I heard
you

saw

voice which

the intellectual

operatedon
whoever

'

said to me,
Behold
what
throughthe openingin the wall.' This vision
a

should behold

body would

part of

his soul with

my nature ; for
the eyes of his

be blinded."*

obliterated from
completely
may become
the mind of the person, so that he entirely
forgets
had such a dream.
that he ever
The

This

dream

circumstance

of the
probablyexplainssome
presumedinstances of second sight.
The
portant
sleepof the maniac has always afforded iminformation.
Esquirolwas so convinced of
this,that he has frequently
passed the night in
*

Van
p. 269.

Ortus Medicince
Amsterodami,1643.
Helmont

Imago Mentis,"c,

vol. i.

192

HALLTTCrNATIONS

EN"

them

watching
his

Leuret,

his

in
that

reason

and

perceptions
judge

if

minds

be

would

dreams
The

maniac,
had

violent
him

his

and

voice

resisted

when

she

fixed, and

to

awake

continued

days after, the

the

with

their

dreams,

their

up

between

exists

and

attended,

which

and

ideas

same

themselves

who
wards
after-

week

the

opinion.

this

troubled

pointed

been

already

had

had

that

agitated

during sleep,

commence

successive

several

during

nights,

the

day.

successive

her

"

Kill

it

drove
but

the

during

unhappy

thy daughter.

woman

the

idea

from

her

At

sacrificed

The

first

thoughts

ultimately

waking

are

nights,

this, and

was

mix

heard, for three

saying

she

night.

during

their

has

realities

as

Schoul
.

the

sound.

which
for

length regarded

widow

ideas

insanity.

continued

are

in

the

to

occurs

not

was

in

hallucinations

Some

did

also

of lunatics

during

supports

feelings presented

during

have

Gregory

dreams,

revealing

number

occasionally

perfectly recovered,

warded
re-

insanity.

what

case

Dr.

whom

with

at

of

insanity

following

been

JPsychologiques,has

they

which
the

has

day, according

they

DEEAMS.

patient

certain

perfectly

and

the
his

happens

coincidence

out.

are

correctly
what

the

of

which

conversation

The

cause

the

state, and

waking

by

Fragmens

during

AND

perseverance

once

there

who

They

the

sleep

remarked,

his

than

more

during

and

NIGHTMARE

state.

her

became
Some
child.

193

CHAPTER

hallucinations

in
and

IX.

somnambulism.

Hallucinations
authors who

All

magnetism,

animal

ecstasy,

in

Ecstasy.

treated of

have

ecstasyare agreed

impliesan habitual elevation of the

of those who
ideas and feelings
it,far
experience
mental average ; to this is joined
beyondthe ordinary
and consequently
great concentration of the thoughts,
abnormal condition of mind and body. An excepan
tion
must, however, be made with regardto religious
that this state

devotees and
conditions

the

insane

exercise

over

the influence which

the

these

body may give rise to

of ordinaryintellect.

of ecstasy in persons
The most remarkable ecstatics have been carried away
morality,
by an extreme regardfor religion,
poetry,
states

for philosophy
fine arts,the sciences,
or
; they
of the Deity
have been givenup to the contemplation
the

or

of nature.

most

condition of the

This

favourable

to

the

existence

of

mind

is also

hallucinations,

in the ecstatic.
they are very common
Count Emanuel
Example 73. The celebrated visionary,
Sweclenborg,
imaginedhe had the singular
ness
happiof enjoying
frequentinterviews with the world
of spirits,
with minute
and has favoured mankind
of the scenes
he visited and the conversations
descriptions

and hence

Himself," says he,in

letter prefixed
to his Theosoplric
Lucubrations," was
he heard.

"

The

graciously
pleasedto
unworthy servant,in

Lord

manifest
a

Himself

to

personalappearance
o

me,

his

in the

194

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

ECSTASY,

ANIMAL

a
1743, to open to me
sightof the spiritual
with spirits
and
world,and to enable me to converse
has continued with me
to
angels; and this privilege
this day."

year

the visions
Example 74. Very similar to this were
of John Engelbrecht,
who, after passingmany years
in a state of the most
gloomy and agonizingdespondency,
in which he had frequently
been tempted to
commit
to his friends and
suicide,
appearedat length,
to himself,
to die,
and to be restored againto life,
and
fancied he had visited,
during the short space from
his supposeddeath to his resuscitation,
first hell,
and
afterwards

heaven,and

was

from that time

freed from

his

which he had exchangedfor the oppomelancholy,

site
emotions of religious
joy.
The following
is the particular
account which he
in this singular
state :
givesof what he experienced
It was
on
Thursday noon, about twelve o'clock,
that death was
when I distinctly
making his
perceived
from the lower parts upwards
approaches
upon me
I had
insomuch, that my whole body becoming stiff,
neither in
left in my hands and feet,
no
more
feeling
I at last
was
any other part of my whole body ; nor
became very
able to speak or see, for my mouth now
stiff I was
no
longerable to open it,nor did I feel
it any longer. My eyes also broke in my head in
that I distinctly
such a manner,
feltit. But, for all
said when
what was
that,I understood
they were
that theysaid
prayingby me ; and I heard distinctly
and cold
to another, Fray feelhis legs how stiff
one
with him.''
be soon
over
theyhave become; it will now
but had no perceptionof
This I heard
distinctly,
"

"

"

"

"

And

their touch.

I
at midnight,
o'clock,

much

about

twelve

hearingfailed
seemed

to

me

"

and

the

when

watchman

distinctly
; and
midnight the bodily

heard that too

o'clock at
left

cried eleven

me

too.

taken up with my

Then

whole

was

"

as

body,and

it

it

196

hallucinations

I had

manner,

in

recovered

animal

ecstasy,

strengthagain to

my

such

greatadvantage."
Arnold

"
that the pretended
npon this case,
death was of an exceedingly
short duration ; for Engelbrecht himself tells us, that the ivliole
process was but of

remarks

moment's

that
continuance,

o'clock at

when
midnight,

lefthim,

and

o'clock

the

ecstatic

After

hiin.

that when

it

his

much

about twelve

failedand
bodily
hearing

the watchman

rapture

this he had

was

for

cried twelve

had

fullypassed upon
several years frequent

visions and revelations."*

Ecstasy,being a phenomenon of over-excitement

of the nervous
at all
likelyto occur
system, was
periodswhen the minds of peoplewere
agitatedby
and* by religious
which involved
fanaticism,
opinions
either great fears or great hopes. From
this it is
also evident that it would be more
generalin times
of ignorance
than when
civilizationhad
an
advancing
enabled the reason
to control the imagination.
It is, however, most
important to distinguish
between what we shall term physiological
ecstasyand
morbid
ecstasy. In other words, we consider that
the reason, and
ecstasymay have no influence over
may onlyconsist in enthusiasm carried to the highest
degree,while,on the other hand, it may giverise to
and unreasonable
acts.
extravagant,reprehensible,
Let us
add, that it is often extremelydifficult to
define the precise
boundaries between the two, which
.

is no
of

than may
existence.

more

our

This

be said of many

division enables

us

to

other conditions

arrange

in

one

class

celebrated
many
resulted from profound

and
prophets,saints,philosophers,

persons

whose

ecstasies have

meditation,from
from
or
thoughts,
*

a
a

enlightenmentof their
intuition ; while in
supernatural
sudden

See Arnold : Observations ontlie Nature, Kinds, Causes,and

Prevention ofInsanity,
vol. i. p. 295.
Loudon, 1806.

197

SOMNAMBULISM.

AND

MAGNETISM,

pythoness of
Middle
Ages,
the Illumithe nuns
of Loudun, the Convulsionists,
Madame
enthusiasts.
nati,and many other religious
have created so much
noise in
Guyon, whose opinions
the world,says herself that,in her most exalted condition,
she saw
God and his angels.
It would
seem
probablethat the ecstatic state
would
only have been manifested in those whose
theless,
itself. Neverhad had time to develope
imagination
be ranged the
class may
the celebrated sects of the
antiquity,

the

other

we

read in the

Theatre

des

sacre

Cevennes

children of the age of eightor six years,

and were
younger, fell into a state of ecstasy,

(p.20),that
or

even

able to

preachand

to

prophesylike

other

ecstatics.

of the
children
greater number
at Amsterdam
brought up in the hospital
girlsas
well as boys,to the number
of sixtyor seventy
disease : they
attacked by an
were
extraordinary
In

1566

the

"

"

climbed

over

the walls and

upon

the

tiles like cats.

frightful
; theyspoke in foreign
things,
languages,
they uttered the most astonishing
and even
revealed what was
passingat the time in
the municipalcouncil.
One
of these children announced
of the
to a certain Catharine Gerardi,one
of the hospital,
that her son, Jean
superintendents
Nicolai,purposedleavingfor the Hague, where he
went
to the
would come
to no
good. This woman
side of the Basilicon where she arrived,
just as the,
Their appearance

Council
that

His

was

had broken

Nicolai
mother

leavingfor
he
question,

was

It seems
up, and found her son.
himself a member
of the Council.

asked him
the

if it were

Hague.

admitted

that

true that he intended

Much
it

was

at

the

but when

he

disturbed
so

of the children who

had revealed

he returned,and informed
intention,
of it,who, findingthat the projectwas
entreated the party to abandon it.

the consuls

learnt that it was

his

one

discovered,

198

HALLUCINATIONS

ECSTASY,

ANTMAL

escapedin partiesof ten or twelve,

in the publicplaces. They went
to
whom
theyrevealed the most secret

children

These
and

IN

about

ran

the Provost,to
of his conduct.
portions

We

are

assured

even

that

they discovered several plotswhich had been formed

againstthe Protestants.*
These phenomena were
probablydue to an exalted
and
condition of the mind, fostered by persecutions
by the spiritof imitation. This condition did not
produceany developmentof the intellect different to
disease in Sweden,
what was
observed in the preaching
the
shall notice hereafter,
and in which
which
we
persons merely stated thingsthey had heard and
but which
rendered
known
were
more
previously,
vivid by the cerebral excitement.
Ecstasymay show itself under various conditions,
of which

of

one

the

remarkable

most

is that

of

catalepsy.
when
the fit has
The majorityof the cataleptic,
passed,speak of the indescribable joys they have
of the frightful
phantoms theyhave seen,
experienced,
intercourse
visions and the angelic
or of the heavenly
vations
wrhich theyhave witnessed.
Many remarkable obserof this kind

may

be

met

with

in medical

writers.
of low
aged twenty-four,
Example 75. A woman,
went
to
originand without education,occasionally
with the greatestattention to the
church,listening
sacred word ; this led her to a true repentanceand
hatred of sin. One
to a horror and
day,when she
she became
to the preacher,
was
suddenly
listening
deprivedof motion and sensation. When the service
found fixed as a statue,perfectly
terminated she was
her eyes open and directed towards heaven.
insensible,
At

the end
*

Van

of

an

Dale

hour
Be

she

recovered

pref.pp.
Iclololatria,

herself.
18 et 19.

To

those who
been

her
questioned

she

of all external

unconscious

109

SOMNAMBULISM.

AND

MAGNETISM,

stated

that she had

that
objects,

she had

and compared her condition to that of

ill,
deep sleep. She had beheld her Saviour,and had
sensations.
This
experiencedthe most delightful
not

felt

condition
the

recurred

as

many

hundred

times

in

and
forty days sometimes
slighter
sometimes longerand more
shorter,
profound; but in
space

of

as

"

all the attacks she

was

appliedto the eyes

and even
not noticed,

strongestammonia
frictioDs with it
of the skin had

During

were

no

insensible to the action of the

effect

the attack the

warmth

and colour of the

state.

Almost

she

could

on

as

soon

as

her

nostrils ;

or

punctures

her.
the
pulse,the respiration,
body,remained in its usual
the attack

had terminated

usual

occupation
; all the
functions of the body were
and properly
regularly
performed. For nearlyfourteen days she abstained
from eatingand drinking. What
is remarkable,the
after she had listened
came
on
generally
paroxysms
to the singingof psalms or to the readingof the
when
she would
ardent love
Scriptures,
express an
for Christ.
This affection,
which had resisted all
of treatment,was
cured by change of air and
means
return

to

exercise.*
with hysteria.It has
Ecstasyis often complicated
that hysterical
have
women
long been remarked
visions and hallucinations in the

same

manner

as

the

ecstatic.
The

narrative
following

from

in-the School of Medicine

the connexion

between

Dr.
at

Sanderet,professor
Besancon, shows

these conditions of the

nervous

system.
Example 76. In the villageof Yoray (Haute
or
Saone),seven
eightmiles from Besancon,resided
*

Frederici Hoffmanni

p. 50.

Opera Medica,

t. iii. sect. i. cap. iv.

200

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

ECSTASY,

ANIMAL

girl,Alexandrine
Lanois, aged seventeen.
young
Her countenance
possessedno characteristic expression
a

; her

simple,quiet,and good,and
until the following
events
took place,
she had never
attracted any particular
attention. Her parentswere
for her living,
and assisted
poor people; she worked
manners

were

her mother

word,
was

In
had

in the management
of the house.
In a
she
accordingto the expressionof the priest,

person of the
the month
of

pleurisyon

for about
under

greatestobscurity.
February,1850, this young girl
her left side. After being well
she had a relapse,
and was
again

month

medical

treatment

attack of intermittent
and
fifteen

then

this

was

followed

fever,assuming at

tertian

form.

At

first
the

by

an

quotidian
of
end

of
daysthis was cured by the use of sulphate
quinine.
heard of this illness,
was
when, in
Nothing more
the beginning of the June
following,she had an
affection of the nerves,
accompaniedby hysterical
which
occurred
fits,
twenty or thirtytimes during
the day, lasting,
however, for only a few minutes.
At these times the girlbecame
quiteunconscious,
and it requiredseveral persons to control her movements.
This state only lasted for a few days,and
under the use
of antispasmodics.
disappeared
At the end of July,the states of ecstasy commenced.
Every attack was periodical
; she sleptfor
awake
for twenty-four
twelve, and then remained
hours.
All the precautions
recommended
dical
by the meoccupyingthe
man, such as employment,dancing,
useless ;
were
mind, rest, muscular exertion,
utterly
the fit came
and went
at the appointedmoment.
She
would
the approach of the attack,saying,
announce
I am going
declare
," and, when restored to herself,
she had been in paradise.Now, also,she began to
"

recite prayers, to
further.

under

the

The

who

singpsalmsand hymns, but nothing

the end of twelve

At

use

days these

givenme

upon Alexandrine
of her illness.

in
afterwards,
but the
reappeared,

Six weeks

was

was

attended

commencement

attacks

visions terminated

of cold baths.

precedingaccount

had

reversed.

201

SOMNAMBULISM.

AND

MAGNETISM,

The

attack

now

M.

Lanois

the month
course

by

Jeunin,
from

the

of

of

lasted

October,the
the phenomena
for twenty-four

It was
hours,and the waking state for only twelve.
I happened to be passingthrough
at this time, when
that I was
the village,
to
requestedby a piouswoman
this miraculous
see
girl.It was about four o'clock in
told I must
and I was
the afternoon,
be quick,if I
wished to see her in her waking state,for .the attack
I found
would
her in a small,
at four.
commence
which was
filledwith people,
who
badly-lighted
room,
there out of curiosity
she was
were
; they told me
going off. I looked at my watch, and it was exactly
two minutes
past four.
laid on her bed,her countenance
She was
perfectly
composed,her eyes closed,but the lids in perpetual
motion ; her limbs were
supple,and fell back gently
when
and involuntarily,
lifted up.
The respiration
was
regularand even ; the pulse was quick. Her
hands were
her chest.
After a
nearlyjoinedacross
few minutes,she rubbed them gentlytogether. Her
observed to me
mother
that she was
about
to sing,
a
and, in fact,she had commenced
song in a clear,
voice,without any effort,but in a voice
thrilling
unlike her own.
Although her song consisted of
in which
she
country ballads,yet, from the manner
sang, it

was

not

unmusical.

When

I raised the eyelid,

the eye was rapidly

affected by the light
; repeated
trials producedan accumulation
of fluid at the ex-

202

HALLUCINATIONS

ternal

corner

but

she

IN

of the left eye.

felt

nothing;

hand, but with

complete.

the

she
Presently,

"

to

She

the

remove

is about

to

coverings
rise,"said

and grace, she

At
the assistance of her hands.

ease
and, with surprising

raised herself without

first she sat

even

endeavoured

pinched her hard,

ran
a
pin into her
her insensibility
was

result ;

same

at the foot of the bed.

her mother

ANIMAL

ECSTASY,

a
then,without disarranging
stood up in a kind of
singlefold of her white petticoat,
formed
recess
by the curtains ; her head was slightly
her arms
inclined forwards and to the right,
hung
down, with the palms of the hands directed forwards
and at some
distance from the sides of her body ; the
left legwas
bent,and the hipswere somewhat
slightly

down,

and

inclined.
of
which
and
some

she

this state

In

an

is very common
is of a classical

what

in this

design.

and

guidedby

sentation
repre-

Conception,
the country,

Alexandrine

then

said

words

singing,her

stand
under-

that I could not

she said.

body, they

even

natural

part of

the

but, unlike
so
confused,

I several times raised the

the

most

image of the Immaculate

prayers ;
rapidand

were

formed

descended

continuous

arms

at

gentlyand

motion

than if

the will. I endeavoured

to

rightanglesto
with

theyhad
placethe

more

been
arms

body,and to alter the direction of the

theyhave
hands,but theyalwaysresumed the position
At length,
she folded her arms
across
in the statue.
her,laid herself on her bed, and became motionless,
I have just
again,after a time,to repeat the scene
close to the

described.

fatigued
by my experiments,
and her
her forehead was
covered with perspiration,
usual,
mother was
as
surprised,
by somethingwhich w as unher
of suffering
on
at the expression
depicted
The

invalid seemed

204

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

rest,at this time,renewed

belief that the whole
interest which

we

ECSTASY,

and

affair was

ANIMAL

increased the
a

miracle-.

general
The only-

attach to it is its announcement

of

the

time of the attack.

precise
One day in the week, Alexandrine,sorrowful and
her
went, for the purpose of diverting
deepin thought,
who resided near
the
mind, to one of her companions,
with her
parsonage house. As she was walkingalong,
clothed in
eyes cast down, she beheld before her a lady,
white ; she took her, at first,
for au inhabitant of this
it was
her eyes, she perceived
world,but,upon raising
the Virgin,recognising
her
her by the crown
upon
brow. The Virginspoketo her for a longtime,informed
her of the return of her attacks,
and that they would
then
She
last longerthan the previousones.
dually
grafall at her feet.
a chaplet
disappeared,
letting
Alexandrine,
weeping,entered the parsonage house,
venture,
in broken
and related,
sentences,her miraculous adin confirmation of which the chapletwas
worth about
found before the door ; it was
a chaplet
Thus the phenomena have proceeded,
two sous.
dually
gramencement,
becoming more
complicatedfrom the comof the
and more
and containing
more
marvellous,
up to the last circumstance,of which the
reader will readily
perceivethe purport and meaning
which had been
when he calls to mind the curiosity
and which daily
this young
excited concerning
girl,
increased
until it passed beyond all reasonable
bounds.
the 5th

of

January,Dr.

Druhen

accompanied
to Voray. He found the facts of the case
me
justas
to him, but,in order to satisfy
I had related them
himself of certain phenomena,he repeated
my tests,
For instance,
he
of his own.
and also added some
under
suddenlyplaceda bottle of strong ammonia
On

the nose,

but without

the

also netized
magher,but in vain.
questioned

the least effect.

and
patient.,

He

MAGNETISM,

The

AND

112, and

205

SOMNAMBULISM.

the

The
22.
respiration
attacks were
hours, as
periodical,
lastingthirty-six
the white ladyhad foretold ; the waking periods
were
of twenty-four hours' duration.
While they lasted
and it was
the same
with the first attacks
nothing
At
from
the
time
of
her.
when the
our
visit,
passed
the bladder was
attack was
drawingto a close,
empty.
In the intervals she enjoysordinaryhealth,eating
and drinking,
and performingall the functions of the
other persons.
as
{Annates Medicobody the same
Avril,1811.)
psi/chologlques,
The periodicity
of the attacks induced me
to prescribe
the sulphate
of quinine. This was
afterwards
administered in largedoses by the medical man
at
Yoray,but without any beneficial result.
this Ecstatic of the Yosgesalong with
We
saw
M.
Duchenne, of Boulogne, MM.
Bouchut, and
Brown-Sequard. The two last provedher insensibility,
her diseased condition,
of a
and, therefore,
by means
of electricity.
She presentedto us
strong discharge
of prevision
the same
with regardto the
peculiarities

pulse was

"

"

"

of her

occurrence

We
with

of the

attacks and

hallucinations.

have

heard her, in these ecstatic states,converse

the Virgin and with angels,as if they were

present.

The

of her

harmonious

of her voice,the expression

air of beatitude which

tone

the
features,

spreadover her countenance, had somethingin it

extremelyattractive. Whether she expressedherself
in prose or verse, the subjects
of her discourse were
character.
She states that she
alwaysof a religious
has often been
entranced with the sightof heaven,
and that,in her ecstatic condition,
she has frequently
her father and her brother,
both of whom
have
seen
been dead for some
This young
girl,only
years.
has
twenty years of age, and of a pleasingfigure,
somethingabout her that prepossesses you in her
favour ; we
greatly
regretthat the proposalwe made
was

206

HALLTJCINATIOXS

of

IN

herself and

receivingboth

establishment

not

was

ANIMAL

ECSTASY,

her

for
accepted,

into

mother

truth and

our

science

hardlyhave failed to have been gainersby it.

The ecstasyof mysticismis principally
observed in
givento
persous of an ardent temperament who are
fastingand prayer, who have accustomed themselves
ascetic and contemplative
to lougwatchings,or to an
such practices
to the
mode of life. Persons carrying
selves
extreme
may, to a certain extent, producein themcould

of ecstasy.
77. Jeanne des

state

Rochers,a young woman

drawn
the court of Louis XIV., havingwithinto solitude in order to arrive at perfection
by
in a
of every kind,has related,
privations
practising
of her long marwork of three volumes, the history
tyrdom.
in the day,
I only ate," she says,
once
I heard,at the
and I onlysleptfor four hours.
foot of my cross, what it pleasedmy Saviour to communicate
works
to me.
lations,
My spiritual
prayers, ejaculasted for two days,and at
"c.
sometimes

Example
belongingto

"

"

...

"

"

those times I neither

devil would
to

me

cause

torment

months

behold

ate

me

nor

drank.

in every

the most

On

the form

...

For

lunatic,

of

most

hideous

man,

who

seemed

saw

to do

he uttered
with every blow he gave himself,
is for such a
frightful
cry, and said each time : That

the
a

and

sayinga prayer.
I
Palm
myself,
Sunday,while chastising

without
"

the

spectres. For
I was
killing

my eyes.
raise
I
that
might
myself
my soul to God.
like
fifteen daysI have walked in the forest,
never

Then

possible
manner,

horrible

closed

same

sin.
"

but

At
more

of great rapture,
feelings
experienced
I felt that I was
temptedby the
frequently

times I

devil."
One

of the most

that which has been

of ecstasyis
cases
extraordinary
related by several writers worthy

of credit
Edmond
under
:

_..

of

Professors

the

MM.

"

Cazales,Cerise,"c.
the

Example 78. Marie

October,1812, of a

and

"

which

had

de Marl

noble bnt poor

several

informed

was

Those

lost.

was

him

the

who

is known

the 16th

on

family. In
of

attacks

severe

Bore,

#
Tyrol.

born

was

twenty years of age,

she
noticed that occasionally
and that she seemed
questions,
she

When
his

Garres, Leon

of the Ecstatic of the

name

infancyshe

207

SOMNAMBULISM.

AND

MAGNETISM,

in

illness.

1832, her

did not
like

person

upon the young

placewhenever she

took
He

communion.

promised to

fessor
con-

replyto

attended

that this

her

watch

who

girl
ceived
re-

her

On the day of the Fete-Dieu he carried the

carefully.
Host to her earlyin the morning. At that moment
she fell into a state of ecstatic delight.
The next day,
he visited her at three o'clock in the afternoon,
when

her knees,and in the same

attitude in
which he had left her six-and-thirty
hours before. The
he found

her

on

who
present,

accustomed

to the

clared
desight,
that she had never
He undertook
changedher position.
this state of things,
for fear it should
to remove

persons

habitual with

her.

had

bound

herself when

order of Saint Francois.

with

For

this purpose he reminded

her of the virtue of obedience,and to which

become
she

were

phenomena

more

or

she

ecstasies

less

until
extraordinary,

went

At

attracted by
people,

the ecstatic.

It is said

to Kaldern

that

between

the third

The

latter half of the year 1833.

curious

entered

her

were

repeated,
the

that

time, crowds of
to visit
fame, came

fortythousand

the

months

persons
of July and

the whole
time in a
September. Marie remained
interdicted by
state of ecstasy. These visits were
The Prince-bishop
of Trente,wishthe authorities.
ing
to ascertain the truth of the matter

for the infor-

Les Stigmatise
es du
Tyrol,ou VExtatiquede Kaldern, et la
de l'AUePatiente de Capriana ; relations traduites de l'ltalien,
Paris,1843.
mand, et de FAnglais,par M. Leon Bore.
*

208

TS

HALLTTCIInATIONS

government,visited

of the

mation

pronouncedthat
constitute

which

well

was

After this
interdict.

ECSTASY,

ANIMAL

these

Marie's condition would

state

of holiness

known,

but

not

was

parts.
not

that
state

in itself

her

piety,

of .disease.

the police
removed
prudentdeclaration,
of the

In the autumn

He

its

fessor
year, her conof her hands,where at
same

in the middle
perceived
the marks of the crucifixion appeared,
a later period
indentations as if they had been hollowed out by the
body. At the same time
projecting
pressure of some
and was
attacked
the part became
painful,
frequently
On Februarythe 2nd, 1834, at the fete
with cramps.
her wipe the middle of her
he saw
of the Purification,
like a child at
hands with a pieceof linen,frightened
the blood she noticed.

Similar marks

soon

afterwards

feet,and another near her

but extended
heart.
a
nearlycircular,
They were
three or
littlein the lengthof the hand ; they were
four lines in diameter,and passed through to the
themselves

showed

on

her

sides of the hands and feet. On a Tuesday

opposite
these spotsdischarged
night,and on the AVednesdays,
On other nightstheywere
a
drop of clear blood.
covered with a drop of dried blood. Marie preserved
silence concerning
these marvellous
the most profound
the
events ; but in 1834, the day of the Visitation,
and took place
on
duringa procession,
ecstasycame
in a
several witnesses ; twice she was
seen
state of the greatest
joy,resemblinga glorified
angel,
touchingher bed with the ends of her feet,
scarcely

before

the

colour

mounting

crossed,so
From

hands.

could

no

cheeks,and

her

to

her

arms

the marks upon her

saw
every one
that time, this wonderful circumstance

that

longerbe kept a

secret.

firsttime that I visited her," says Professor

"
she occupies
the
Garres, I found her in the position
"

The

greaterpart of the day ;

foot of her bed,and in a

she

was

state

on

of

her knees

ecstasy;

at the

her hands

and

maoketism,

crossed upon
countenance

her
was

209

somnambulism.

exhibited the marks

bosom,
directed

her

slightly
upwards towards

the church,and her eyes, which

raised to heaven,
from which
completeabstraction,

expressedthe most
nothing around could

were

disturb her.

For

I could not observe that she made

hours

gether,
to-

the

slightest
very gentle

except that produced by a

or
respiration,
by a slight
degreeof oscillation; and I
can
onlycompare her attitude to that in which we
before the throne of God,
the angelsrepresented
see
absorbed in the contemplation
of His glory. It is
should
hardlyto be wondered at that this spectacle
have producedthe strongestimpression
all who
on
witnessed it. Accordingto the statement
of the priest
and her spiritual
she had been continually
in
advisers,
state of ecstasyfor the last four years.
a
The
crucifixion generally
forms the subjectof the meditations
of the ecstatic of Kaldern,and producesthe
most
profoundimpression
tion
upon her. The contemplaof this mystery recurs
every Wednesday in the
opportunities
year, and therefore affords numerous
for witnessing
its marvellous effects.
The proceedings
the
on
commence
"Wednesdaymorning. If
follow them in their order,we see that,as certain
we
persons utter their thoughtsaloud,without being
of the words theypronounce, so Marie de Marl,
aware
the Passion,
acts it without beingconon
scious
meditating
of what she is doing. At first,
the movement
with which she is affected is gentleand regular,
but
the scene
becomes more
sorrowful and
as
by degrees,
her representation
is more
solemn and more
affecting,
definite. At length,when
the hour of death approaches,
and the agony has entered into her soul,
her countenance
becomes
the image of death itself.
There she rests upon
the bed, on bended knees,her
hands crossed upon her breast,
while a solemn stillness
broken
of
reignsaround, scarcely
by the breathing
movement,

210

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

ANIMAL

ECSTASY,

pale she may have been

her become
during this sorrowful tragedy,
you see
palerand paler; the chills of death pass
successively
which
more
throughher body,and the life,
frequently
feeble.
becomes more
is passingaway, momentarily
creases.
She can
breathe,and her oppressioninscarcely

the

However

attendants.

"

eyes become
largetears descend
Her

vacant

The

parts about

fixed and

more

her cheeks.

slowlyover

mouth

the

and

more

become

spasmodically
face is similarly

contracted ; at length the whole

affected;while from time totime the spasms
until the whole body is convulsed
in violence,
now
alreadyso difficult,
respiration,
short and painfulgasps ; the countenance

The

increase

by them.

consists of
assumes

tongue becomes

swollen,and
to cleave to the parchedsurface of the palate
seems
;
the convulsions,
alreadyincreased in strengthand
The
incessant.
hands, always
frequency,are now
crossed,at first sink slowlyand feeblydown, and
then more
a dark blue tint,
quickly; the nails assume
intertwined.
Soon
and the fingers
are
convulsively
The breathingis
is heard in the throat.
a
rattling
and is accompaniedby convulsive
stillmore
oppressed,
as
though it
heavingsof the chest. The latter seems
come
while the features beencircled with bands of iron,
was
be recognised.
that they cannot
so
disfigured
a

darker

hue

the

remains

The mouth

wide open; the

is nippedand

nose

are
fixed,
readyto start
eyes, constantly
At long intervals a few gasps
their sockets.

pointed
; the
from

form, and you are told

pass through the stiffening
The head then
that the last breath has passedaway.
dropsforwards,bearingall the signsof actual death ;
the

body

sinks

another

Matters

to be known.
a

minute

or

comes
down, completelyexhausted : it beand scarcely
sunken, drooping,
figure,

minute

remain

and

in this state for about

half.

time the head is raised ; the

hands

At

the end of this

are

againplaced

212

HALLUCINATIONS

As

manner.

endeavours
knows

she has been

ANIMAL

ECSTASY,

silent for

understand

long time,she
her by signs,

does not

that

how

not

them

make

to

and when

IN

and with

succeed,like an infant who

her conto speak,she looks towards
fessor,
her eyes entreats him to speak for

her.
"

dark eyes express the

Her
look
of childhood.

happinessand

Her

is

cence
inno-

open, that you

and you are
feel you can read her inmost thoughts,
of fraud or deceit
satisfied that there is not a particle
in her

There

nature.

is

no

so

either of
appearance
morbid
sentimentality,

no
melancholyor exaltation,
and stillless of hypocrisy
or
pride.Her whole aspect
of youth and
expresses the happinessand serenity
of her friends,
innocence.
AYhen in the society
once

she can continue so for some

herself,
that it is onlyby a strong
time ; but one
perceives
for the state of ecstasyhas become
effort of the will,
she has

her

to

to

come

nature, and the

second

is to her what

mankind

life of the rest of

is artificialand unusual.

when
she
even
conversation,
interested in it,her eyes will suddenlybecome
seems
she
fixed,and in an instant,without any transition,
into a state of ecstasy. During my stayat
relapses
she had been asked to be godmother to an
Kaldern
"

In

of

the midst

infant who

was

baptizedin

her

room.

She

took

it

in her arms, and manifested the greatestinterest in

in that space of time,
the whole ceremony, but,even
she several times

into
relapsed

the ecstatic condition,

necessary to recall her to what

and it was

was

actually

goingon.
"

These

and religious
exercises
contemplations

not raise her above

bed she directs the

which

she

dead.

charitable

her domestic

management

duties.

From

do
her

of the

establishment,
who is since
sister,

formerlyshared with a
pensionwhich was given her by some
peopleshe devotes to the education of her

213

SOMNAMBULISM.

AND

MAGNETISM,

her
Every day,at two o'clock,
that she
confessor recalls her to the ordinarylife,
They confer
may attend to the affairsof her honse.
togetheron any difficulties which may arise ; she
of those
the wants
thinks of everything,
anticipates
and with the largeamount
in whom
she is interested,

brothers and sisters.

of

she possesses, arranges

perfectmanner."

which

sense

common

in the most

ecstatic condition

The

the insane

is not

thing
every-

amongst

uncommon

it
but, to avoid being deceived,

is

sary
neces-

patientis not actingin

to some
superiorpower, which directs him
motionless or to assume
a particular
tion.
posi-

ascertain that the

to

obedience
to remain

It may

itself in the maniac

show

and

in the

monomaniac.
has related the

Leuret

also

who
hallucinations,
before
and
to

at those

who

and

times

She

not

saw

only saw

Grod.
felt

She

ecstasy,
kneel

would

internal elevation

an

Him

to
subject

states of

had

delight.Grod

the sun, but also in the

promenade. To do this it was
Him

lunatic

passedinto

the sun, and then

sensation of extreme

her.

of

case

when

she

spoken
plated
contem-

dormitoryand

in the

sufficient for her

to

sleepduring the
good and
night,and before she slept. Gt)d was
amiable ; He would smile upon her ; He was
clothed,
and had lighthair. In speaking of the sensation
she said, That the taste of
which she experienced,
the
bread and water, and this state of elevation,
were
which could be enjoyed,
and that
greatestpleasures
if the world only knew
it,it would desire nothing
She

pray.

saw

also in her

"

else."*
The

state

of

high degreeof
with
*

the
Leuret

ages
:

ecstasymay
moral
of

arise whenever

exaltation

it did not

there is

terminate

ignorance,although these

sur
Fragmens Psychologiques

la

Folie,p.

were

344.

214

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

ECSTASY,

ANIMAL

favourable to its

production."We have seen it prolonged

throughout the eighteenthcentury,and it
still dailypresents itself to our
A
notice.
short
of the religious
account
epidemicecstasywhich has

been

observed
this

nate
Sweden, with which we shall termisketch,will prove the correctness of these
in

statements.

Between

the years 1841 and 1842 there occurred,

in the rural districts and central partsof Sweden, a
disease which

characterized

by two remarkable
and prominentsymptoms
of
one
physical,
consistiug
tions,
distorspasmodic attacks,involuntarycontractions,
indicated by a state
"c. ; the other psychical,
of ecstasymore
less involuntary,
or
duringwhich the
invalid imaginedhe saw
heard thingsof a divine
or
character.
or
During their ecstasies
supernatural
these invalids were
possessed
by an irresistibledesire
for preaching
mania
the
to talk and by a constant
of God
hence named
the preachingdisease.
word
and pretended
to prophesy.
The perThey saw visions,
sons
often spokeof the visions theyhad had of heaven
"c.
and hell,
the end of
of angels,
They predicted
the world,the last judgment,and the day of their
that their predictions
own
death,always pretending
In the same
divine prophecies.
were
way the Convulsionists of St. Medard
the end of the
predicted
world,and fixed the exact date of its occurrence
; and
their predictions,
like those of the Swedes and Millefulfilled.
were
never
narians,
these ecstatics
AYhen
the paroxysms
terminated,
seemed
if they had emerged from a dream ; they
as
and began to prodeclared they had seen
visions,
phesy
the
abode
of
the
had
damned
and
seen
; they
of the elect in the presence
witnessed the happiness
of God.
This state might be complicatedwith
and dementia.
The disease commonly
mania,melancholia,
v"as

"

"

attacked

young

persons,

of from

sixteen to

AND

MAGNETISM,

215

SOMNAMBULISM.

of age, often also children of from six to

sixteen years of age, and occasionally
aged people.

thirty
years

of the persons attacked belongedto

majority
the body of the people. The disease spreadby a
In one
kind of mental contagionor by imitation.
attacked by this
persons were
year several thousand
epidemic.
The

noticed
in the intellectual powers was
in these cases, or, if it did occur, it was
the exception.
The
of the discourses and sermons
majority
Wo

were

increase

miserable

phrasesand

made
productions,
absurdities,
repeatedover

but delivered in
would
the

up of the
and over

authoritative tone

an

call attention
especially
ecstatic condition

to

is often

of voice.

same

again,
We

this

point,because
accompaniedby an

nary
ordithoughtswhich endows even
minds with a certain degreeof eloquence.
the
The
state of ecstasyfrequently
occurs
among
of the earth,where
the religious
races
primitive
feelingis largely
developed. The Hindoo is often
into the ecstatic condition.
to fall voluntarily
seen
elevation

The

of the

inhabitants

rendered
this state

of North

ecstatic

and

South

America

are

their traditions,
and while in
believe they are
in communication

by

they
with spirits.
The phenomena

of

ecstasyare shown in a very

in the Kamtschatgans,the Taremarkable
manner
koulis,and many other northern nations,amongst
the soothsayerssometimes
whom
inflict frightful
wounds
without
themselves,and apparently
upon
suffering
any pain.
The state of ecstasyalso occurs
bitants
amongst the inhaof Otaheite,
the Sandwich
Islands,and Polynesia.
Mariner, in his Voyage to Tonga-Taboo,
of King Finow
relates that the son
often told him
that he was
inspiredby the spiritof Toogoo-Aboo,
the last king of the Tonga Islands ; that at those

216

HALLUCINATIONS

times

lie

was

and
existence,
soul which

IN

ECSTASY,

not

conscious

that

his body
his

of his
seemed

ANIMAL

personal
animated
by a
own

cerning
Having asked him conthe nature of the spirit
which possessed
him,
this spirit
and how
had descended
him, the
upon
foolish question
!
a
prince replied, What
young

not

was

own.

"

Can

I tell you how I know it ?

I know
and a voice has warned
conviction,

own

Hallucinations

in

Animal

it from
me

Magnetism

my
of it."
and

Somnambulism.
their surprise
that a
persons have expressed
medical inquirer
should have introduced into a scientific

Many

work

of previsions,
of clairvoyance,
subjects
of second-sight,
of animal magnetism,and of somnambulism.
But is it rightto reject
whatever amount
of truth these subjects
cism
may contain,because fanatiand credulity
have broughtthem into discredit ?
It is impossible
to deny that a most
extraordinary
condition of the nervous
system is producedby separating

by

the

the individual from the influences of the senses,

him from the external world,
completely
isolating

while at the

time he remains

same

under

the influence

of the

operatorwho has produced these surprising

effects. But, however curious the phenomena of magnetism
nambulism,
may be,they are surpassedby those of somin which the individual,
at the command
of his master, reveals his most
secret thoughts,
and
the nature
of his disease. Animal
sometimes
even

magnetism
North

and

is

practisedby

South

ancients;and

America

the
;

in the sixteenth

it

indigenousraces
was

known

to

of
the

century,Van Helmont
described its leadingprinciples.
Its
and Maxwell
form has been revealed by the Illuminati,
for
modern
Svredenborgwrote in 1763, "Man
may fillhimself
with celestial light,
in this world,if the senses
even
shrouded in a lethargic
are
sleep."

2l7

SOMNAMBULISM.

AND

MAGNETISM,

althoughfacts have beeu recorded by medical

of high authority,
and althoughsimilar facts
men
which placebeyond
were
recognisedby the ancients,
the existence of an
a doubt
superinduced
artificially
also
state of magnetism and somnambulism, it must
be remembered
of
that there are
a
largenumber
resist the influence of the opepersons who entirely
rator.
But

At
we

have

in

nervous

the

same

time

we

are

to admit

bound

that

or
yet seen a case of completelucidity,
of transposition
of the senses, where vision has taken
placethroughopaque bodies,or at a distance.
tation
have no hesiwe
Having made these reservations,
in sayingthat observation proves that the
of extraordinary
nervous
mena
phenosystem is the source
of these may be explained
; and althoughsome
from the power of the imagination,
this
as
resulting
will not, in all instances,
the difficulties
which
remove
surround the problem.
There is,in fact,
in our
unknown
an
organization
force which is capable
of producing
the most astonishing
results ; it is the influence,
rather the power,
or
of one
will over
another. It is exercised,
not onlyby
words, gestures,and looks,but also by touch. A
of the hands,will often produce
pressure, a contact
never

affections

change.
remedy dependsupon

marked

an
improvement,

It is evident

that

stantaneo
in-

this kind of

in the
degreeof sensibility
medical man, and on the impressibility,
rather on
or
the amount
of sympathy,in the patient.Here, then,
which can be reduced to rule,everyare
no
principles
thing
and
on
depends
idiosyncrasy, a man
may be
but if he is ignorantof this influence,
very learned,
fails in producingthese effects,
or
in all prohe will,
bability,

There

not

believe in them.

are

hundreds

influence of the will.

audience

the

of
A

should weep, and

prove this
wills that his

exampleswhich
great actor
his

actingso corresponds

218
to

An

HALLUCINATIONS

the

IN

ECSTASY,

thought that they cannot

who

orator

refrain from

excites his listeners with

sentiment,expresses

himself in such

that those who

manner,

ANIMAL

sacrifice themselves
the account

listen to

noble

some

irresistible

an

him

tears.

are

ready to

the

on

of the

spot. History has preserved

celebrated St. Bernard,who,

he preachedthe Crusades to the Germans

in
although
a
languagethey did not understand,yet persuaded
thousands by the expression
of his features and the
intonations of his voice.
The

which

power

has

man

over

man

has

been

recognisedby

celebrated and learned men.

many
observes that the nervous
fluid can extend

Humboldt

its influence around

as

the

in the
individual,

the electric fluid does around

althoughthe

an

same

way

electrified body,

distinct. Cuvier
agents are totally
did not hesitate to admit a certain sympathybetween
the nervous
systems of two individuals. In seeking
for the imaginarycause
of animal magnetism,says
Arago, there has been shown the actual power which
man

has

over

two

his fellow

man

without

the intervention

of any visible or known

physical
agent.
We
have, then,in the nervous
system
which
of

may

serve

us

as

guidein the

power
studyof a class

to stand apart from the

phenomena which seem
of nature ; when, therefore,
recognisedcourse
any of
these phenomena have been carefully
observed and
received
recorded,althoughcontraryto the generally
with
scientificdoctrines,
theyare not to be rejected
await the effects
contempt, but we should patiently
of time and an increase of knowledgein removingthe
of
which stillsurrounds the greaterportion
obscurity
the special
of the nervous
properties
system. Thus,
while fully
admittingthe power of the imagination,
believe that both magnetism and somnambulism
we
and medicine
contain truths from which psychology
results.
may obtain important

220

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

ANIMAL

ECSTASY,

tears ; but turninghis voice to the most

lamentable
tone possible,
at every stroke of the whip his answer
"

was,

Woe,

asked

him

to Jerusalem

woe

who

he

? and

was

And

!"

whence

when
he

Albinus
? and

came

of
why he uttered such words ? he made no manner
replyto what he said,but stilldid not leave off his
tillAlbinus took him to be a madman,
melancholy
ditty,
and dismissed him.
JSTow,
during all the time
that passedbefore the war
did not
began,this man
seen
nor
was
by them
go near
any of the citizens,
while he said so ; but he every day uttered these
lamentable words, as if it were
his premeditated
vow,
Nor did he giveillwords
Woe, woe to Jerusalem."
to any of those that beat him
good
every day,nor
"

words

him

to those that gave

said,and his cry

continued
without

loudest

was

This

food.
at

the

all he

was

festivals. He

this

dittyfor seven
years and five months,
until
growinghoarse or beingtired therewith,

his presage in earnest

he saw
very time when
fulfilledin our
it ceased ; for,as he was
when
siege,

the

going

round

the

upon

wall,he

cried out

with

his

to the cityagain,and to
force, Woe, woe
And justas he
and to the holyhouse !"
the people,
also,"there
added,at the last,"Woe, woe to myself,
and smote him,
of the engines,
out of one
came
a stone
he was
and killed him immediately
as
uttering
; and
the very same
presages, he gave up the ghost.*
Saint Gregory of Tours, the best historian of the
fifteenth century,has included in his writingsan
nature.
anecdote of an equally
confirmatory
"

utmost

On

Example 80.
Martin,at

Tours

of the
the reader
*

Winston's

par. 3.

to

day of

event

whilst he

It

Josephus,Wars

of

was

was

formed
in-

the
celebrating
customaryfor

with the

the

of Saint

Ambrose

was

at Milan.

present himself

death

the

(anno 400), Saint

in the church

mass

the

book

Jews, book

vi.

before

chap. 5,

AND

MAGNETISM,

and
officiating
priest,

the

221

SOMNAMBULISM.

not to read

his orders

do

the lesson until

It

happened,
that
however, on the Sunday of which we are speaking,
to read the epistle
while the person, whose duty it was
of Saint Paul, was
kneelingbefore the altar,Saint
the mass, fell asleep.
Ambrose, who was celebrating
Two
three hours had passed without any one
or
At lengththeyinformed
venturingto disturb him.
him how long the peoplehad been waiting. Be not
disturbed,"he said; "it has been a great happiness
has chosen to show me
since God
to me
to sleep,
a
that Martin, my brother bishop,
is
miracle ; for know
had

he

received

to

so.

"

about
usual

die.

to

service

remained
The

the

have

said,when

assistants

day and

the

that

the

his funeral

the

"

and only the capitulum

completed,

was

to be

assisted at

you

awoke

me."

surprised.
They noted
greatly
ascertained
hour,and it was subsequently
were

of the

moment

blessed

confessor's

departureexactlycorrespondedto the time when

had assisted at the celebration of
Bishop Ambrose
his funeral.*
and science would

Reason

by

of the

over-excitement
of coincidences

the

? In
difficulty

the

death

the

but
case

at the

cases

brain,and

rence
by the occuris not this onlyremoving
related by Saint Gregory,

of Saint Martin

Saint Ambrose

for these

account

de Tours

was

known

to

it

occurred,although
than
hundred
he was
two
more
leaguesfrom the
placeof the event. In speakingof the presentiments
of dreams, we have quoted the case
of Mademoiselle
alike guawere
R,.,whose character and intelligence
rantees
of the

death

correctness

of the

with

her, also,the time

with her
exactlycorresponded

us

gave

moment

failbefore these powers

*

Gregoirede Tours

De Miraculis

S.

details which
of her
dream.

she

mother's
Our

vestigati
in-

of the intellect ;

Martini,Kb.

i. chap.5.

222

bat

HALLUCINATIONS

why

should

Let it not

seek

we

be

to be

that
forgotten

highestintellects have
at the
as

ANIMAL

ECSTASY,

wiser,since theyare

relate to its abnormal

which

matters

IN

time

same

to the

cause.

men

state ?

possessedof

the

admitted

the existence of vision,

pretheyacknowledgetheir ignorance
Bacon

has observed

that

we

warned
examplesof persons beingforeof events in their dreams,in states of ecstasy,
and at the time of their death.* I" I cannot
givethe
of it,"says Macchiavelli,but all history,
both
reason
ancient and modern, attests the fact,
that no
great
misfortune
either
town
to a
or
a province
happens
which has not been foretold by some
one
possessedof
the power of prophecy,
announced
or else it has been
sirable
by prodigiesor other celestial signs. It is very deof this should be discussed by
that the cause
with thingsboth natural and supermen
acquainted
natural,
do
not
ourselves
an
advantagewe
possess.
the
the
"Whatever
be
explanation, thing itself
may
cannot be questioned."
t
of Macchiavelli,
I might
In support of this opinion
but I shall content
quote a great number of instances,
myselfwith onlymentioninga few. It was in the
meet

with remarkable

"

year 1483 that Savonarola felt within him that secret

and propheticimpulse which led him to become
a

Church, and to preachto Christians

of repentance,warning them
hand
beforenecessity

reformer
the

of the

of the

calamities which

State and the Church.

He

threatened

in 1484, at
the Apocalypse,
and
their

day be bathed in torrents of blood.

months

fulfilledtwo

after the

citywould one
This prediction

death

of Savonarola,

the year 1500, the French, under the

de Nemours, took possession
of the Duke

when, in
command

the

commenced

on
Brescia,with his predictions
told the peoplethat the walls of

was

both

Bacon : De
f Macchiayelli : Discours

Dignitate.
liv.i. 56.
Tite-Live,

sur

made

Brescia,and

of

223

SOMNAMBULISM.

AFD

MAGNETISM,

slaughterof
frightful

the

inhabitants.*
"
Savonarola,"says Philippede Commines, had
the coming of the king,sayingthat
alwayspredicted
he would be sent by God to chastise the tyrantsof
and that it would be in vain that theyattempted
Italy,
to defend themselves
againsthim ; he stated that the
he entered,
to Pisa,and that when
king would come
the kingdom of Florence would be destroyed
; and so
it turned out, for on that day Pierre de Medicis was
also
Other thingsthat he prophesied
driven away.
"

true, such

came

to him

the death

that the

dominions

at the

reformed

point of

happened as yet,but
author

The

of

"

the Bold.
"

summary,

At

the

Tours,

at

distant

been

revealed

Church

the sword.

XL

should

This

that the latter

the

moment," says

that the said duke

the
receiving

was

Medicis.

it is not far off."t

of the life of
summary

to Louis

announce

it had

of the

archbishopof Vienna, relates

first to

de

of Lorenzo

publicly
preachedthat

also

He

as

death

be

has not

Cattho,
was

the

of Charles

the author

of the

killed,
King Louis
in the church of Saint Martin,
least ten days'journeyfrom

mass

at

was

administered
to
was
Nancy ; and the said mass
him
by the Almoner Archbishopof Vienna, who,
to the said Seigneur,
in givingthe blessing
spoke to
him in these words :
Sir,Grod grant you peace and
repose ; you have them if you choose,quia consummaof Burgundy,is dead ;
turn est,your enemy, the Duke
and his army discomfited.'
The
he is slaughtered,
found to correspond
hour
was
noted,and it was
exactlyto the time when the said duke met his
death."J
'

Vita di SavoSismondi : Hist. Ital. t. xii. p. 67.

Simonde
narola,
liv. i. ix. xv. p. 19.
f Mem. de Philippede Commines, lib. viii. ch. iii.p. 270, et
chap, xx vi. p. 443.
X Biog. Univ. t. viii.p. 420.
Ligne,W. S.
*

224

HALLUCINATIONS

Thirteen
Father

years

IN

before

Beauregard,a

remarkable

words

ECSTASY,

the Revolution

noted

beneath

ANIMAL

in

1789,

uttered
predicter,
the arches of Notre

these
Dame:

Yes, Lord, thy temples shall be plunderedand

thy fetes shall be abolished,
destroyed,
thy name
blasphemed,thy worshipproscribed.But,what do I
hear ? great G-od ! what do I see ?
The holyhymns
"

with which

Thy

name,

songs.

the sacred roofs resounded

in honour

succeeded

by profaneand licentious
infamous
goddess of paganism,

are

And

you,
Yenus ! you enter here,and
abandoned
the placeof the living
on
Grod,seat thyself
of the

of

Holiest

of the

Holy,

and

even

usurp
the throne

receive the

phemous
blas-

of your new
idolatry
worshippers."*
which is largely
The phenomena of second sight,
believed in in Scotland and other countries,
are
closely
allied to those of prevision.
philosophy
Unquestionably
and physiology
this
are
agreed in rejecting
doctrine ; but the testimonyof many persons in its
that it should be carefully
favour at least demands
investigated.
all the accounts which
AYe are far from accepting
have been reportedof this kind,and shall only quote
which
the following,
Ferriar,Hibbert, and Abercrombie have each regardedin a different light.
"conExample 81. "A gentleman,"says Ferriar,nected
officer in the army, and
with my family,
an
addicted to no
was
quartered,
superstition,
certainly
in the middle of the last century,near
earlyin life,
the castle of a gentlemanin the north of Scotland,
who was
supposedto possess the second sight.
"My friend assured me that,one day, while he
the
was
readinga playto the ladies of the family,
the room, stopped
who had been walkingacross
chief,
He rang
the look of a Seer.
and assumed
suddenly,

Biog. Univ.
Ligne,T. D.
*

t. iii.p. 421.

Nouv.

edit.,article Beauregard.

AND

MAGNETISM,

225

SOMNAMBULISM.

to saddle a horse,to
and ordered a groom
bell,
to a seat in the neighbourhood,
proceedimmediately
and to inquireafter the health of a lady. If the
he then directed him to call
account
was
favourable,
he
whom
to ask after another lady,
at another castle,

the

named.
closed his book, and
immediately
declared that he would not proceedtill these abrupt
he was
confident that they
orders were
as
explained,
were
producedby the second sight. The chief was
to explain
himself;but at lengthhe
very unwilling
owned
that the door had appearedto open, and that
"

reader

The

head had entered the room,

indicated the sudden
death of
apparition
without

littlewoman

that
some
"

with

the

person of his acquaintance.

A
few hours afterwards the servant
an

that

account

"

At

the

time

another

died of

of the ladies had

one

fit,about
apoplectic
appeared.

returned,

the

time
chief

the

when

an

vision

confined to his

was

and my friend was

readingto
by indisposition,
while the fishing-boat
him, in a stormy winter night,
The old gentlebelongingto the castle was at sea.
man
expressedmuch anxietyrespecting
repeatedly
his people,
and at last exclaimed, My boat is lost !'
do you know
The colonel replied,How
it,sir ?'
He was
answered, I see two of the boatmen bringing
in the third drowned, all dripping
wet, and laying
bed

'

'

'

him

down

close to

chair.'

your

The

the

In
great precipitation.
nightthe fishermen returned,with

one

of the boatmen."

shifted with

Ferriar

chair

the

of

course

the corpse of

attributes this vision

reasonably
to Abercrombie,it
; according

recollection of

was

which

dream
Ferriar

had

Opus cit.p.
Q

64.

been

to
was

lucination
halthe

forgotten.

226

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

"We consider that it

those

to

ECSTASY,

ANIMAL

to
ought especially

hallucinations

which

occur

in

be referred
a

state

of

ecstasy.
It

is to

hallucinations

we

must

also refer the

ecstatic visions of the inhabitants of northern

well

as

been

as

the instances

observed

Osteaks, and

in the

the

climates,

of second

sightwhich have
the Samoides, the
Laplanders,

Kamtschatdales.

Hibbert

has

noticed several other curious instances.*

Every phenomenon which deviates widelyfrom the

of events should be carefully
nized,
scruticourse
ordinary
there is any doubt
to its
as
and, whenever
should be rejected
when
it is
authenticity,
; but
guaranteedby educated and trustworthypersons,
have taken every precaution
ceived,
who
againstbeing deis no
longerpossible
scepticism
; the only
difference can be as regardsthe explanation.Many
of
of prevision
are
cases
explained
by the occurrence
hallucinations in a state of ecstasy
however,
; others,
such,for instance,
belongto another order of things,
of Joseph. They are
those related in the history
as
under circumstances of which we are
then developed
ignorant; it may be throughan extraordinary
activity
faculties'
of the perceptive
just as in certain diseases
observe that the senses
at the approachof death we
The
acquirea wonderful degree of susceptibility.
astonish those who are around them by the
patients
which
and the intellect,
elevation of their thoughts,
duringmany
may have been obscured or extinguished
f
years, is againrestored in all its integrity.
than
Nothing, says Aretseus,is more
surprising
the observations which are sometimes made by patients
*

Law

Historyof Lapland,
at

Upsal,in Sweden.

f Brierre deBoismont

by John

de la Raison cliezlesAlienes
Annal.
Gazette des Hopitaux, 18 44.

Du Retour

Memoir inedit.
-Psych,t. ii.2e serie,
p. 531.

mourants.

Med.

Professor of
Scheffer,
publisheda.d. 1704.
Englishtranslation,
written

"

228

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

ECSTASY,

ANIMAL

animals.

Some, duringtheir paroxysms, can perceive

is takingplace within them, the correctness
what
of their sensations being provedby the termination
of the attack,
or
by organicchanges,which are still
to be depended on."*
more
Is it,then,an act of weakness
to admit that there
mental phenomena which will always
are
numerous
remain to us an inexplicable
problem?
Somnambulism.
The
study of hallucinations in
to
leads,by a natural transition,
ecstasyand prevision
"

those which

are

the firstplace,
we
natural

to

observed

in

somnambulism

shall

speakof

somnambulism.

\ This

and

those which

in

belong

singularcoudition

resembles

in many respectsthat of dreams, and, in

the onlydifference seems
to be the extent to
reality,
which

the different functions of the

body are

affected.

mind, as in dreams,is fixed upon its own

special
and
it
these
mistakes for actual external
creations,
obedient to
impressions
; but the organs stillremain
while the individual acts and speaksunder
the will,

The

the influence of his

ideas.

erroneous

Like the different conditions of the

nervous

system

examined, somnambulism
previously
favours the production
of hallucinations.
Example 82. A most respectable
person, whose
and part owner
active lifehad been spent as master
of a largemerchant
vessel,related to Sir Walter
which occurred when he
Scott the following
incident,
One
of his crew
was
was
lyingin the Tagus :
murdered
and a report
by a Portuguese assassin,
haunted
the
that the ghost of the slain man
arose
and those
vessel. Sailors are generally
superstitious,
of my friend's vessel became
unwillingto remain on
board the ship; and it was
probabletheymight desert
rather than return
to England with the ghostfor a
which

we

have

"

des Maladies
V Influence
morales.
et des Affections

Cabanis, 7e Memoire

Formation

desldees

Be

sur

la

AND

MAGNETISM,

passenger.

To

prevent

captain determined

229

SOMNAMBULISM.

so

great

examine

the
calamity,

the

story to the
found that,though all pretended
He soon
bottom.
and heard noises and so forth,
the
to have seen
lights,
weightof the evidence layupon the statement of one
of his own
which
mates, an Irishman and a Catholic,
but in
might increase his tendency to superstition,
other
respects a veracious,honest, and sensible
had no reason
to suspect
Captain
person, whom
deceive him.
He affirmed to Captain
would wilfully
that the spectreof
S.,with the deepestobtestations,
the murdered
man
appearedto him almost nightly,
took him from his placein the vessel,
and, according
his life out.
worried
He
to his own
expression,
with a degreeof horror
made these communications
of his distress and apprewhich intimated the reality
hensions.
without any argument at the
The captain,
resolved to watch the motions of the
time, privately
in the night. As the ship bell struck
ghost-seer
twelve the sleeperstarted up, with a ghastly
and
disturbed countenance, and, lightinga candle,proceeded
to the
sate
on

down

some

to

or
galley

cook-room

of the vessel.

He

with his eyes open, staringbefore him as

terrible object,
which he beheld with horror,

he could not withhold his eyes. After

a short space he arose, took
up a tin can or decanter,
filled it with water, muttering to himself all the

yet from

which

it about
while,mixed salt in the water, and sprinkled
like one
the galley.Finallyhe sigheddeeply,
lieved
refrom a heavyburden,and, returning
mock,
to his hamsleptsoundly. The next morning,the haunted
told the usual precisestory of his apparition,
man
that the ghost had
with the additional circumstances
but that he had fortunately
led him to the galley,
"

of some
possession
holy
of
in
rid
his
and
succeeded
unwelcome
getting
water,
then informed of the real
visitor. The visionary
was

he knew

not

how

"

obtained

230

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

transactions of the

ECSTASY,

night,with

ANIMAL

as
particulars
him he had been the dupe of his imaginato satisfy
tion.
He acquiesced
in his commander's
reasoning,
and the dream, as often happens in these cases,
after its imposturehad been dereturned no
tected."*
more

In most
but

somnambulism

cases

it is not

to

uncommon

so

many

duringsleep;
observe,in the daytime,
occurs

in which there is
analogouscondition,
noticed an
with regard to
insensibility
particularly
time these attacks will
external objects.At one
come
on
suddenly; at another, they are preceded
by a noise or a feelingof confusion in the head.
less lost ; they
These persons then become
more
or
have
or
are
no
longercognizantof external objects,
idea of them.
a very confused
They will often talk
and
connected
but the
in an
intelligible
manner,
the mind
is alwaysmanifested
actual impressionon
in their conversation.
They will repeat long pieces
of poetry or prose, which they could not do in their
Sometimes
with imaginatural state.
theyconverse
nary
beings, and relate events and discussions
and which it
which had occurred at distant periods,
might be supposedhad long since passedfrom their
better than at
remembrance
; they will sing much
Well-authenticated examplesare menother times.
tioned
themselves
in
of persons expressing
correctly
only imperfectly
languageswith which they were
acquainted.
Some years ago,"says Abercrombie,
Example 83.
I had under my care
a
ladywho was liable
young
to an affection of this kind,which came
on
repeatedly
continued
for
from
and
ten
minutes
during the day,
"Without any warning her
hour at a time.
to an
and
body became motionless,
; her eyes open, fixed,
a

very

"

"

Walter

Scott

Opus

cit. p. 8.

231

SOMNAMBULISM.

AND

MAGNETISM,

and she became totally

unconscious
insensible,
entirely
of any external impression. She was
frequently
seized while playingon the piano,and continued to
rectness,
play over and over a part of a tune with perfectcorbut without
advancing beyond a certain
point. On oae occasion she was seized after she had
begun to playfrom the book a pieceof music which
to her.
was
new
During the paroxysm she continued
the part which she had played,
and repeatedit five or
six times with perfect
correctness,but, on coming
out of the attack,
she could not playit without the
book."*
The

hallucinations of somnambulism

giverise
to
strange conduct or to actions involvinggreat
and which might be followed by consequences
responsibility,
most
serious to the individual,
unless the
whole
in

of the transaction

Example 84.
Grascony
; he
had been

Dom.

may

known

was

Duhaget

was

to other persons.

of

good family

had served in the army

with distinction,

for twenty years,

captainof infantry
and was
a
knight of the order of Saint Louis. I
knew
unaffected piety or
never
a
person of more
with.
more
pleasantto converse
We
at
where
I was
had," he told me,
prior,before coming to Pierre- Chatel,a monk of a
and who
was
melancholyand sombre
disposition,
a

"

"

to be

known
"

he
Sometimes,duringthese attacks,
his cell and return

from
times

he would

lead him

to

somnambulist.

wander

back.

treatment, and
rare, and
"

One

He

to it

by himself

the

attacks

come

; but at

about,and it was
was
placed under

after that

other

necessary
medical

became

more

almost

forgotten.
night,beingoccupiedat my
were

some

would

papers, I had
*

Abercrombie

not

bureau

gone

to

Opus cit.p.

313.

bed

in

mining
exa-

at my

232

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

ANIMAL

ECSTASY,

hour, when I heard the door of my

opened for I seldom turned the lock, and saw
monk
enter in a completestate of somnambulism.

usual

"

"

"

room

this

only
open, but fixed ; he was
eyes were
in his night-dress,
and had a largeknife in

His

clothed
his hand.

to my bed, of which he knew

straight
seemed
to
the position
; he felt with his hand, and
there ; after that he struck
himself that I was
satisfy
three such blows,that the blade of the knife pierced
the mattress,or rather
and penetrated
the coverings,
which I had in its place.
the matting,
his countenance
he first passedme
When
was
and his brows contracted. After he had struck
fixed,
the blows he returned,and I noticed his features
and his countenance
a feeling
were
relaxed,
expressed
"

He

went

"

of satisfaction.

lightof two lamps,which were on my bureau,

his eyes ; he returned as he
made no impression
on
closingtwo doors which led into my
carefully
came,
cell. Soon afterwards I satisfied myselfthat he had
cell.
to his own
returned quietly
Tou
may judge,"continued the prior, what I
I shuddered with
felt duringthis terrible apparition.
horror at the sightof the dangerwhich I had escaped,
"

The

"

"

I was
for the mercy.
so
I could not close my eyes for the remainder
excited,

and I thanked

of the

Providence

night.

day I called the somnambulist, and

what he had dreamed
asked him quietly
during the
past night.
disturbed.
much
he was
At this question
My
I had so strange a dream, that I
he replied,
father,'
most reluctant to tell it to you : it was
perhaps
am
command
I
and
the work of the devil,
you,'
is always involuntaryit is
dream
I replied
a
;
nothing but an illusion. Speak with sincerity.'
"

The

next

"

'

'

'

'

"

'

'

had
said, scarcely

then

My father,'he

I dreamed

bed, when

233

SOMNAMBULISM.

AKD

MAGNETISM,

that yon

had

to

gone

killed my

mother,

manded
bleedingphantom appearedto me, and deAt this spectacle
I felt in such
vengeance.
that I ran
like a madman
of fury,
to your
a transport
apartment, and, having found you, I stabbed you.
After that I awoke, in a profuse
horrified
perspiration,
at my
attempt,and I returned thanks to G-od that I
free from so great a crime.'
You were
was
nearer
I said.
committingit than you imagine,'
I then informed
him
of what
and
had passed,
showed
him the effects of the blows, which
at the
time he thoughthe had aimed at me.
"At
this sighthe threw
himself at my feet and
burst into tears,lamentingthe misfortune which he
considered had happened to him, beseechingme
to
I considered he ought to inflict
say what
penance
that her

'

"

"

himself.

upon
"

No, no,'I said,

'

act

'

which

over

shall

excuse

had

you

from

you

I shall not
control

no

for

punish you
;

at
assisting

an

but henceforth

the officesfor the

and
night,

I shall insist upon your cell beingfastened

outside after the evening meal, and only

the

on

opened
which

so

as

is said at

If,under

by

miracle

familymass,

daybreak.'

priorhad
ought not to

murder

the

"

the

"

to

come

these circumstances

monk

the

let you

to

would

have

and he

"

onlyescaped

been

the
killed,

have

been

been

bulist
somnam-

punished,for
involuntaryon his

part.*
The
man,

mention
Neapolitanjournals
who havingdreamed, duringan
his

that

wounded

wife

was

the

case

attack

unfaithful

of
to

of

nambulism,
som-

him,

dangerouslywith a poniard,which
a
counalwayskept about him. M. Maglietta,

he
*

her

Brillat-Savarin

Paris,1828.

Physiologicdu

Goilt,2e

edit. t. ii. p. 6.

234

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

ANIMAL

ECSTASY,

lias published
a reportof
cillor,
maintains

that

the

the case, in which he

and wounds
inflicted by a

blows

in a state of somnambulism,
or
duringhis sleep,
ought not to render him liable to punishment.
{Union Me dieale,16th December, 1851.)
able
Lorry has described the phenomena of two remarkhe was
an
cases, of which
eye-witness.A
in a state resembling
somnambulism, used to
woman,
aloud with absent persons, supposingthem
converse
insensible to external
to be present. She was
so
that she could not be excited by pricking
impressions,
to
or
pinchingher body, yet she perceivedobjects
which the current of her thoughtsdirected her, or to
which
and fingers
they had relation. Her arms
in which they were
retained the positions
placedtill
of the
movement
changed by a voluntary
they were
man

limbs.

After the paroxysm

of what had passed.

she had lost all recollection

givenby Lorry was that of a female

who had deficient catamenia.
During her paroxysms
individual actually
she used to address herself to some
she evidently
saw, while all that she
present,whom
of her reverie.
said to him turned upon
the subject
of the
In the meantime
she appearedunconscious
The

other

presence

them
died

or

case

of others,and
them.
perceive

could
The

not

be made

mother

to hear

of this female

unexpectedly
; after which,the daughterused

hold conversations with

The

remarkable

her,as

circumstance

if she

was

in these

to

present.
cases

is the

insensible
that,while the individual is totally
of
he retains the perception
to all other impressions,
of his ideas,
all objects
which fall in with the course
themselves with the thoughtsand feelings
connect
or
which occupy his attention for the time being. This
character presentsa striking
analogyto animal magnetism.
tion
affecof
this
c
haracteristics
Other striking
the instantaneous change which it occasions
are
fact

236

HALLUCINATIONS

affected
an

by,a

IN

sermon,

ECSTASY,

ANIMAL

particularly
by an

execution

of three young
in depravity,
which was

account

of

and of their gress

prorelated by the preacher.
men,

On

after the fit

returninghome, when questioned,
had passed,she denied that she had been at the
church,but,in a subsequentparoxysm, repeatedthe
text and
substance
of the sermon.
The following
fact is still more

remarkable.

"Another

young

depraved fellow-servant of the patient,

that she wholly forgotevery transaction
understanding
which
occurred during the fit,
clandestinely
introduced a young man
into the house,who treated
her with the utmost
rudeness, while her fellowand
servant
stoppedher breath with the bed-clothes,
otherwise overpowered a vigorousresistance,
which
made by her even
while under the influence of
was
her complaint. The
next
day she had not the
that transaction,
recollection of even
nor
slightest
woman,

did any person interested in her welfare know it for

several days,till she was
in one
of her paroxysms,
when she related the whole facts to her mother.
This

remembered
therefore,
girl,
duringthe paroxysms,
her
in
which
had
attention
former
excited
things
forgottenduring
paroxysms, but had been entirely
the intervals,
from an attack,reand on recovering
curred
to the impressions
which had last been made
it
to the fit. In this case
upon her mind previously
is evident hearingtook placein the ordinaryway.
The patient
heard a sermon,
and replied
to questions
in the usual
put to her by other persons, apparently
With regardto vision,
do not believe,
manner.
as
we
Dyce does,that it took placethroughthe medium of
the

eye ; numerous
does not in

girlonce

facts prove

that the

list
somnambu-

in this case, the

laid the table with her eyes closed.*
*

generalsee

Prichard

even

Opuscii. p.

188.

Somnambulism.
Artificial
under

come

The

"

consideration

our

237

SOMNAMBULISM.

AND

MAGNETISM,

cases

which will now

belong to
These two

state of somnambulism.

induced
super-

conditions

not be confounded

for,
together,
althoughtheyare
to each other,there are sensible differences;
analogous
arises without any known
thus, the first generally
must

cause,

and

is not

somnambulist

under

the control of the will.

onlyto

seems

avail himself of

The

single

sense,*he only directs his attention to one order of

events, viz.,that with which his mind is occupied
;
and it is with that
thoughtshave only one object,
himself.
The second condition is
only he concerns
the result of magneticinfluence ; it is broughtabout
throughthe will of the operator. The person is then
and has
almost alwaysfree,as regardshis thoughts,
the power of directing
his attention to all external
objects.
Artificial somnambulism
curious
presentsmany
of
phenomena. We have alreadyalluded to some
them when speakingof dreams and of ecstasy. "We
his

shall confine
somnambulism

ourselves

here

to

the

examination

in relation to hallucinations.

to say that we
state by means
singular

wrong

have

of

It is

pretendedto explainthis

of hallucinations

what

we

is,that it produceshallucinations in the

not that somnambulism
is merelyan
magneticsleep,
hallucination. Neither must it be forgotten
that this
state may be a physiological
fest
phenomenon, and maniitself in reverie,
in dreams, and in other condistated

have

the

of

hearing is frequently
preserved
if he
to questions,
as
; the individual hearing,and replying
Touch
is also frequently
unaffected ; in some
awake.
was
cases
it may even
degree of delicacy. It is,so
acquirean extraordinary
which guides the actions of the somnambulist.
to speak,the sense
has recorded
the occurrence
of natural
Sauvages,of Montpellier,
in
somnambulism
two
by
accompanied clairvoyance,
patientswho
An
of
them
account
is found in the Memoires
in the hospitals.
were
In

somnambulism,

sense

des Sciences. Szafhowski

1849.
Hallucinations,
p. 155.
de

V Academic

Eecherches

sur

les

238

HALLUCINATIONS

tions of the

IN

mind, which

with insanity.
classing
Amongst the instances
we

shall select

some

ANIMAL

ECSTASY,

no

one

has

ever

thoughtof

of artificialsomnambulism,

whose

cannot
authenticity

be

doubted.
had
Plantin,aged sixty-four,
Example 86. Madame
recommended
in June, 1828, a somnambule
consulted,
her
warned
to her by Dr. Chapelain
; this person
and
that the glandof the rightbreast was
enlarging,
The patient
threatened to become cancerous.
passed
tion
in the country,payingbut littleattenthe summer
had been ordered her.
to the regimen which
She returned,at the end of September,to see Dr.
ably
considerand told him that the glandwas
Chapelain,
increased in size. He commenced
magnetizing
her on the 23rd of the following
October,and produced
her
few
but
of a
days;
sleepin the course
of clairvoyance
was
state
always very imperfect.
the disease.
but did not cure
This treatment
retarded,
and the doctor considered
At lengththe breast ulcerated,
there was
no
hope,except in excision. M.
of the
Jules Cloquet,the well-known
surgeon, was
to
same
opinion; and it remained with the patient
fluence
thanks to the magneticindecide. Dr. Chapelain,
sent.
he had over
her,prevailed
upon her to conHe

endeavoured

with

all the

power

of his

of the part to be operated

produceinsensibility
he
he thought he had succeeded,
on, and when
with his nails,
tested it "by pinching it severely
insensible to pain. The
and found that it was
patientremained in ignoranceof the exact day of
the 12th April, 1829.
which
was
the operation,
her into the magnetic state,
Dr. Chapelainthrew
and strongly
magnetisedthe part itself. He also
magnetisedthe operatorand his assistant,who had
Plantin would
doubt that Madame
not the slightest
will to

wake

of the knife.
up with the firstcut

Great,there-

239

SOMNAMBULISM.

AND

MAGNETISM,

in the
she continued
when
their surprise,
fore,was
most
completestate of insensibility.It seemed to
cutting
me," observed Dr. Cloquet,"that we were
a dead body."*
on
Plantin died,fifteen or sixteen daysafter
Madame
which had nothing to do
from causes
the operation,
with it ; her body was
opened,and the circumstances
curious.
connected with the autopsywere
exceedingly
This ladyhad a daughtermarried to M. Lagandre ;
she resided in the country,and could
unfortunately
to Paris until some
not come
daysafter the operation.
Madame
Lagandre was a somnambule, and possessed
"

of

remarkable

lucidity.
to put Madame
M. CloquetrequestedDr. Chapelain
and to
Lagandre into the magnetic condition,
Plantin.
ask her some
concerningMadame
questions
follows :
She repliedto him
as
My mother has
for some
been very weak
days; she no longersees
of magnetism, which sustains her
except by means
life.' 'Do
she has no
artificially;
you think you
a

"

'

"

the

sustain

can

life of

your

mother

'

'
"

No,

she

morning, without pain,

early to-morrow
!'
"What are the parts which
without suffering
are
The rightlung is shrivelled up, drawn
diseased?'
with a membrane
within itself;it is surrounded
resemblingpaste and floats in a quantityof water.
said the somnamat this part,'
But it is especially
bule,
pointingto the lower angle of the bladebone,
suffers. The rightlung no
mother
that my
longer
The left
; it is dead.
performsthe act of respiration
of this that my mother
lung is sound ; it is by means
in the coveringof the
lives. There is a littlewater
!'
the organs of the
How
heart
are
pericardium
die

will

'

"

'

"

'

"

"

abdomen

'

the liver is
*

'
"

white,and

See Archives

1829.

The stomach

and intestines

discoloured

Generates

de

at the

Medecine,t.

xx.

are

healthy,

surface.'
p. 131.

May,

240

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

"

ECSTASY,

ANIMAL

Chapelainmagnetisedthe patientenergetically
the Monday, but could scarcely
on
superinduce
the Tuesday,and
state of sleep. She awoke
on
a
o'clock in the morning. The
expiredabout seven
the statemedical men
ments
were
very desirous of testing
of the somnainbule
with regard to the condition
of the internal organs, and they obtained the
tion.
examinaof the familyto their making an
consent
section
M. Moreau, secretaryto the surgical
of the Academy, and Dr. Dronsart
were
requested
informed that it should be
to witness
it,and were
The examination
made the next day in their presence.
made
was
by M. Cloquet and his assistant,
M. Pailloux,aided by Dr. Chapelain. The latter
before the
had magnetisedMadame
Lagandre shortly
medical men
for the autopsy. The
time named
M.

from

to hear

wished

her

own

what

mouth

she stated

Plantin ;
body of Madame
in a clear voice,
and without
the somnambule
repeated,
she had
to
already announced
hesitation,what
MM.
Cloquetand Chapelain. The latter then led
in which
the one
the
her into a room,
adjoining
examination
was
made, and of which the door was
Madame
closed.
Lagandre was all the time in the
of the partitions
state of somnambulism,and,in spite
lowed
her from the medical men, she folwhich separated
she had

within

seen

the

course

and
operator,
has he made

of the

follows

were

written

right?

'

of the somnambule
down

were

found

to

the details of the

by

Dr.

autopsy,
as
Dronsart,were

"

Examination

Tuesday,29th
"

of the
'

The statements

which

hands

said to the persons around her ; "Why

incision in the middle of the chest
an

correct,and
perfectly

be

knife in the

the effusion is to the

when
"

the

Exterior.

Plantin,
of the Body of Madame
April,1829.
The body of a paleyellow
wasted,
tinge,

and

the surface covered with

healed,and
;

wound

large. The

the abdomen
the

margins are

formed
recently

241

SOMNAMBULISM.

AND

MAGNETISM,

united,and

is

three-parts
healthygranulations
covered

with

cicatrix.

openingthe chest,the rightpleura

found to be filledwith about two pintsof a thick
was
of this
fluid. The pulmonaryand costal layers
serous
exudations,
membrane
covered with soft coagulated
were
than at the
abundant
at the posterior
more
anterior parts of the cavity. The lung was
greatly
its posterior
contracted ; incisions on
margin, and
at the superior
lobe,showed the existence
especially
fluid.
of pneumonia,and gave exit to a aero-purulent
Many partsof the anterior margin and of the inferior
The
lobe were
stillpermeableto air and crepitated.
of
contained about three or four ounces
pericardium
surface of the heart was
The posterior
limpidserum.
reddened,and presentedseveral shreds of
slightly
coagulable
lymph.
of the ordinarysize,the upper
The liver was
surface was
covered at its middle part with white
which did not extend into the substance of the
spots,
and of a white
was
atrophied
organ. The gall-bladder
and contained
calculi,
colour;it was filledwith biliary
"

Interior. On

"

bile.

no

"The

other organs

not

were

examined."*

presentat this case are all living,

in the medical world.
and occupy a high position
Different explanations
have been
given of their
been queshas never
statement, but their veracity
tioned.
Those

The

who

were

followingcases
M. Chardel,a counsellor
who received the account
who
*

have

two

were

Chardel

in the

of them

been

recorded

by
Court of Appeals,
from eye-witnesses,

persons of staid and serious character.

:

Psychologie
Physiologique,
p. 260.
B

Paris,1844.

242

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

ANTMAL

ECSTASY,

counsellor in one
of
a
Example 87. A magistrate,
the followinganecthe royalcourts, related to me
dote
wife had

His

in very

maid- servant

delicate

magnetizedand put into a state of

This
done privately,
because
somnambulism.
was
them to some
their charitable intentions had subjected
jokes. One day,when the magnetic influence was
accompaniedby considerable pain,the somnambule
took a light
old wine ; the husband
asked for some
she

health,whom

and went
without

the first steps

but the cellar beingsituated at
accident,

any

the

depth,and

unusual

an

descended

He

fetch it.

to

steps damp, he slipped

half the staircase and

fell

asked

for.

backwards,without,
the light
however, hurtinghimself,or extinguishing
This did not prevent him
wmich he held in his hand.
and returning
his object,
with the
from accomplishing
down

had

which

wine

been

He

found

his wife

with his fall and all the details of his

acquainted
had related
undergroundadventures ; the somnambule
to pass.*
them as they came
Example 88. The wife of a colonel of cavalrywas
magnetizedby her husband, and became clairvoyant.
of treatment, an indisposition
pelled
comDuring this course
was

of the aid of

to avail himself

him

officer in

an

only lasted for eightor ten days.

time
Some
after,at a magnetic seance, the husband
having put his wife into a state of somnambulism,

his

This

regiment.

her attention with this officer.

directed her to occupy

"

Ah,

the

unhappy

is at

"

horse,but when

he

to

"

cried,

kill himself

!"

see
"

he

him

"

takes

he
a

The

placenamed was
mounted
one
a
instantly
arrived the suicide was
already

quick
league off; some

pistol;run
about

is about

he

!" she

man

committed. t
have

"We
*

limited ourselves to these three cases, but

Chardel

Opus cit. p.

290.

+ lb.

p. 292.

244

individual

and
it

passes

is

is

which

book

but

guide

this
for

past,

are

which

locality

is

stumble,

about,

and

perhaps

the

this

How
we

and

any

mind,
is

brought

better

guidance

are

compelled
will

about

which
of
to

the

pass

will.

admit,

probably

do

regards

but

always

the

through
These
the

escape

In

our

its

mode

faculties.
nor

minds

of

us.

tion
isola-

thousand

facts

are

ficial
arti-

distinct,

know,

not

wander

more

of

in

complete

more

we

as

are

activity

greater

informed

thoughts
the

perceptions
a

will

pressions
im-

things

himself

he

is

as

to

himself.

injure

indicate

with

finds

him,

his

him

relates

the
he

all

serves

person
to

the

extended,
of

the

of
which

where

action

unknown

somnambulism,
more

if

letter

the

which

characters

which

the

stairs,

through

the

mirror
and

case

the

the
of

or

reflected,
in

brain

reads

internal

an

ETC.

localities

him,

which

he

before

are

his

several

there

is

It

writing.

the

ECSTASY,

in

distinctly

sees

apartments,
he

IS

HALLUCINATIONS

are

ferent
difunder

which
their

we

duction
pro-

245

CHAPTER

in

hallucinations

febrile,
and

chronic,

acute,

Hallucinations

X.

in

Cerebral

inflammatory,

other

Acute

diseases.

Delirium

and

Diseases.

/These

which were
disorders,
long confounded with
of the brain,and were
named
inflammation
by some
acute madness
acute delirium,
but which, alongwith
or
M. Lelut, we
have
separatedfrom this group of
#
leads us
diseases,
by a natural transition from
to inflammatory
disorders.
nervous
The presence of maniacal excitement,which is one
of the symptoms of acute delirium,
would lead us to
and illusions
expect the existence of strange conceptions
of the senses
in the mind
of the invalid,
and
this is what

observation

has shown

to be the

case.

Some

when suffering
from acute delirium,
patients,
imaginethey see persons hidden under their beds,in
similar localities; theywill pointthem out,
or
closets,
and

endeavour

themselves

to

drive them

surrounded

away.

Others

believe

by frogs,or

which
serpents,
There
are
can
ready to devour them.
hardlybe a
doubt that the terror which
is exhibited,
the cries
which are uttered,the desire to bite and strike,
to
or
themselves from elevated spots,
which are
precipitate
*

Lelut: Induction sur la Yaleur des Alterations deV Encephale

dans le Delire aigu et dans la Folie.
Brierre de
Paris,1836.
Boismont : Du Delire aigu qu'on observe dans les Etablissements
lu a l'Acad. Roy, de Med. en 1842, inseie dans
d'Alienes.
Mem.
xi. des Memoires
de V Academie.
le tome
This was
honoured
with a gold medal by the Institute.

246

HALLUCINATIONS

noticed in

of the

delirium

and
character,
who

was

demons

INFLAMMATOEY,

proceedfrom the
patients,
hallucinations of an alarmingcharacter.

nature

acute

EEBEILE,

of these

some

existence of
The

IN

very

which

hallucinations which

in accordance

are

with the

habits,the
individual. A lady

of the
pursuits
cried out,
religious
continually
the

surround

me

in

occur

leave me,

"

Satan !

See the
ciful
Mer-

Jesus, drive them away V* A young student

rounded
begged that the water might be removed which surhis bed; he saw it gradually
rising
; it reached
the point
on
up to his breast,and he felt that he was
of being suffocated.
in acute delirium.
Illusions are
equallycommon
The

invalids mistake

those

around

them

for their

or
they are transformed,and take
personalfriends,
Illusions of taste and smell
on
peculiar
appearances.
The patients
also noticed in acute delirium.
will
are
their drink with expressions
often reject
of horror,
that it smells of smoke, that it has a most
declaring
nauseous
taste, and that it is intended to poison

them.

will declare that their drinks have the

Others

taste

of the finest wines,and

while

of
partaking

Hallucinations

are

in

kind of

ecstasy

them.

Inelammatoey

in

and

othee

Diseases.

pathologycontain numerous
the existence
observations which prove most clearly
and severe
in inflammation
of hallucinations in slight
fevers,
of the different organs, in the most
opposite
"Works

on

internal

shall not examine

in convalescence,
"c. We
diseases,
but simplyadduce instances in which
these in detail,
the disease is complicated
by hallucinations.
or
Congestion,
hyperemia,is sometimes preceded

by

hallucinations.

woman,

nineteen

Broussais

relates the

years of age, who

case

of

duringher labour

ACUTE,

AND

CHRONIC,

247

DISEASES.

OTHER

head,who thought
and a large black dog,which
she saw
a coffin,
lights,
This woman
advanced to devour her.
presentedall
leeches
the
were
symptoms of plethora. Some
and
these visions,
ordered,which sufficed to dissipate
troubled

was

with

noises in the

restored her reason.*

quickly
of sound
Example 89. A man

intellect was

seated

the
he saw
in his room, when, to his great surprise,
of his friends enter, who, after
door open, and one

self
in the room, placedhimoppositeto him, and looked fixedlyat him.
he
Wishing to receive his visitor with politeness,
several turns

he had taken

had he
scarcely
figurevanished. He

rose

vision. Soon

then

afterwards

accompaniedby several of
In the

became

steps,when the
perceivedthat he had had
the apparition
reappeared,
who surhis acquaintances,
rounded

advanced

him, and looked at him

space of a quarter of an
that

few

in

similar

hour

the

the

manner.

company
seemed
as

apartment
holdingthem. These
though itwould
ranged
phantoms followed him into his bedroom, and arhis bed, so that he had
around
themselves
in obtaining
a few hours' sleep.
During
greatdifficulty
and were
his sleeptheyreappeared,
as
numerous
as
the previous
on
evening.
so

numerous,

be

of
incapable

This state continued

consulted his medical

until the next

man,

who

day,when

he

recollected that the

of the
year before he had bled him for congestion
brain. On several occasions he had also been troubled

applied
; the
and
next day the phantoms had greatly
diminished,
disappeared.
theyhad entirely
by night-time
of hallucination
Many writers have noticed the occurrence
before an attack of apoplexy.
of the brain will also
of the membranes
Inflammation
with haemorrhoids.

Some

leeches

were

Phlegm. Chron. vol. ii.,

pp. 421, 422.

248

HALLUCINATIONS

give rise

IN

this

to

have recorded

and two

hundred

The

treatise

66, and 86) contains

of the

of

sense

Martinet

several

smell,and

and

five instances out

contained

cases

of
Encephalitis

on

INELAMMATOBY,
MM.

phenomenon.

Parent-Duchatelet
one

FEBKILE,

in their work.

Bouillaud

M.

of

(pp.8,

of hallucinations

cases

illusions of

sight and

touch.
tions
meningitishallucinaepidemiccerebro-spinal

In

M. Tourdes,the author of
very numerous.
several
history of this epidemic,has mentioned
are

examples. Hist, de VEpid. de Mening.cereb.-spinalis,

1843.
Strasbourg,
Dr. Alderson, of Hull,has related an interesting
with violent headcombined
ache
of hallucinations,
case
of the integuments.
and inflammation
Example 90. A few months ago,"says this writer,

remarkable

"

"

"

I visited Mr.

R., who

seized,in his passage

was

headache.
America, with a most excruciating
tion
obtained some
He
temporary relief from the formain
of matter under the scalp
came
on
; swellings
of respiration
the throat,and he had some
difficulty
At this time he complainedto me that
when in bed.
to
he had troublesome dreams, and that he seemed

from

me

he

he

had

had, for

an

the

hour

his wife

seen

judgmenttold him
the impression
was
and

In

whilst awake.

dream

short time

two, been

or

after he told
convinced

that

family,when his right

that they were
in America ; and
so
strong a few nightsafterwards,

conversation

and

he

had

with

important,that

his

he

son

so

very

could

and
not
help
particular
the whole to his friends in the morning,and
relating
not
requestingto know if his wife and son were
arrived from America, and at that time in
actually
the house.
he
He
me

was

sent for to hold

that theyall took

saw
evidently
therefore immediatelyturned
he then
whether the complaint

and
consultation,
him
to

to be insane.

me,

had

and

would

asked

bring

ACUTE,

AND

CHRONIC,

OTHER

249

DISEASES.

and apparitions,
and
imaginationof spectres,
for he had alwayshitherto been an unbeliever
figures,
in ghostsand in everythingelse. He felt,
and his
friends acknowledged,
and
that he was
sane
perfectly
the

on

strong in mind
"

Having

he had

as

been

ever

with

satisfied him

the

in his life.

and

nature

tent
ex-

of his

and that it would soon

vanish
complaint,
with his bodilysufferings,
he and his friends were
made
came
easy in their minds ; but the phantoms beat lengthmore
troublesome, so that he could
not bear to go into his bedroom, where
every picture
it
the
and
broughtwith
association, conjuredup the
of the departed,
introduced a train of unor
pleasant
spirits
companions./He remained after this in a
low

and

room,

but in

for

was

brightbrass lock he

and
friends,
saw

and have

taken
purposely

them

hold conversation
and
a

and when

nature

up

I have been

book, I

him

could he look at
with

have

him,
him

seen

in his mind's

known
momentarily
seeingthem too.

man

he

intruders
lantic
his Transat-

againsaw

afterwards

never

it but he

have

free from

time

eye with them

consider me
as

and I

hearing

I say momentarily,
for he is
of strongparts,and perfectly
convinced of the

of the

turned

complaint;

from

for whenever

the lock,he could

and politics
well as
as
physic,

spoke,and

converse
ever.

on

He

ligion,
re-

then

changed his house ; the matter againformed under

the scalp,
and he is now
in a state of convalescence,
and totally
free from such visitations."*
Fever performsan
importantpart in the productions
of hallucinations,
either from the flow of blood
it determines to the brain,or in consequence
of the
derangementsof the nervous
system which it produces.
Most frequently
it is accompaniedby wakefulness,
and when this has lasted some
time,the patient,
*

Edinburgh Medical

and

SurgicalJournal,vol.

vi. p. 291.

250

HALLUCINATIONS

worn

out

with

up

by

woke

IN

becomes
fatigue,

INFLAMMATORY,

drowsy,but

horrible

dreams, which
reality. The subdued

of

appearance

FEEKILE,

shadows, and the draperyof the

have

is

soon

all the

light,the
combine

room

to

producedefinite forms before his disturbed imagination.

At first these objects
but
are
faintly
depicted,
the distinctness of an actual exsoon
istence,
they assume
and

the

prepare
ramblingdelirium.

Example 91.
Abercrombie,
"

"

for

way

and

constant

friend,"says
highlyintelligent

whom

I attended

several years ago,

in a mild but very protracted
fever without delirium,
had frequentinterviews with a spectral
who
visitor,

presentedthe

appearance

of

an

old and

grey-headed

of

most
man
a
benignantaspect. His visits
manner.
always conducted exactlyin the same

were

He

the lefton
by a door which was
hand side of the bed, passedthe end of the bed, and
seated himself on
chair on the right-hand
side ; he
a
then fixed his eyes upon the patient
with an expression
of intense interest and pity,
but never
spoke;
continued
visible for some
seconds,and
distinctly
entered

the

then seemed

Example
"

whom

room

to vanish into air."

92.

"

lady,"says

the

writer,

same

feverish
years ago in a slight
a
men
distinctly
party of ladies and gentle-

I attended

some

saw
disorder,
sittinground her bed-chamber,and a servant
handing somethingto them on a tray. The scene
continued in a greateror less degreefor several days,
varied by spectacles
of castles and churches
and was

very brilliant appearance, as

The
cut crystal.
built of finelyof

the

first

full

impressionthat

affection of vision

connected

theyhad
patienthad
if

it

with

was

the

been
from

morbid

fever, and

by watchingand
the changesin the scenery."
describing
studied the effects of
who has carefully
Conolly,

amused

herself and

her attendants

252

is

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

FEBEILE,

part of his disease. When

patientas he is awaking from
a

you speak to such a

his troubled sleep,
your

voice is at firstassociated with the

but he

his eyes, gazes

opens

hand, and by
thingspresentwith
becomes
in
reverie,
your

or
a

INFLAMMATORY,

imagesof his dream

you, takes hold of

comparingsensations derived from
upon

has

appeared to him in his

a short time
quitecollected.
This kind of disorder usuallylasts for some
hours,
for some
the visions assume
days. If it increases,
decided form, they are more
more
continuous,and

delirium

patientat
much

out

than

more

other

any

be

may

what

the

result.

woman,

poor

who was
dispensaryat Stratford,
very
of health,complainedthat she never
saw
the half of a person'scountenance, or of
these apparitions
object. Sometimes
appear
the

in great numbers, heads

and faces are
seen
crowded togetherand lookingthrough the window
or
in at the door.

patientis mastered by the

false sensations actually
from thingspresent,
arising
he has of thingspresent are
the sensations
not
or
to talk to persons
accurate
supposed
; he continues
to be present,and does not
recognisethe voices of
In

the third

case

the

eyes are directed

he receives is of other
impression

them, but the

figuresand faces ;
looks about his chamber, and yet thinks himself
a strange apartment. This man
pare
cannot, then,comwhich he does not receive,
with
true sensations,

his friends

he
in

his

the false sensations which

to

he does receive

he cannot

with what, in his febrile state,

what he sees
compare
he cannot remember, and the immediate
cousequence
active madness.
is delirium,
or
an
"

In

times

watched

another,as

fever,"says Conolly, I have many

these three states slidinginto one
in the increase of his malady,
patient,
sensation ; and
of receivingcorrect

of

cases

the

lost the power

"

again,as
this

case

AND

CHRONIC,

ACUTE,

OTHER

253

DISEASES.

malady receded,regained it, and

sufficient to engage
slightefforts were
the

in
his

attention."

We

have

several occasions convinced

on

of the existence
fever

notice

of visions

the

Abercrombie

commencement,
from

typhus
escaped the

have

in the

been

served
ob-

of,and

course

this fever.

quotes from

farmer

not

of

the

Christian

Observer

who, when

returningfrom market,
brilliant
was
deeplyaffected by a most extraordinary
which he thoughtbe saw
light,
upon the road,and by an
in the lightwhich he supposedto be our
appearance
He was
Saviour.
greatlyalarmed,and, spurringhis
horse, gallopedhome ; remained agitatedduringthe
seized with typhus fever,then preevening; was
vailing
and died in about two
in the neighbourhood,
afterwards
the
ascertained,that on
days. It was
morning of the day of the supposedvision,before he
left home, he had complainedof headache
and languor
be no
doubt that the spectral
there can
; and
case

of

had

course

Hallucinations

duringconvalescence
the

which

circumstance

of Hibbert.
at

in the

ourselves

appearance
the fever.
The

was

connected

author

with the commencement

relates that

of

friend of

his,who
from typhus fever,imagined that
convalescent
was
feet high. His bed seemed
ten
his body was
six or
feet from the ground,so that he was
afraid to
seven
get out of it. The opening of the chimney was as
gular,
sinmost
largeas the arch of a bridge; what was
same

the persons
curious
most

around

were

of their natural

size.

phenomena are those furnished by

illusions of sight.
of phantoms in severe
The
fevers has
occurrence
How
been noticed by the ancients.
of
cases
many
delirium,says Hippocrates,in ataxic and adynamic
The

254

halltjcixatioe's

fevers

i:nt

eebetle,

entlammatoby,

ting
accompaniedby hideous spectres,indicathe entire derangement of the economy
and
dissolution.
approaching
Moreau, of Larthe,mentions,in the Encyclopedie
Mentale," having attended
MetJwdique,art. "Med.
thirteen years old,who had scarcely
or
a child twelve
attack of
any knowledge of Latin, but during an
fever was
guage
suddenlycapableof speakingthat lanare

with

tolerable correctness.

The

same

child

expressedhimself to the persons around in terms

far beyond the ordinary
languageof his age, or the
He
died a few
generalcharacter of his own mind.
daysafterwards.
M. Hayer related to us a case of typhus fever,
in
for seven
which the patient,
or
eightdays,saw the
at the foot of his bed, whom
he
figureof a man
endeavoured
There
to drive away.
was
nothing
and
it
in
him by
the
troubled
figure,
only
repulsive
With convalescence the vision entirely
its presence.
disappeared.Dr. Marotte mentioned a similar case
to

us.

Englishwriters who have described the fever of

sensible
inCadiz and Malaga,state that the patients
were
which
to external objects,
were
replacedby
world of ideas of a most terrible kind. Frighta new
ful
the precursors
spectresappearedto the patients,
of

coma

and death.

Hallucinations have

been

observed

in the

typhus

fevers,and in several
armies,in pestilential
of the Middle Ages.
of the epidemics
of the plagueat Athens
in his history
Thucydides,
classed by modern
writers
a disease that has been
with typhus speaksof spectreswhich alarmed the
the case
of men
inhabitants.
Procopus mentions
who, duringthe plague,fellvictims to this scourge,
havingdreamed of demons who touched them, and
fever of

"

"

informed

them

they would

speedilydie.

During

CHBONIC,

ACUTE,

OTHER

AND

255

DISEASES.

epidemicwhich

the

depopulatedNeo-Caesarea,the
and heard phantoms in their houses.
inhabitants saw
"When the plaguebroke out in Egypt,in the reignof
the Emperor Justinian,
shipsof brass were seen upon
the sea, navigated
who had no
heads.
by black men
tinople,
During an epidemic which depopulated Constanthe people were
horrified by the sight of
from
went
demons, who, in the dress of ecclesiastics,
house to house, bringingdeath upon all the inhabitants.
Cases

related

are

which

leave

of hallucinations and

occurrence

pupilof

no

questionof

the

illusions in this disease.

the celebrated

Hildenpractitioner
brand,who was attacked by typhus,imagined,
during
which lasted for seven
his delirium,
days,that he had
the partof the viper-eater
to him ; a character
assigned
in

an

seen
a

opera entitled Miroir d'Arcadie,which

acted a short time previously. He

state

time

he

of indescribable
endeavoured

and
agony
to
seize and

dangerousreptile.*
In some
of
recent
descriptions
is made
of armies, mention
of
sight. The typhus at Mayence was
with this symptom.
fever,which modern

Intermittent

the

he
was

had
in

terror

every
swallow
the

typhus fever

hallucinations

of

plicated
comfrequently

observers believe

has been noticed to

producesinsanity,t
be attended by hallucinations. Nicolai,
the publisher,
has been previously
of Berlin,whose
case
related,
was
attacked,in 1778,with intermittent fever,
during
he
which
saw
landscapesand coloured figures.
he closed his eyes the phantoms were
"When
no
longervisible ; but when he opened them they re-

sometimes

Hildenbrand

par

Du

Grasc,
p. 70, in-8.

traduis
Typhus Contagieux,

Paris,1811.

la Folie dans
: De
+ M. Baillarger
Ann.

Med.

de l'Allemand

Psych.Noveinbre,1843.

les Fievres Litermittentes

"

256

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

FEBKILE,

INFLAMMATORY,

appeared. A derangedstate of the digestive

organs,
by reactingon the brain and its membranes, has
The same
frequentlygiven rise to hallucinations.
and inflammation
thinghas occurred from congestion
of these
also very

Illusions of taste and

organs.

smell

are

common.

a paper
on
a
Hungerford Sealyhas published
biliarydisease of hot climates,which is
peculiar
characterized by constant
irritability,
accompanied
by a greatlyexalted state of the mind and of the
muscular system. It mostlyattacks persons who have
three years,
been resident in the country two
or
of nostalgia
and have begun to experience
feelings
the imagination
is troubled with visions,
The mind

Dr.

power

still preserves some

but it is restrained with
the imagination,

excited

becomes
over

difficulty.
Prom
amongst

the

reason

the

exampleswhich he giveswe
of the English clergymanat
shall select the case
When
Dr. Sealy visited this patient,
Messina.
countenance
he found him in bed
haggard eyes
glaringout of his head and deeply suffused and
and almost vergingon
bilious ; skin dry and parched,
the icteroid tint
tongue dry and red at edges,and
covered with a brown fur in centre and back portion
pulse small and quick his general expression
denoted the deepestmisery,though his mind was
"

"

"

"

"

"

Dr.
clear. He had been ill three weeks."
perfectly
Sealypurgedhim, appliedleeches to the head, and
After twelve hours,
to the feet.
mustard sinapisms
a perceptible
there was
improvement.
"

progress of his
strong resemblance

During the

his
disease,
the

tions
hallucina-

clairvoyance
His perfrightful.
of the magnetic
vading
; his visions were
to
tear
to
near
wish was
him, shout,
everything
his limbs leave
He fancied he saw
and curse.
to sing,
of the
convinced of the unreality
his body. He was
bore

to

ACUTE,

CHBOKCC,

AND

vision,and of its being the

was
imagination
palpable
; yet so
that he could scarcely
correct
effort of his

utmost

257

DISEASES.

OTHEB

result of

diseased

the delusive
the

delusion

vision,
by the

reason.

in the
its origin
bodilydisease had evidently
also proved
viscera ; this was
and chylopoietic
biliary
by the character of the evacuations."*
A curious case
of hallucinations occurring
duringa
long attack of pneumonia is recorded in the fifteenth
volume of Nicholson's Philosophical
Journal,p. 289.
Example 93. About twelve years ago," says the
writer, I had an attack of fever,arisingfrom some
inflammation which caused acute pain in
deep-seated
occasioned by a cold caughtat
the left side. It was
the breakingup of the hard frost in the springof
1795.
The pulse was
generallyabout 110 in the
which lasted some
weeks,
minute, and the illness,
was
through
accompaniedwith disordered perception
after the
The first night,
almost its whole duration.
with
attended
great
settingin of the fever,was
of
and the fatigueand perpetualrecurrence
anxiety
I supposedmyself to be in the
the same
dream.
"

The

"

"

midst

of

an

immense

system of mechanical

tions,
combina-

revolvingwith
parts of which were
time I
and noise,and at the same
extreme
rapidity
was
impressedwith a conviction that the aim or
to cure
was
operation
my
purpose of this distracting
carried to a certain
disorder. "When the agitation
was
afterwards fell
height,I suddenlyawoke, and soon
of the same
dream.
againinto a doze,with a repetition
that
it occurred to me
After many
such repetitions,
there
if I could destroy
the impression
or
conviction,
that the delirious dream would
might be a probability
method, I
change its form ; and as the most likely
all the

peculiar Nervous Affection incident to

Southern Italy,by J. Hungerford Sealy,
Chirurgical
Review,July,1844.

Observations on a
Travellers in Sicilyand

M.D.

"

Medico-

258

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

FEBEILE,

INFLAMMATORY,

simplevisible objectin
with the notion of cure, that object
might be
occupy the situation of the rapidly-moving

thought by connectingsome
my mind
made
to

objectsin

the

dream.

answered

measure,

The

consequence,
expectation
; for upon

in

my
the recollection of the

some

the next

to
figureof a bottle,
directed my mind, presented
which I had previously
itself,the rotation ceased, and my
subsequent
various and
more
dreams, though disturbed,were
less irritating.

access,

"

The

medical treatment

of
application
and

consisted

leeches to the

in the external

side,with venesection,

saline mixture.

nightwas passedwith much agitation

ficult
in repeated
dozing,with dreams,in which it was difthe time of sleepfrom that of
to distinguish
of mind remained
of that anxiety
wakefulness.
None
of the preceding
which had added to the sufferings
tions
night. When
morning came, the state of the sensaalteration ; for the real
had undergonea marked
of surrounding
over
predominated
impressions
objects
the phantasmsof the disease. Being perfectly
awake,
of memory,
in full possession
and calmness,
reason,
with those around me, and seeingwithout
conversing
or
impediment,every surroundingobject,
difficulty
entertained and delighted
with a succession of
I was
"

second

faces,over
appearance,

which

I had

no

control,either

as

to their

continuance,or removal.

"

before me, one

at a time,
They appeareddirectly
yet not so much but that a second of
very suddenly,
of each,as
time might be employed in the emergence
clearness.
if through a cloud or mist,to its perfect
In this state each face continued

five or

six

seconds,
and then vanished
by becoming graduallyfainter
duringabout two seconds,till nothingwas left but
dark opaque
a
mist, in which almost immediately
after

appearedanother

face.

All these faces

were

in

260

day he
On

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

alarmed

was

the

eveningof

by a
the

EEBEILE,

fire at

same

INELAMMATOBY,

house.
neighbouring

dayhis

wife observed

he

and asked her some

singular
very restless,
questions.
About
six o'clock,
when candles were
lighted,

was

he assured his wife that his mother

he

justas

was

that she
three

entered

the

him

taken

room,

had

by the hand, and then vanished,

to receive her.
He
over,
said,morerising
was
accompaniedby her husband and

persons, whom
he went into a
supper-time

he

other

room

did not

know.

At

overhead,and having

meal,returned to the lower apartment,still

accompaniedby the vision ; at bed-time he covered
his head with the clothes and slept
quietly.The next
taken

his

day he
covered

had

with

different illusion : all the walls

black

and

white

squares

like

seemed
a

board.
chess-

complete that it hid

several engravingswhich hung againstthe walls of
the room.
These thingscontinued for two days,after
which his sightreturned to its natural condition. He
then complained
of weakness and giddiness
; his sleep,
his pulse,
remained
and his appetite
healthy. Some
and the administrat
foot-baths,
purgativemedicine, some
restored the
of the tincture of quinine,
and completed
his cure.*
hemorrhoidal
discharge
under circumstances which we are
Many affections,
not
able to appreciate,
may producehallucinations.
The following
case, from Dr. Alderson,is an instance
of their occurring
in gout.
Example 95. I was called,"says this gentleman,
to Mrs. B., a fine old ladyabout eighty
years of age,
visited in fits of the gout.
whom
I have frequently
tension
of an unusual deafness,
and great disShe complained
in the organs of digestion,
leadingher to
expectan attack of gout. From this time she had
visions.
She was
visited by several of her friends,
The

illusion

was

so

"

"

Generates de Medccine,vol. xix. p. 262.

Archives
Hufeland's Journal, September,1824.

1824.

CHEONIC,

ACUTE,

261

DISEASES.

OTHER

AND

she was
invited ; she told them
speak,nor keep
very sorry she could not hear them
order
up conversation with them ; she would,therefore,
she had

whom

not

and
card-tahle,
Upon the entrance
disappeared. She
to her maid
surprise
abruptly; but she
the

bell for that purpose.

servant, the whole party

the

rang

of the
could

help expressingher

not

they should all go away so

believe her when
could scarcely
she told her that there had been nobody in the room.
for many
She was
so
days
ashamed, that she suffered,
of
the intrusion of a variety
and nights together,
wrought
phantoms,and had some of her finest feelings
who
upon by the exhibition of friends long lost,and
had come
to cheat her fancyand revive sensations
She determined,
that time had almost obliterated.
and contented
however, for a long time,not to complain,
herself with merelyringingher bell,finding
she could always get rid of the phantoms by the
of her maid.

entrance
"

It

was

not

bringherself
all this time
were

so
never

and

that

till

time

some

to relate her

convinced

distresses to

could

she

She

me.

was

and
rationality,
visited her, for they
really

of her

those friends who

after that

own

circumstance in her conduct

could find any one
conversation to lead them to suspect her in the

plaint
degreederanged,though unwell. This comto the feet
removed
was
by cataplasms
entirely
short time
and terminated
and gentlepurgatives,
a
fit of the gout. She
afterwards in a regularslight

smallest

has remained
year, in the
faculties."*

ever

since,now

perfectenjoymentof

has
Every practitioner
and

noticed

more

her

the

Edinburgh Medical

and

heart.

The

than

health

state

of melancholyand
restlessness,

of the
producedby affections
*

somewhat

and

of discomfort

terror,

start
patients

Journal,vol.
Surgical

vi. p. 291.

262

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

FEBKILE,

INFLAMMATORY,

spectresand
up from their sleephaunted by frightful
hideous phantoms. Not unfrequently
this state of
mind

comes

on

during the day.

several instances

organicdisease
that of

of the

left

have

collected

of hallucinations

of the heart.

similar

some

"We

cases

M.

with
co-existing
Saucerotte has published

amongst others,he relates

non-commissioned

officer with

hypertrophy

who
white
ventricle,
imagined he saw
selves
phantomsof strangeand indefinite forms placethembefore him in threatening
attitudes. Ashamed
of his fears,
knowing himself that it was only a phanpanions,
tasma, dreadingabove all thingsthe jokesof his comhe dared not
the influence of the

confess how

much

he

strangemaladywhich

under

was

tormented

him.*

Pellagrais a
Lombardy,in the
partsof

disease which

cutaneous

Landes

occurs

in

of Bordeaux, and in several

the south of France.

It is frequently
cated
compli-

with hallucinations and illusions. Some

of these

or
priests
patientsfancy they are monks
; others
believe that they are pursued by Satan,and imagine
the delirium
they see the flames of hell. In Italy,
form ; and as the
most
a religious
commonly assumes
fillhim with sorrowful ideas,
of the patient
sufferings
characterized by visions of
the disorder is especially
of hell,
the devil,
"c.f
ideas which proIt is probablythese depressing
duce
is observed
in
the tendencyto suicide which
attacked
with
the persons
pellagra,possiblythe
is
which has also been noticed,
homicidal monomania
The ideas
likewise accompaniedby hallucinations.

les
des Maladies
duo Camr
V Ivflitence
Saucerotte : De
sur
Annal.
Med.Facultes Intellectuelles et Morales de V Homme.
psych.t. iv. p. 177. Septembre, 1844.
et de laFolie Pellagreuse,
+ Brierre de Boismont : De laPellagre
*

"

observations recueilliesau
1832.

Grand

Hopitalde Milan, 2e

edit.

Paris,

CHROMIC,

ACUTE,

AND

OTHER

263

DISEASES.

takinganother

moniacal
direction,
may substitute for the devisions those of angelsof paradise,
"c.
with chlorosis are often a prey to profound
Women
avoid all exertion,
melancholy. They prefersolitude,
and indulgein melancholythoughts; many
of them
have also symptoms of insanity,
they are surrounded
by strange forms,see hideous objectsand repulsive
figures.If this state continues and becomes more
and render these
intense,it may bring on insanity
visions permanent, which by a slighteffort of the
reason
might have been dissipated.
Muratori

has

related

curious

case

where

there

feelingof happinessaccompaniedby visions

A
duringa state of syncope and half consciousness.
delirious at the termination
violently
young ladybecame
was

of

severe

she remained

fever.

When

and
motionless,

the

delirium

was

over

the

pulse was
ceptible
imperof the body became
cold,and
; the surface
she was
The
supposed to be dead.
body was
beinglaid out when she fetched a deep sigh. The
attendants
with
her
immediately rubbed
strong
solution
of spirits,
and
endeavoured
to
restore
the warmth
of the body ; at length she moved,
then consciousness
and
speech returned, anfl she
recovered.

Instead,however,of thankingthe persons who had

taken such painsto restore her to life,
she complained
to them
of their havingrecalled her soul from a condition
of indescribable repose and happiness,
such as
it was
not
and with
permittedto enjoyin this life,
which the greatestpleasures
she had ever
experienced
would not bear comparison. She added that she had
heard the sighs and lamentations
and
of her father,
all that had been said with regard to her funeral,
but that it had not disturbed her feelingof tranquillity
in a state of rapture ; that
; that her soul was

264

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

of
preserving

Hallucinations

INFLAMMATORY,

thingsof

for the

she had lost all care

to the

FEBEILE,

this

world,even

her life.*

are

sometimes

observed

during

convalescence.
At the termination

Example 96.

with

and

inflammatory

an

tenantproduced great weakness, Lieualike

General
a man
Thiebault,
distinguished
troubled
and military
was
talents,
intelligence
had

disease which
for his

of

all the

circumstance

visions ; a
he was
as

dinary,
extraor-

more

of his reason,
in the full possession
had undergone any physical
of the senses

none

alteration,
yet the fantastic forms which haunted

him

sightso stronglythat he could give a

of the real
of them
minute description
as
as
easily
with whicli he was
surrounded.f
objects
Example 97. Miss N. was just convalescent from
had been of some
attack of simple fever which
an
All the family
duration,and had lefther very weak.
came
had gone to church,a violent storm
on, and
affected his

Miss

N. seated herself at

effects ; allat
he

came

She

soon

alarm.

the storm, and

into
she went

front window

to watch its

thoughtof her father and where

into her mind, causingher great

the

once

might be

fancied that he had

been

killed in

him,
uneasy concerning
which he generally
pied,
occu-

becomingvery
a

back

room

sat in a
usually
On entering
the room, Miss
arm-chair.
high-backed
astonished to behold the image of her father
N. was
and seated by the
in his usual dress and attitude,
forward to layher
went
fireside. She immediately
hand upon his shoulder and inquirehow he got in,
to
the word "Father," she attempted
and repeating
lay her hand upon his shoulder,but her hand en-

and

countered
*

near

the fire of which

vacancy, and

Muratori

Salverte
Eusebe
d\m
: Souvenirs

:
:

she

Bella Forza

he

retired in alarm.
della

Fantazia,c. 9.

Sciences Occult es, p. 324.

Sejoura Berlin,vol. v. 5e edit.
Des

As

bault
D. Thie-

CHEOjSTIC,

ACUTE,

she

AKD

OTHER

265

DISEASES.

about to leave the room, however, she looked

the figureoccupying the same
and still saw

was

back

from
Fullyhalf-an-hour elapsed
till it
the apparition
the time that this ladyfirst saw
convinced
Miss N., who all the time was
disappeared.
entered and left the
that it was
a
illusion,
spectral
several times,carefully
room
examiningthe arrangement
of the draperyand the chair.*
stances,
circumAtmosphericinfluences seem, under some
to favour the productionof hallucinations.
of 1829-30, says Conolly,I
In
the noted winter
of several
in the course
observed this complication
in
position

the chair.

diseases.f
memoir
of
observations
on
a
Prus, in some
entitled Fragmentspour servir a VILisM. Baillarger,
cold
that extreme
remarks
toire des Hallucinations,
and that he himself experienced
may producehallucinations,
M.

this effect in 181-1,when he left the division

of the army to which he was attached to go two leagues
he
to visit his family." I had hardlygone a league,"
"
says, in the most intense cold I had ever experienced,
when I perceivedI was
no
longerin a normal state.
from habit than from the influence of
I walked more

Fully
light.
my will my whole body seemed extremely
endeavoured
of the dangerof this state,I vainly
aware
"

that
most
was
my steps; what troubled me
Then I
eyes closed every minute in spiteof me.
surrounded
images; I
by a number of pleasing

to hasten

my
was

imagined I
and

had

in the midst

was

visions of

of beautiful

trees, rivers,and

gardens,
extensive

plains."
the B-ussian

In

attacked with
sometimes
In

1845
*

of

soldiers

sometimes
hallucinations,
a

we

Paterson

campaign the

of

also

were
a

joyous,

melancholycharacter.
observed a marked
predominanceof
Loc

cit.

+ Conolly: Opus cit.

266

HALLUCINATIONS

IS

symptoms.

nervous

of Dr. Descuret

and

We

TEBETLE,
are

INFLAMMATORY,

indebted

to the kindness

Dr. Salone for several instances

in which

hallucinations

diseases.

M.

Descuret

observed

were

has

mentioned

in
to

common
us

seven

of this kind in persons attacked with influenza.

One of these was
a
clergyman,who imagined he

cases

tripled.He saw himself three times. When he

in bed, if he changed his side,the other two
was
turned at the same
time and placed
themselves over
him.
All these patients
cured of their hallucinations
were
when theyrecovered from their illness.
was

Hallucinations

are

sometimes

the

of

precursors

disease.
Plutarch

relates that Cornelius

Syllawas warned
of a fever which seized him unexpectedly
by the sight
of a phantom which called him by his name.
Convinced
that his death was
close at hand, he preparedfor
that event, which took placethe next night.
There is no necessity
to the marto have recourse
vellous
to explainthe occurrence
accompanyingthis
death.
It is probablethat Syllawas
in the last
and that the apparition
organicdisease,
stageof some
it hastened his
onlyincreased his danger. Possibly
it was
end by some
few days,
but certainly
no
diction
preIt is to similar causes, to the
influence of religious
of scientific
to the want
opinions,
of the event.

knowledge,and
we

to the effects of the

refer those

must

deaths

whose

that
imagination
has

occurrence

and of which we meet with numerous

predicted,
examples amongst the ancients. Under the same
exalted condition of the nervous
circumstance a highly
death.
system might cause
Example 98. A lady,"
says Abercrombie, whom

been

"

"

matory
of an inflamyears ago, on account
her husband
affection of the chest,woke
one

I attended

some

and
of her disorder,
night at the commencement
begged him to get up instantly.She said she had

263

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

FEBEILE,

INFLAMMATORY,

of happiness
probablybe referred that feeling
which
is possessedby many
sick persons, but
and who, up
by those who are consumptive,
especially

state may

to the very moment

of their

death,form

all

manner

of

for the future.

We
would
delightful
projects
remark
existing
that,when
speaking of hallucinations cothat a state
with a sound mind,we mentioned
able
favourof weakness, of syncope, or of asphyxia
was
to their production.
Amongst the instances that have been noticed of

hallucinations in the last stageof disease there is

that will

one

remain

engraven on my memory.
Example 100. On the 1st of June, 1842, 1 received
that my mpther,who had
the melancholy
intelligence
ever

suffered for several years from

which had confined her to her
two

with

disease of the uterus,

bed, had been seized,

with epileptic
fits,
accompanied
days previously,
loss

of

consciousness,so

her

life

was

that, if the fits

returned,the invalid,
alreadyextremelyweak, would
die before I arrived.
My friend told me that the
and
violence of the attack had for a time subsided,
succeeded
was
by a mild delirium,in which the
invalid saw
strange persons, and
phantoms,figures,
spoke about various matters which had no reference
to her present condition ; she no
longerrecognised
about her; she imagined they illthose who
were
Even
sent away.
treated her,and wished them
my
left her,she had become
who had never
sister,
quite
In the midst of her ramblingsthe
indifferent to.
idea that she should not see me
againnever left her,
and she was
continually
askingfor me.
I arrived during the night,and on
enteringthe
of my beloved mother, about one o'clock in the
room
I found
morning,a prey to the most acute anguish,
in
her sitting
up in bed, her eyes fixed ; and uttering
she desired that
a low voice the words of her delirium,

despairedof, and

it

was

feared

that

ACUTE,

and
tradespeople

the
her

room

who

was

should

be

"

(There

make?"

will not

They

will not

Make

"

Do

let

had

who

persons

a
especially

With

in

were

female

her hand

she

them

you not

she
go away,'"
hear what a noise

stantly
con-

they
time.)

perfect silence at the

see
My poor son!
my son.

was
me

When

come.

delirium

This

other

269

DISEASES.

sent

away.

repeated.
"

the

OTHER

away,
teasingher.
perpetually

them

waved

AND

CHRONIC,

he

arrives,I

shall be

he

more.'1''

no

lasted for

twenty-fourhours.
I was
greatlyaffected at this sight,and taking her
by the hand, I said to her, Calm yourself,
my dear
with you, and will not leave you."
I am
mother
I
had
mother
hardly spoken these words, when
my
and recoveringher senses, said to me,
became
silent,
Tell one, my son, is it really
Ah, I recognise
you ?
Where
are
see
you?"
your voice.
you, for I cannot
"

"

"

she

When

became

collected

more

she

could

tinguish
dis-

different
Her

me.

she

and was
able to perceive
objects,
countenance
and
expressedher satisfaction,

added,

"

Now

I have

you, I shall die contented."

The delirium had ceased ; the sound of my voice had
turned
reproduced a wonderful change. Her intelligence
to her

and

the

under

for five

seen

days I

influence

of maternal

tion,
affec-

had the

happinessto converse
with her, and to see her in the full possession
of her
On the fifth the day of her death
faculties.
about
eleven o'clock in the morning, the artist who
was
takiDg her likeness,seeingshe turned pale,proposed
"

to leave

will

off for awhile.

be too late"

soon

The

other

subjectof
diseases

speaking of
state

of mind

what

has

"

"

She

Continue"

expiredat

hallucinations

has

in

she
three

nervous

said ;

and

been

it is therefore

alreadybeen

said.

unnecessary

it

o'clock.

considered
previously
hallucinations
with a
co-existing
;

"

to

some

when
sound

repeat

270

CHAPTEE

CAUSES

XI.

HALLUCINATIONS.*

OF

consideringthe

"When
those

causes

before

"

passingto
are
capableof
the secondary

of hallucinations which

sources

that
being appreciated,

is to say, to
be borne in mind that

it must

causesf
"

composed of two
sign,and the mental

is

united,like

hallucination

distinct

elements,the sensible
riously
conception.These are mystethe body and the soul,and are
a

of man's

emblem
perfect

The

nature.

hallucination

is the material

of
embodiment, a daguerreotype
while the mental
the idea,is onlythe bodilyportion,
is the psychical
portion.It is by defining
conception
which

these two
for the

have

favour
sound

seek

seen

cases

by
explained

the

as
a

101.

I attended

for many

The

causes

illusions that

we

one

also
in

which

occur

Madame

in persons

of

good health. These,

can
follows,
onlybe

condition
particular

system.
Example
*

to

singular
phenomenon.

time, hallucinations
mind, and who are

such

and

of this

cause

endeavour

must

we

other diseases
that fevers and many
of hallucinations ; but, at the
the production

We

same

that

elements

of the

nervous

the Viscountess

years,

was

of hallucinations so
have not considered

one

A., whom
day conversing

closelyresemble
it necessary

to

those

of

separate

them.

f The primary cause

of this and all other

phenomena will always

the
It is this which constitutes the difference between
which
often
in
towards
we
tend,
finiteand the infinite,
constantly
but which
all our
after knowledge
endeavours
spiteof ourselves,
life.
in
this
will never
dissipate
escape

us.

271

HALLUCINATIONS.

OF

CAUSES

recorded
in the
apparitions
An
she fullybelieved.
and in which
Scriptures,
twelve years back,
event," she said,"happened some
with

the

about

me

"

which

to

science
received

existence of those

of the

satisfied me

which

gives
a

the

of

name

letter from

visions

tions.
hallucina-

the
son-in-law,

my

illness of my
0.,informingme of the severe
The
who was
daughter,
many leaguesaway from me.
to anticipate
letter contained nothingwhich led me
a
it was
On
fatal termination.
enteringmy room
about nine o'clock in the morning thinkingupon
in a feeling
I heard a voice,
the state of my daughter,

Count

"

"

words

tone, utter these

'
"

Do

love Me

you

I felt

in a loud voice,
and immediately
replied,
surprise,
'Lord, Thou know est that I place my whole trust in
no

Thee,and
then

with all my
you giveher to Me?'

that I love You

added,

Do

soul.' The

voice

I felt a

thrill

throughme, but immediately

recovering
I replied,However
fice,
painfulmay he the sacrimyself,
Thy holywill oe done /' I then sank on my
couch in a state of great depression.The next day
of dread pass

'

my

second

letter from

son-in-law

my
dear child's death."

The

Viscountess

was

endowed

person
excellent understanding,
a devout

informed

me

with

but
Catholic,

of

an

out
with-

bigotryor fanaticism. The hallucination took

when
she was
in excellent
place in broad daylight,
concentrated
on
health,and when her thoughtswere
the illnessof her daughter. Bred up in the Christian
in all her
to
faith, and having recourse
prayer
she felt no surprise
at the voice she heard.
afflictions,
"When

Madame

A.

related

this

twelve years had passed away, but

firm as
of the event was
as
reality
occurrence.

This

proof of the
Middle
Ages

way
are

anecdote
her

to

me,

belief in the

day of its
instance is to us a most convincing
in which
the apparitions
of the
to be explained,
and of the erroon

the

272

an

HALLUCINATIONS.

of that system which

neousness
as

OP

CAUSES

invariable indication of

regardshallucinations
insanity.

and circulatory
pointof view the nervous
portant
systems undoubtedlyperform a very imof hallucinations ; but
part in the production
the difficulty
is,how do they act ? "We are entirely
in the ordinary
of
ignorantof this even
operations
the mind.
We
only know that various stimulants,
actingon the blood and on the nervous
system,give
and vivacity
to the ideas,which
greater brilliancy
that there is a greater influx of blood
simplymeans
neither acquaintedwith the
We
to the brain.
are
agent which produces this excitement,where it
what are the changeswhich it produces.
nor
operates,
that unMust we
not then admit
a
known
predisposition
something which in one person givesrise to
and in a third
in another to inflammation,
apoplexy,
of the brain, or
other form of
to softening
some
In

medical

"

"

disease ?

Thus, then,

physicalcause,

under
is

the

influence

producedan

of

excited

moral

or

state of the

systems,which givesrise to
to
hallucinations,
without,however, its beingpossible
nervous

and

establish

an

vascular

intimate connexion

between

the two

series

of events.

Having determined the part which is performed

sideration
element,we next enter upon the conby the organic
must
of the mental,where we
ultimately
of the singular
seek for the cause
phenomena of
mountable
Such an
hallucinations.
inquiryis beset by insurunless we firstestablish certain
difficulties,
in our
data to guide us
inquiry.Thus we shall
of the
devote a first chapterto the examination
and of
action of social and individual influences,
of hallucination
moral and physical
causes, in the production
shall endeavour
to
; and in a second,we
deeplyinto their mode of formation,
penetratemore

OE

CAUSES

273

HALLUCINATIONS.

to
by examiniDgthem in relation to psychology,
and to religion.
to morality,

The

of hallucinations should

causes

not

be

tory,
his-

founded
con-

the
as
was
insanity,
formerly
ject
of the insane are subIt is true the majority
case.
to hallucinations ; but it is equally
certain,that
lucination
they may occur by themselves. Even when the halit is not always
combined with insanity,
are
their origin. Lastly,
difficultto recognise
theymay
classed into those which co-exist with
be conveniently
panied
accomare
a sound state of mind,and into those which
by disease.
those

with

First

of

Division.

Hallucinations

Moral

"

Causes.

in
appearing
constantly

mental

eases,
dis-

the division into moral and physical

priori,
to them.
causes
applicable
ought to be equally
out
A circumstance,
however,which we have pointed
de la Civilisation,
in our
in our Memoir e sur V Influence
opinion,decides the questionin favour of moral
In fact, epidemichallucinations,
such as
causes.
and the visions observed in the
ecstasy,
vampirism,
of any
different forms of plague,are not susceptible
In these cases, the hallucinations
other explanation.
of the ideas which exist in
transmitted by means
are
have been inculcated by education and by
or
society,
that is,by a true moral conthe force of example,
tagion,
thousands of men
as
just in the same
way
of a celebrated
at the command
will flyto arms
a defenceless
or
as
a multitude will massacre
general,
wretch,hurried away by the ravingsof a madman.
The twofold action of the moral on the physical
a

shows that hallucinations

are

amenable

to the

common

law ; but their nature,the part in which they take

of one of these
alike indicate the predominance
place,
influences

that

thus, at the commencement,

state
preoccupied

of the
x

we

stated

mind, the prolonged

274

CAUSES

OE

concentration of the

HALLUCINATIONS.

thoughtsupon

one

were
subject,
productionof

highlyfavourable to the
The exampleswhich we
have taken
hallucinations.
and the founcfersof religious
from poets,philosophers,
creeds,have provedthis to be the case : at the same
have
time we
stronglyinsisted on the difference
conditions

hallucinations

these

between

observed in

and

those

which

are

insanity.
from

defective

stantly
education,are conwhose organizain a state of over-excitement,
tion
and in whom
has become
susceptible,
exceedingly
is left without restraint,
the imagination
are
subject
Certain
hallucinations.
to
imaginations,
says a
modern
writer,are necessarily
superstitious
; they

Men

who,

fertile and
the most
generally
and
they preferfable to reality,
at
instincts to the impossible,
or
they find nature too poor for them.
are

the most
attached

exalted ;
by their

least to the

ideal,
They delightin

for it is the abode of

forest,
phantoms and of genii. The poeticimaginationof
such beingsin open day ;
the ancients encountered
of the

the sombreness

and beneath
created
of

the

whose

the influence of their brilliant climate it

and the laughingdryad

phantomsand spirits,
wood.
The same
thinghappens to persons
minds
are
always filled with chimeras and

fantastic creations.
This

love of the

that
saying,
seems

to

us

is

man
a

marvellous,which
ice to wisdom, but

fruitful source

the
justifies
fire to folly,

of hallucinations. When

or
twenty years of his
passedten, fifteen,
concentration
but a slight
it requires
lifein dreaming,
for its image
of the mind upon his favourite subject
transformed
into
and suddenly
to become
intensified,

has

man

hallucination.
The

which

marvellous
were

so

preparedthe

histories and

the tales of terror

of childhood,
long the accompaniments
sensitive,
mind, when it is naturally

974

^'^

OE

CAUSES

HALLUCINATIONS.

mock
who
con";ejigures,
C0I)y
open their eyes, or

threaten

or

when

the

When

them.
is

room

lighted,

chese

phantoms disappear.
or
are
ditions
concompletesolitude,
Long imprisonment,
which may giverise to hallucinations. M. Leon
MM.
de
Eaucher
relates that a prisonerinformed
that during the first
and
Beaumont
Tocqueville,
often' haunted
of his solitude he was
months
by
successive nights, an eagleseemed
visions for many
In 1840, in
the foot of his bed.
to perchitself on
there
at
ten
the Penitentiary
were
Philadelphia,
of hallucinations,
and from 1837 to
twelve cases
or
became
insane.
What
1841 eighty-six
can
prisoners
than this simplestatement
of
forcibly
speak more
facts.* M. Gosse also states that nearlyall the persons
in Switzerland became
in a penitentiary
subject
under
the influence of solitary
to hallucinations
"

confinement. f
related the history
of Benvenuto
already
which
Silvio
Cellini; the followingis the account
confined at Spielberg,
who was
Pellico,
givesof the
effect it had upon himself.
During those horrible
so
excited,that,
nights my imaginationbecame
seemed
to resound
althoughawake, the prison-walls
In my childhood
with groans or with suppressed
laughter.
believed in sorcerers
I never
or
spirits
; but
have

We

"

these sounds filled me

now

understand
at the mercy
"

Often with

I asked

beneath
looked if any one was
I imaginedsome
one
my table,
that

which
*

invisible hand

an

De

I
la

saw

I could not

myselfwhether I was not

some
malignantand mysterious
power.
I
took
the
a trembling
hand,
lightand

it,and
of

with terror.

fall upon

Reforme

des

my

Seated at

pulledmy dress ; then,

pushed away my book,
ground; subsequently,

had
the

Prisons.

bed.

"

Revue

cles

Deux-Mondes,

Fevrier, 1841.
de Geneve,No. 86, p. 255.
t Bibliothequc

1843.
Fevrier,

CAUSES

that

some

had

one

to blow

look around

me,

277

HALLTTCTFATIONS.

OF

behind

come

the

out

and walk

me,

light. I

about with

and

would

was

deavouring
en-

jump

up,

air of defiance,
insane.
an

wonderingwhether I was sane or

Each morning these phantoms vanished,and as
lasted,I felt so insensible to all these
long as daylight
that I could
terrors,that it seemed to me impossible
be troubled with them
again. But at sunset my
fears returned,and each succeeding
nightreproduced
the extravagant visions of the preceding.
These
nocturnal apparitions,
which
during the
formed
transbecame
day I regarded as foolish illusions,
realities."*
at nightinto frightful
Some of the companionsof the unfortunate Silvio
"

"

Pellico had the

the

When

same

mind

sensations.
is thus

preparedto experience

such as
illusions,
any accidental circumstance,
of the
unusual
an
noise, a particular
disposition
accidental arrangement of
lightsand shadows,some
them all
the draperyof the room, may bestow upon
the appearance of a reality
; such thingshave,in fact,

these

laid the

foundation

Sir Walter

of

number

of marvellous

tales.

Scott,not long after the death of Byron,

engaged during the darkeningtwilightof an

autumn
eveningin perusingone of the publications
to detail the habits and opinions
of the
which professed
individual who was
As
more.
now
no
distinguished
he had enjoyedthe intimacy
able
of Byron to a considerdegree,he was deeplyinterested in the publication,
which contained some
to
particulars
relating
himself and other friends. A visitor was
in
sitting
the apartment, who
also engaged in reading.
was
Their sitting-room
hall
opened into an entrance
fitted up with articles of armour,
rather fantastically
when
skins of wild beasts,and the like. It was

was

Silvio Pellico : Mes

Paris,1840.
p. 127.

Prisons,traduction

de M. Antoine

Latour,

278

CAUSES

OE

HALLUCINATIONS.

laying clown his book,

through which the moon
that

Sir

Walter

saw,

passinginto this hall,

was
beginningto shine,
right before him, and in a
of his
exact
representation
and

standingposture,the
departedfriend, whose recollection had been so
stronglybrought to his imagination.He stopped
for a singlemoment, so as to notice the wonderful
the
accuracy with which fancyhad impressedupon
of dress and posture of
bodilyeye the peculiarities
lusion,
the illustrious poet. Sensible,however, of the dehe felt

no

sentiment

save

that of wonder

at

extraordinary
accuracy of the resemblance,and
which resolved
steppedonwards towards the figure,
into the various materials of
itself as he approached
which it was composed. These were
merelya screen,
occupiedby great coats, shawls, plaids,and such
other articles as
usuallyare found in a country

the

hall.*

entrance

Example 102. Ferriar relates that a gentleman

alone in a remote
was
benightedwhile travelling
and was
compelled
part of the Highlandsof Scotland,
hut.
to ask shelter for the eveningat a small lonely
"

he

"When

was

to

be conducted

to his bedroom

the

that
observed, with mysterious
reluctance,
landlady
On examination,
very insecure.
part of the wall appearedto have been broken

he would

find the window

he
inquiry,
enlargethe opening. After some
who had lodgedin the room
told that a pedler,
a
was
and was found
short time before had committed suicide,
hangingbehind the door in the morning. According
deemed
of the country, it was
to the superstition
the body through the door of
improper to remove
it through the window
the house, and to convey
without removing part of the wall.
was
impossible,
had -been
Some
hints were
droppedthat the room
haunted by the poor man's spirit.
subsequently
down

to

Walter Scott

Opus cii.p.

38.

CAUSES

"

279

HALLUCINATIONS.

OF

bis

properlyprepared
any kind, by tbe bedside,and
retired to rest not witbout some
degree of apprehension.
in
He
visited
dream
a
was
by a frightful
and, awaking in agony, found himself
apparition,
graspedin his right
sitting
up in bed with a pistol
hand.
On castinga fearful glanceround the room,
he discovered by the moonlighta corpse, dressed in
erect againstthe wall,close by the
a shroud,reared
he
summoned
much
With
window.
difficulty
up
the features
the dismal object,
resolution to approach
My friend laid
againstintrusion of

arms,

partsof its funeral apparel,

he perceived
hand
H
e
distinctly. passedone
back to the bed.
it" felt nothing and staggered
over
self,
with himAfter a long interval,
and much reasoning
covered
he renewed
and at lengthdishis investigation,
of his terror was
that the object
producedby
the moonbeams
forminga long brightimage through
the broken window, on which his fancy,
impressedby
his dream, had picturedwith
mischievous
accuracy
the lineaments of a body preparedfor interment."*
of which, and

the minutest

"

These
causes

remarks

in the

clearly
prove the influence
productionof hallucinations.

details cannot

of moral
The

lowing
fol-

any doubt on this point.

Out of 190 cases
collected by other writers,or by
ourselves in 115, the circumstances
which favoured
the productionof the hallucinations were
tions
meditacarried to

ecstasy,the prevalent
notions of the periodin regard to religion,
sophy,
philo"c, imaginative
politics,
superstition,
works,
concentrations
of the thoughts,mental
struggles,
a
passions,
preoccupiedstate of mind,
particular
excessive study,
troubles,remorse, grief,
love,hope,
and
jealousy,
*

Ferriar

the characters

distinction must

the

leave

state

of

anger.

Opus tit.p.

24.

We have elsewhere insisted upon

illusions
from hallucinations j this
separate
not be forgotten.

which

280

All these

CATJSES

OE

HALLUCINATIONS.

causes

are

not

of

and
equalimportance,

shall therefore dwell most

we

have

those which

upon

rank
and amongst which we
greatestinfluence,
ideas of the
the dominant
belief,
education,religious
"c.
age, and the different kinds of civilization,
ferred
Education, whose influence we have alreadyreof depressing
to in the production
ideas,those
and moral disorders,
of physical
fertile sources
may,
false
ideas,and
Cerise,give rise to many
says M.
there may be ignorance,
such circumstances
under
of
a state
error, and prejudices
; but not necessarily
Thus
the idea of a man's
disease.
head, which is

the

the

associated with

sensational

produced
impression

by the moon, or of a giant'stomb with that of a

less poetical,
and are
or
mountain,are notions more
It
entertain them.
harmless to those who
perfectly
ciated
assois,however,very different when the impression
with
and mental

to the sensational

idea is extended

the

emotions

when, for example,the

idea of

frightful
spectreis associated from childhood with
in
is the case
as
a particular
stone, or a birch-tree,
ideas are
some
country places.* These erroneous

of terror

sources

and

alarm

to

those who

entertain

them.
The

with the sensational and

false ideas connected

mental

emotions,continues

which

at

all times

have

the

had

same

the

those

are
writer,

most

marked

fluence
in-

Consider
how
hallucinations.
many
upon
derived
are
popular traditions and superstitious
from

ancient

the

forms

of

worship.

When

we

member
re-

form of
every age has witnessed some
nation,
such as magic,astrology,
superstition,
sorcery, divithat

of spirits,
aurusauguries,
raising
cabalism,oracles,the interpretation
pices,necromancy,
of dreams, pythonesses,
lares,
manes,
sibyls,
omens,

Cerise

Paris,1842.

Des

the

Fonctions

et des

Maladies

Nerveuses,p. 463.

CAUSES

OF

281

HALLUCINATIONS.

in flesh and blood,

the presence of demons
talismans,
incubi,succubi,familiar lemnres, vampirism,possession,
spirits,
ghosts,spectres,phantoms,
lycanthropy,
the evil eye,
fairies,
lutins,sylphides,
goblins,
enchantments, "c, one cannot refrain from mourning
falls into error, and
with which man
the facility
over
induced

is almost

one

to

believe he

destined

was

if we
by illusions,
pass his life surrounded
to the influence of his education
trace them

neglectof
"We

moral

and

shall confine

which

to

did not
and

his

religious
principles.
our

observations

to

some

predominatedin Europe such,

for instance,as the belief in the power and corporeal
of demons, in sorcery, in possession,
in lycannature
thropy,
in ghosts,
"c.
vampires,spirits,
The religion
of the ancients,which peopledevery
or
demons, and
genii,
part of nature with divinities,
other supernatural
led to a belief in
beings,naturally
of spirits.
the power and embodied
nature
In this
respectthe doctrines of Plato exercised an important
causes

have

of those

influence,and
Even

arose

and

"

ruled

in

the

school

of

Alexandria.

its

converted
tianity
to Chriswere
disciples
voured
they clungto the geniusof Plato,and endeato reconcile it to the exact
and rigorousphilosophy
of Christianity.
Hence amongst the learned
abstract and philosophical
discussions,errors
heresies. Amongst the mass
of the peoplewho

could

when

neither read

itselfin another

nor

form.

write this influence

showed

They could onlycomprehend

such portions
of Christianity
associated with
as
were
and
a material form ; this they adoptedto the letter,
the principle
thus
of evil became
invested with
hideous forms,which were
transferred to the literature
and architecture of the period. The
nated
halluciof those days were
pursued by black devils
armed with horns,provided
with cleft feet and a long
tail,
justas in a former age Orestes was tormented

282

CAUSES

HALLUCINATIONS.

OF

"bythe Eumenides,

and

terrified

hissingof

the

by

serpents.

originof those hallucinations which

for several ages, and which still
universally
prevailed
countries at the presentday,especially
exist in some
in Lapland,and of which examplesare by no means
in France, as Esquirol,
M. Marcario,and
uucommon
ourselves can testify.
we
of corand their assumption
To believe in demons
poreal
Such

was

the

forms was, at the same

time,to admit compacts
and relations with them, and ^lieirpower over
man,
lycanor, in other words, sorcery, possession,and

thropy.

affairswas

human

the

of

source

greatmoral disorders,

only increased by the use

and
and the scaffold. Men, women,
persuadedthemselves that they had
in
witches' meeting,that they were

which

in

This belief in the intervention of demons

of the

were

stake

children

even

assisted

at

communication

and had seen

with the devil,
persons enter into unholy
Every one pursuedthe subject
compacts with him.

accordingto

the bent of his

mind, and

own

the

soon

foolish fancies of persons weakened

by disease or
became
misfortune
repeatedon all sides. Judges
and

and
declarations,

ecclesiastics believed in such

condemned

thousands

of

unhappy victims

appointedpunishment. Even so late as

Hale pronounced the
good Sir Matthew
death upon
Sir Thomas
from

miserable
Browne

number

of

declared
trial,
heightenedby the

the

accused

women

who
himself,
vulgarerrors,
"

that

their

to

1664, the
sentence

of witchcraft.

strippedthe
when

the fits

of

were

examined

veil
at

but
natural,

of the devil co-operating

power
with the malice of witches." *
the first
the forerunner of Milton,was
Spinello,
who

in those barbarous

times

invested

of Sir T. Browne, in No. XIV.

See the account
British
Physicians,
Library Lives of
p. 60.
*

"

Lucifer with
of the

Family

284

causes

dencyof

of

hallucinations.

the

pancy
rigidPuritans of the period; their occuof old familyseats,formerly
the residence of
and
hospitality
good cheer, which in their hands
became
desolate and gloomy,and the dismal stories
propagatedby the discarded retainers to the ancient
ecclesiastical and civil,
contributed
establishments,
to produce a national horror unknown
in
altogether
other periodsof her history.*
The followingcases
which we
have selected will
to illustrate the opinionsof this period,
and
serve
have also some
other pointsof interest attached to

them.
"In

county

this year (1459),in the town

of Arras,and
of Artois,arose, through a terrible and melancholy
I
opinioncalled,

chance,an

know

why,
This sect consisted,
the religion
of Vandoisie.
it is
and women,
said,of certain persons, both men
who,
cloud of night,by the power
of the devil,
under
to some
repaired
solitary
spot,amid woods and deserts,
where
the devil appeared before them
in a human
visible to
form, save that his visageis never
perfectly
.them read to the assemblya book of his ordinances,
informingthem how he would be obeyed distributed
and a plentiful
little money
a very
meal, which was
of generalprofligacy
concluded
by a scene
; after
of his party was
which each one
conveyed home to
not

"

"

her
"

or

On

his

habitation.

own

accusations of

access

to such acts of madness

several creditable persons of the town

seized and imprisoned,
alongwith some

of Arras

foolish women

These
of little consequence.
were
admitted
of them
tortured,that some
horribly
and

persons

truth of the whole

were

so

the

that
and said,
accusations,
besides,

recognisedin their nocturnal

prelates,
seigneurs,
persons of rank
and

they had seen

assemblymany

"

Ferriar

Opus cit.p.

109.

Or

CAUSES

and
names

of

torture

cities

and
bailliages

being such
examinators
had suggested to the
examined, while they constrained them by
longed.
to impeach the persons
to whom
they be-

governors
the
as

persons

285

HALLUCINATIONS.

of those

Several

who

"

had

been

thus

formed
in-

thrown into prison,

and
were
arrested,
against
tortured for so long a time, that they also were
obligedto confess what was chargedagainstthem.
those of mean
condition were
this,
inhumanlyburnt,while the richer and
After

of the accused ransomed

themselves

executed and
more

by sums

powerful
of money,

to avoid the

punishment and the shame attendingit.

Many even of those also confessed,
beingpersuaded
to take
that course
who proby the interrogators,
mised
them
and
for
life
fortune.
Some
indemnity
there were,

of

truth,who

with marvellous
suffered,

patienceand constancy,the torments inflicted on

them, and would confess nothing imputed to their
to the
charge; but they,too, had to givelargesums
standing
judges,who exacted that such of them as, notwiththeir mishandling,
still able to move,
were
should
banish themselves
from that part of the
country."
winds
Monstrelet
up this shocking narrative by
that it ought not to be concealed that
informingus
the whole accusation was
a stratagemof wicked
men
for their own
covetous
purposes, and in order,by these
false accusations and forced confessions,
to destroy
the life,
fame, and fortune of wealthypersons."*
The facts connected with the possession
of the nuns
"

"

of Loudun
that

we

are

too

well known

should enter
of

to render

into the details ;

it necessary
but in the description

of these

we
apparitions
perceiveall
the characters which belongto a hallucination.
One
of the nuns
a
phantom sursaw, during the night,
*

one

Chronique de Monstrelet,t.
Walter Scott : Opus cit. p. 202.

iii.fol. 24, edit, de

Paris,1572.

286

CAUSES

rounded

by

its form

to that

OF

HALLUCINATIONS.

light. It approachedher, and she

recognisedthe ghost of her deceased confessor. He
appeared,
spoke to her ; she answered hiui,and he then dispromising to return the next night. The
following
night the spectredid not fail to show itself.
time on
religious
They conversed togetherfor some
subjects.All at once, she said,the phantom changed
a

red

of Grrandier

with

changed its conversation,and spoke to

"

It caressed her ; she resisted

one

she

her

of love.

it,and cried out, but

assistance ; she
became
faint,and

her

to

came

it also

its person

trembled

the

callingon

of Jesus, the spectre vanished."*

the real originof the possession.

she

treated
en-

holy

Such

name

no

was

of
readilyunderstand that the principle
the susimitation
would
have great influence over
ceptible
and that the visions
imaginationof women,
would soon
spreadto the other nuns.
the condemnation
The result of this possession
was
who was
burnt
Urbain
of the unfortunate
Grrandier,
alive on
Wednesday, the 18th of August, 1634, for
and sorcery.
the crimes of magic,witchcraft,
'
The
originof lycanthropyreaches back to the
earliest ages of paganism. In this illusion the unhappy
lunatics believed they were
wolves.
changed into werethe pretended transformation
Sometimes
of drinks or poisonous
was
accomplished
by means
teenth
It was
unctions.
more
during the fourespecially
that this singular
fifteenth centuries
and
illusion spread through Europe. These
were-dogs
We

can

"

and

wolves

were-

forests

abandoned

they allowed

their

Their
grow.
pitch,that they would
beard

Ch.

Lovdun,

to

Lauze

Essai

pp. 12-13.

their houses

nails,their hair,and

ferocityarrived
mutilate,and

sur
Medico-historique

Paris,1839.

to dwell

at

in

their

such

sometimes

les Possedees

de

CAUSES

destroyand
to

children who

devour

might

the misfortune

have

in their

way.*
reporteda singulartrial which

come

Wierius

2S7

HALLUCINATIONS.

OF

has

took

It was
of lycanin 1521.
a
case
placeat Besancon
it leaves no doubt of the insanity
thropy,and certainly
which existed on the one
side,or of the ignoranceon
the other.
The

examined

who
inquisitor

the three

accused

into the affair ordered

persons to be brought before him ;

Pierre Burgot,Michel Verdun, and

named
theywere
thegrosPierre. All

three confessed that

they had given

after they had

devil,and that
anointed themselves,they had wolves for their wives.

themselves

the

to

had

Burgot acknowledged he

killed

boy
young
that he should
a

and teeth,and
with his wolf's paws
him if the country people had
have eaten
him.

confessed

Verdun

Michel

not

that

he

pursued
had

gatheringpeas out of a
girlwho was
young
garden; and that himself and Burgot had killed and

killed

eaten

four others.

He

mentioned

and

the age of the children whom

He

added

that

they

made

use

and

the time

he
of

had

place,

devoured.

powder

to

kill

them.
These
burnt

three

were-wolves

were

condemned

to

be

alive.t

Example

103.

in the autumn

A mason,

of the year
any known

deep melancholywithout
and
cause.
During the night he had strangevisions,
steal away to secluded
in the morning would secretly
places. On the twelfth day of his attack he refused
all nourishment
two
voured
days afterwards he de; but
with extreme
voracitythe food which was
XII.,

fell into

J. Gfarinet

+ Bottigeralteste spuren
mithologie,nebst Zutsatzen
Gresch. der Med.

"

von

cit. p. 118.
Wolfowuth
in der

Opus

der

Sprengel,in

dessen

Griechischen

Beitragenzur

Freidreich,Litnrargescli.
pp. 23-27.

2S8

causes

or

hallucinations.

offered to him ; he howled like a

times in a kind of fury,
with an
On

the fourteenth

wolf,and

several

was

inclination to

bite.

day,towards night time,he again

his
escapedinto the country,where he re-commenced
but which ceased upon
the repeated
affusion
howlings,
of cold water.
This singulardisease appeared
the eighteenthday with a violent
to terminate
on
attack of fever,
which lasted twenty-four
hours. His
to have been accomplished
completerecovery seems
of nature.*
by the unaided resources
It is curious to find in

our

times,amongst the

own

which
a superstition
Abyssinians,
very similar to this,
prevailed
amongst the inhabitants of Europe during
the Middle
Ages. Like them, they believe in a
which is the exact counterpart
zoological
metamorphosis,
Thus the class of pottersand
of lycanthropy.
blacksmiths
are
generallyregarded as having the
of metamorphosing themselves
into hysenas
power
and other wild animals,and to be able to produce
disease by their looks. But, instead of beingbrought

stake,like the were-wolves of the

Ages, theyare feared,and live in peace.f
the

to

The

ideas
mystical

from whence

have alluded to

we

Middle

of the stitions
superingly
exceedderived,were

are

most

favourable to the

productionof hallucinations.
universal and their truth
As these superstitions
were
their power was
unlimited.
The
never
questioned,,
directed towards
heaven ; but,
of men
minds
were
and ideas,
governedby the nature of their feelings
delivered

some

themselves

up

to

the

ascetic

most

and the fear

solitude,
chastisements,
penitence fasts,
visions. There
of hell engendered
by their frightful
who gave themselves up
were
others,on the contrary,
to all the emotions of an ascetic contemplation
; these
"

Matthey

p. 96.

Nouvelles

Recherches

sur

les Maladies

1816.
T

Pearce

Residence

in

Alyssinia.

de

VEsprity

OF

CAUSES

289

HALLUCINATIONS.

had

and
communications
with
raptures,ecstasies,
celestial spirits.Eor the same
reason,
amongst
had
those
who
depressingthoughts,arising
pagans,
from
bilious temperament, were
a
pursued by the

furies

and

infernal deities ; while

the

those

with

belongto the sanguinetemperament,

and the deities of Olympus.
saw
fairies,
sylphs,
This ancient and universal belief in spirits,
which

elevated ideas,
which

itself amongst the

showed

which

Greeks

in the

cations
communi-

supposedto take placewith fauns

and sylvandeities,
with naiads and demons ; amongst
the Romans, with
nymphs ; amongst the Eastern
with geniiand gnomes
tians,
nations,
; and amongst Chriswith fays,
the
were
angels,and devils,
sylphs,
were

of those

sources

numerous

described in various works.

that

we

hallucinations which
It is to these

tions
supersti-

those tales of the souls which

owe

are

were

in torment, coming to claim the prayers of the living

;
of spirits
or
making revelations,
announcing the

approachof death,or
of
consequence
and of the dead

who

have revisited the earth in

compactstheyhad
returningto suck

made

when

living
;

the blood of their

victims.
It is certain that

vast number

of

have
apparitions
occurred which coincided with no
importantepoch,
followed
which
not
and
even
were
by any remarkable
have been forgotten,
event : these,therefore,
while
those which by chance have been realized have been
carefully
kept in remembrance.
Such is the storytold in Beaumont's
World
of
of the most interesting
of its kind.
one
The
Spirits,
heroine of the event, which took placein 1662, was
the daughter of Sir Charles Lee.
No
reasonable
doubt can be placedon
the authenticity
of the narrative,
it was
drawn
cester,
as
up by the Bishopof Gloufrom the recital of the young lady's
father.
Sir Charles Lee, by his firstlady,
Example 104.
"

290

had

CAUSES

OF

HALLTTCrN-ATIONS.

birth
daughter,of which she died in childshe was
the Lady
dead,her sister,
; and when
Everard,desired to have the education of the child,
and she was
by her very well educated tillshe was
and a match was
concluded for her with
marriageable,
Sir William Perkins,but was
then preventedin an
manner.
Upon a Thursdaynight,she,
extraordinary
thinkingshe saw a lightin her chamber after she
for her maid, who
in bed, knocked
was
presently
to her ; and she asked, Why she left a candle
came
burningin her chamber ?' The maid said,she left
but what she had brought
none
none, and there was

only one

'

'

with

her

at

that time.'

fire ; but

that,her

said she

believed

she said it

might

maid
it
be

was

so,

Then

she said it

was

the

told

her,was quiteout, and

only a dream; whereupon
and composed herself again

sleep.But about two of the clock she was awakened

and saw
the apparition
of a littlewoman
tween
beagain,
her curtain and her pillow,
who told her she
her mother, that she was
was
happy,and that by
twelve of the clock that day she should be with her.
Whereupon she knocked again for her maid, called

to

she
for her clothes,and when
not out
her closet,and came

was

dressed,went

into

again until nine,and

brought out with her a letter sealed to her

father ; brought it to her aunt, the Lady Everard,
had happened,and declared that as
told her what
dead it might be sent to him.
she was
The
as
soon
upon
ladythoughtshe was suddenlyfallen mad, and therefor a physent presently
sician
away to Chelmsford
and surgeon, who both came
immediately
; but
could discern no indication of what the
the physician
of her body ;
lady imagined or of any indisposition
the ladywould needs have her let
notwithstanding,
the
done accordingly.And when
blood,which was
had patiently
let them
do what they
young woman
would with her,she desired that the chaplain
might
then

292

CAirsES

or

hallucinations.

The

followinganecdote is told
Duke
of Buckingham. Clarendon
the
ghost of Sir G-eorgeYilliers,
three

less than

no

wardrobe,to

inform

his

this man's

son

but

his

warrant

him

of the

celebrated

relates that the

duke's

times to

lather,
appeared

officer of the

an

fate which

situation

too

was

awaited
to

mean

ligence
intelimportant
therefore neglected
the

with
going directly

to the favourite.

of the

He

the

warning tillthe third time, and then he went to a

he was
well known, Sir Ralph
gentleman to whom
of the
of the requests,
masters
Freeman, one
who
had married a lady nearlyallied to the duke,
and prevailed
with him
to apply to his grace to
grant the officerof the wardrobe an opportunityof
on
a
subjectof the
speakingwith him privately
The
to his grace.
man
consequence
gave
sufficient information,
which he had gotten from the
to
ghost,relative to Buckingham's privateaffairs,

utmost

the
satisfy
duke
But

that he

duke

observed

was

to what

uneasiness

some

impostor
; and the
afterwards.
melancholy
no

to be very

all this
at

was

warningtended,exceptto create
it is impossible
impending calamity,

conceive,since the hint

to

too

was

dark

and

mysteriousto enable him to provideagainstthe

*
danger.
which made
An apparition
noise about the
some
beginningof the seventeenth century,that of Desin a fainting
to have originated
fontaines,seems
lit,
with the remembrance

connected

Example

105.

M.

had contracted
named

Desfontaines.

compacts
that in

case

visit the
*

Brodie

which

had

friend.

teen,
student of fifyoung
with a younger lad
intimacy
After talking
togetherof the

Bezuel,a
an

been

made

between

persons,
of death the spirit
of the deceased should

survivor,
theyagreed to
:

of

form

such

Historyof the British Empire, vol. ii. p.

209.

com-

OF

CAUSES

293

HALLUCINATIONS.

and signedit with their blood in 1696.

pacttogether,
Soon after this they were
separated,
by Desfontaines'
removal

to Caen.

July,1697, Bezuel, while amusing himself in

seized with
friend's house, was
a
haymaking near
fit; after which he had a bad night. Notwithstandin
a fainting
In

he had
swoon

still

and

what

of the

; one

called out

for

ailed me,

and that I

thoughtI should
the questionnor
with what

never

the

But

than

it

then
what

I neither remember

then

saw

perceived
recovered

disordered

However,

answer.

day

footmen

they asked me
answered,I have seen

see.

I remember

third

I fell into

help. They

more
my mind was
before ; I was
told that

"

senses

"

attack.

severe

the

On

but
little,

had been

half

againfainted.

more

I lost my

;
me

me

he

day,when

next

to the meadow

returned

this attack he

length; but I knew him not.

when
mounting
Shortlyafter,

"

it agrees

naked

in

man

ladder,I

at

saw

the bottom

of it my schoolfellow,
Desfontaines.
fit ; my
head
this sightI had another fainting

At

got

They
steps,and I againlost my senses.
helpedme down, and set me on a largebeam which
served for a seat in the Place des Capucins. I sat
it,and then I no longersaw M. de Sorteville
upon
his servants,thoughthey were
ing
nor
present. PerceivDesfontaines
the foot of the ladder,
who
near
back upon
made me
to him, I went
a sign to
come
between

seat

my
saw

me,

two

as

it

were

but whom

to make

I did not

open, observed that movement.

"
Because he did not come,
he

came

up

to

me,

took

for him ; those who

room

see,

thoughmy
got up

hold of my

eyes

were

to go to him

left arm

with his

righthand, and carried me thirtypaces further into

a bye-lane,
holdingme fast.
that I was
The servants
well again,
believing
to their business,
who told
went
excepta stable-boy,
"

294

CAUSES

de Sorteville tliat I

M.

Sorteville

ask

me

to myself.M.
talking

was

He

drank.

was

an

hour.

near

de
me,

some

since.

me

I talked with Desfontaines

'

came

questionsand return

some

he told

as

answers,
"

thought I

heard

and

of

HALLUCINATIONS.

OF

nearlythree-quarters

promisedyou,'said he,

'

that if I died

and tell you so.

I was
before you, I would
come
at this hour.
in the river of Caen, yesterday,
drowned
I

weather

very hot

was

the water
the

such

walking with

was

; I grew

The

river.

dived to

bring me

whether

he

was

and

the

such

fancytook

and sunk to
faint,
Abbe
Meniljean,my

up.
afraid

I took
or

had

us

the

to

go into

bottom

mind

of

school-fellow,

hold of his foot

a

The

persons.

to

but

rise to the

of the water, he struck out his leg so violently

the breast,and threw me
that he gave me
a blow
on

top

which is there very

againto the bottom of the river,
deep.'
"Desfontaines,"continues M. Bezuel,"was taller
him alive. I alwayssaw
him
than when I had seen
with his fine light
and naked, bare-headed,
half-length,
twisted in
hair,and a white paper upon his forehead,
but I could
his hair,on which there was
a writing,
onlyread In, Sfc'
These
were
repeated more
spectralimpressions
"

'

The accidental death

than once, with conversations.
ascertained very quickly.The
of the young man
was
de St. Pierre,who publishedthis
celebrated Abbe
but
anecdote, guarantees its being authentic,

siders
con-

It is
by natural causes.
explained
the cause
that Bezuel' s fainting
was
very probable
of the apparition.I know," says Ferriar, from my
that the
well as that of others,
as
own
experience,
approachof syncope is sometimes attended with a
collected
spectral
appearance, which I believe is always a reimage. One circumstance that should be
with which a morbid
borne in mind, is the obstinacy
it may

be

"

"

OF

CAUSES

295

HALLUCINATIONS.

is preserved,
impression
long after the restoration to
A gentlemanfancied,duringthe delirium of
health.
that a considerable estate had been bequeathed
a fever,
him ; the impressioncontinued
covery,
long after his reand

he

was

not

without

undeceived

much

trouble and

difficulty."*
recollection of the figureand

The

intimate friend may be the cause

Of this kind seems
to have been
of

Eicinus,to

Michael

the voice of

of

an

hallucination.

the celebrated apparition

Mercato, mentioned

by

Baronius.
after
illustrious friends,

long discourse on
of the
the nature
of the soul,had agreed,
whoever
two should die first,
should,if possible,
appear to his
and inform him of his condition in
friend,
surviving
Those

the other world.

"

afterwards,"
pened
says Baronius, it hapthat while Michael Mercato,the elder,
dying
stuwas
earlyin the morning,he suddenly
philosophy,
in the streets,
heard the noise of a horse galloping
which stopped at his door, and the voice of his
friend Ficinus was
heard, exclaiming,O, Michael !
true.'' Astonished at this
are
O, Michael ! those things
address,Mercato rose and looked out of the window,
the back of his friend,
dressed in white,
when he saw
off,on a white horse.
galloping
"
called after him, and followed him with
Mercato
his eyes, tillthe appearance vanished.
Upon inquiry,
he learned that Ficinus
had died at Florence,at the
presentedto Mercato,
very time when this vision was
This apparition,
which
at a considerable distance.
"

short time

'

created
elevated

considerable

Ferriar

1724.

the persons concerned

for in the following
manner
:

"

reveries of
:

Opus

Plato,the

cit. p. 118.

"

idea of his

Journal

of the

account

on

of
position

be accounted
the

sensation

dc

in
In

it,may

ing
study-

and
friend,

Trevoux,vol. viii.

296

OF

CAUSES

HALLUCINATIONS.

and had produced

compact,had been revived,
favoured by the solitude and
a
impression,
spectral
silence of the morning."*
Ought we alwaysto refer to the influence of mysticism,
and to regardas hallucinations of sightand
to have been the means
events which seem
hearing,
of the sudden conversion of individuals who, up to

of their

had

the time of their occurrence,

Looking at such matters in

been

unbelievers ?

we
are
light,
religious
believe that
in this opinion
unable to participate
; we
God has at times chosen to make use of supernatural

to recall

means

think

to him

men

otherwise

would

have fallen away ; to

of
be to reject
the authority
who

Scripture.f
Example 106. Colonel Gardiner had spent the
eveningin some
gay company, and had an unhappy
whom
he was
with a married woman,
to
assignation
The company
broke up
at twelve.
attend exactly
and not judgingit convenient to anticipate
about eleven,
he went into his chamber to
the time appointed,
kill the tedious hour, perhaps,with some
amusing
But it accidentally
book.
happened that he took up
book, which his mother or aunt, without
a religious
his knowledge,had slippedinto his portmanteau:
it

was

Heaven
taken
Christian Soldier,
or
Guessingby the title of it that he would

called The

hy Storm.
find
in

some

phrasesof
which

a manner

he

his

spiritualized
profession
thoughtmight afford him some
own

Opus cit. p. 100.

vivis et pacto factis. Lips.1709.
*

Ferriar

De

Mortuorum
Apparitionihus

Baronii Annates.
This storywho
Prothoof
the
was
Baronius
told
to
by
grandson Mercato,
was
of the greatestprobity,
well
as
notary of the Church, and a man
"

of generalknowledge.
cism.
f" There is an importantdistinction to make in regardto mystiTaken in a generalsense, it is not a disease of the mind ;
truths,and providesfor an actual want.
it rests upon undoubted
to be regulated.
is
beautiful
and
great, but it requires
Mysticism
Without
some
check, it falls into exaggeratedand erroneous
as

opinions.

OF

CAUSES

he
diversion,

297

HALLUCINATIONS.

resolved to

dip into it ; but he took no

serious notice of anythingit had in it ; and yet while
this book was
in his hand, an impression
made
was
which
perhapsG-od onlyknows how
upon his mind
drew after it a train of happy consequences.
unusual
He thought he saw
blaze of lightfall
an
the book which
he was
reading,which he at
upon
first imaginedmight happenby some
accident in the
candle ; but lifting
up his eyes, he saw, to his great
"

amazement,
surrounded

"

the Lord

Jesus

all sides with

on

time he seemed

to hear

Christ upon the cross,

glory;and at the same

voice utter

these words

"

sinner ! did I

sufferthis for thee,and are these

produced so profound
thyreturns.'' This apparition
the mind of the Colonel,that he
an
impression
upon
of life and became
forsook his previousmode
a religious
"

Oh,

character.*
this instance,which has been
divine interposition,
has been

To

quoted in favour
of a
opposed another
vision which occurred in the seventeenth
centuryto
of the most powerfulenemies to Christianity,
and
one
to encourage
of which the effect was
him to publish,
the book in which his dangerous tenets were
tained.
con"

Example 107. My book, De Veritate,

prout disYerisimili Possibili et a, Falso"
a Revelatione
tinguitur
Herbert, havingbeen begun by me in
says Lord
England,and formed there in all its principal
parts,
"

about

was

which

this time

finished

get from

I could

my

all the

visits and

spare

negotiations

being employedto perfectthis work, which

sooner

done

but

that

communicated

was

much

was

it to

no

Hugo
who, havingescapedhis
great scholar,
the Low
into France,and
Countries,came
welcomed
by me and Monsieur Tieleners,

Grotius,that

prisonin

hours

Hibbert

Opus cit.p. 324.

298

HALLUCINATIONS.

OP

CAUSES

greatestscholars of his time,who,

after they had perusedit,exhorted me
to
earnestly
printand publishit.
The favourable opinion
of these two greatpersons
in
encouragedme, but,on the other hand,I hesitated,
I knew
it would meet
of the opposition
consequence
in my chamber,one fair
with.
Being thus doubtful,
beingopen towards
day in the summer,
my casement
in my hand,
the south,I took my book, Be Veritate,
said these words :
and kneeling
on
my knees,devoutly
0, thou eternal God, Author of the lightwhich

also

of the

one

"

'

"

nations,
shines upon me, and Giver of all imvard illumiI do beseech Thee, of Thy infinite goodness,

now

pardon a greater request than a sinner ought to

I shall
satisfied enough whether
not
make ; I am
publishthis book Be Veritate ; if it be for Thy glory,
I beseech Thee give me
some
sign from heaven ; if

to

not, I shall suppress it.'

"

I had

no

spokenthese words,but

sooner

noise came
though yet gentle,
it was
like nothing on earth

"

"

the heavens

which

did

"

for

comfort

so

and
as
granted,
petition
solved
had the signdemanded, whereupon,also,I reto print
my book.

and cheer
that T

from

loud,

me

that I took my

strange it may

This, however

seem,

protest

is true ; neither am I any way

deceived herein,since I did not only
superstitiously

before the eternal God

the noise,but in the serenest sky that

ing,
I saw, beingwithout all cloud,did,to my thinkthe placefrom whence it came."*
see

hear
clearly
ever

Dr.
throws

Ireland,in
no

doubt

on

his View
the

of the

statement

Beistical Writers,
of this nobleman.

helpbeingstruck with the inconsistencies

mind in readingsuch a narrative : here
of the human
to send forth a book against
who is preparing
is a man
"We

cannot

Hibbert

of Cherbury.

Opus cit. p. 227.

"

of Lord
Autobiography

Herbert

300
and

CAUSES

OF

HALLUCINATIONS.

the

benignantbeingswith which the world had

been peopled.*
already
The barbarians not onlybroughtwith them
death
and spoliation,
they also inculcated their religious
opinionsin the minds of the inhabitants. For the
first time the Roman
people heard of Himenberg,
that celestial citywhich was
onlyto be reached by
terraneous
the arc of the heavens ; of Nifleim,
a subtraversing
world, watered by poisonousrivers ; of
the wolf Fenris,who had strength
sufficient to shake
the universe; of the serpent Tormongodour, who
encircled the earth with its folds ; of Grasvitnir,
whose
producedterror ; and of the
very breathings
colossal Eskthirnir,
deer with gigantic
a
horns,the
fountain from whence flowed
of the primitive
source
The
all the rivers of the earth.
Hun, the offspring
who
of a diabolical intercourse,
was
regardedas a
man-eater, gave rise to the fable of the Ogre.
had bequeathedits cenMen
to whom
taurs
antiquity
and
minotaurs, its satyrs,fauns, pans and
stillencountered in solitary
segypans, beingswho were
could not
places"when they listened to similar tales,
and they became
of their imagination,
arrest the career
surrounded on all sides by supernatural
beings.
and
these ancient forms disappeared,
All at once
of the barbarians became
the superstitions
merged
while
and the hell of the Christians,
in the paradise
the voice of Mahomet
spread fresh marvels over
of the world.
another portion
The doctrines of Scripture,
wrongly interpreted,
in the latter years of
caused a terrible perturbation
confounded
with fear,
were
the ninth century; men
and thought the end of the world was
approaching.
the formidable imagesof the
"We must
contemplate
"

Ferdinand
Denis : Le Monde
Enchante, cosmographie, ou
histoire naturelle et fantastiqnedu
moven-ac:e.
Paris, 1842.
Bekker : Le Monde
Enchante, i vols. Amsterdam.
*

CAUSES

301

HALLUCINATIONS.

OF

just notion
Europe.

eleventh and twelfth centuries to form

of the terror
The

forms
under

and
the

which
of

spreadover

was

Christian

belief which

loped
deve-

were

depressingideas,
inspired
by the fear that

the influence of these

the agony which was

destruction of the world

at

was

favourable to the formation

hand, were

tremely
ex-

of those demoniacal

rapidextension is explainedby
alluded to.
have already
the causes
we
Natural
historydid its part towards increasing
the
these errors
of the imagination,
and in enlarging
realms
of fiction. The existence of the phoenix,
of
taken for
fabulous vultures,of winged serpents,
were
whose
opinions,

truths

while the bones

of the mastodon

looked

were

filled
the remains of giants. The air was
as
upon
and flyingserpents.
with terrible dragons,basilisks,
The

of the

caverns

earth

contained

monsters

with

The seas were

the abode of the great
eyes of flame.
Kraken, of the monk, and of the bishopof the seas.
The Talmud
increased these fantastical conceptions,
the
by declaring

serpents,and
sucked

of

existence of cherubims, of spectral

stryges,a kind of vampire which

the breath of infants.

of America
direction to
discovery
gave a new
men's thoughts.Adventurers
encountered a
willingly
in search of the Eldorado,of the termultitude of perils
restrial
and of the fountain of perpetual
paradise,
youth.
The vast forests of Malabar
gular
were
peopledby sincreatures, who united in their extraordinary
the religious
reveries of India to those
organization
of Europe. Falsehoods,says Eijoo,the Voltaire of
the Spaniards,
like serpents,
out
are
they multiplywithend.
Compelledto retire before the advancing
The

tide of science which

arose

the traditions of the Middle

in the
earth

are

New

World,

to be met

where

with.

in the sixteenth

Ages

found

all the

century,

last retreat

divinities of the

302

causes

Such

the

were

marvellous

or

and

halltt

citations.

of that

sources

mixture

of

the

the

of faith and ignorance,

terrible,
which, during the long periodof the Middle Ages,
formed the code of the human
race, givingrise to a
of superstitions,
number
which produced real hallucinations,
of which

there

are

traces

page of
understood

in every

time, it may be
history. At the same
why they are not to be considered as indications of
insanity.The persons who were
subjectto them
of the age.
in the generalopinions
only participated
Their imagination,
excited by these doctrines,
strongly
whose truth was
and by the tales
never
questioned,
which were
told in supportof them, led them
to see
what others onlyimaginedthey had seen.
The impulse
thus givenwas
communicated
to all ; but still
and actions of these persons had no
in society,
taint of insanity.The error
originated
the conversation

and not in the individual.

To

completethis portionof

our

the
of
to trace
causes
necessary
which existed in the different forms

What

has

it
subject,

is

hallucinations
of civilization.

been

stated,shows that they

previously
the passions,
would
the
reflect the religious
beliefs,
of the times.
and manners
Thus, on
prejudices,
which occurred
of the apparitions
readingthe history
to the Greeks and Romans, they are found to vary in
held by
accordance with the doctrines which
were
and it was
these
their philosophers
upon the subject,
of time, prevailed
opinionswhich, in the course
of the people. In nearlyall the
amongst the mass
of a religious
ancient nations the hallucinations partook
The importance
character.
assignedto dreams
the
in Egypt,in Greece,and by the Romans, explains
and of
of apparitions,
of warnings,
occurrence
frequent
with supernatural
communications
powers, with which
the histories of these nations

hallucination

abound.

showed
frequently

This kind of

itself in the Lower

CAUSES

OF

303

HALLUCINATIONS.

Empire. Julian,who was one of the emperors most

celebrated for his philosophical
beheld
attainments,
the geniusof the Empire in the deepestaffliction a
few days before his engagement with the Persians.
During the ninth century,the Emperor Basil,of
for the loss of his son, had
to the prayers of a celebrated pontiff.*He
recourse
the imageof his beloved son
saw
clothed,
magnificently

Macedonia, inconsolable

superb horse ; the youth rushed

towards his father,threw himself in his arms, and
disappeared.f
all the apparitions
In the East nearly
consisted of
good or evil genii,occupiedin guarding treasures
and palaces
to console
; of angelssent by Mahomet
the believer,
the evil-doer of the punishto warn
or
ment
which
awaited him.
In India, where
man's
life was
continual system of worship,
of which
one
the least infraction was
punishedwith severe
ties,
penalthe hallucinations were
of a religious
character,
modified by the climate and the religious
tenets.
in regard to the action of moral
in
causes
Lastly,
the productionof hallucinations,
fluences
some
specialinremain to be noticed,the study of which
than one
pointof interest.
presents more
the same, but which varies
Fear, alwaysessentially
in its form according
to the age, has produced especially
since the periodof the revolution in 1789
a
numerous
body of hallucinated persons, who believe
themselves pursued by their enemies,by the police,
or even
by the publicexecutioner.
Example 108. A clerk in a publicoffice stated that
his stores had been robbed ; he fellinto a low,despondent
and declared that the officersof justice
condition,
in search of him ; he saw the gendarmessurround
were
and

mounted

on

"

"

Theodore

f Eusebe

imp. 20.

Santabaren
Salverte

Brewster

Abbe, ArchevequeclesZachaites.
in vita Basil,
Opus cit. Les Grammat.
:

Opus

"

cit. p. 67.

304
his

CATJSES

house,the

in attendance

OE

scaffold
to

put

his

continued

to

and
prepared,

him
him

in order to convince

exceptin

HALLUCINATIONS.

to death.

that

imagination
; but
see

the executioner

He
such

no

it

was

taken

scene

out

existed,

useless ; he still
the scaffold and the gendarmes. To
was

imaginarydeath he committed suicide.

condemned
to
Example 109. Clergeaud,who was
death as a poisonerby the Court of Assize at Perihe entered his prison
seized with
was
gueux, when
and knew no one.
A hallucination,
a kind of giddiness,
which onlyleft him on the Wednesdaymorning,
of the keepersfor the execumade him mistake one
tioner
under
the idea that this
constantly
; he was
At
was
man
going to kill him.
night,however,
Clergeaudrecovered his senses ; he became tranquil,
and hope returned to him.*
arise from remorse,
like insanity,
Hallucinations,
than is commonly supposed. The
more
frequently
account of the death of Manoury, the surgeon, is a
conviucing
proofof this ; it serves also to explainthe

escape this

criminals.

condition of many

the enemy
of
Example 110. Manoury, who was
Urbain
Grandier,was chosen,on April26, 1634, to
and ascertain whether, accordingto the
examine
the accused had any part
of the prioress,
statement
insensible. He fulfilled this
of his body which was
and one
cannot
mission with the greatestbarbarity,
of the unhappy man
think of the sufferings
even
without a thrill of horror.f He had,however,reason
one
to repentof his cruelties,
for, returning
night
the outskirts of the town,
from visiting
a patient
on
accompaniedby his brother and another person, he
suddenlycried out, 'Ah ! there is Grandier ! What
trembled
and
do you want with one ?* He
violently,
"

Gazette des

Tribunaux,2 Mai, 1844.

t See the excellent episodeof the torture of Urbain

in the

Ci?iq-Marsde

M.

de

Vigny.

Grandier

CAUSES

seized with

OF

305

HALLUCINATIONS.

from which
his companions
frenzy,
could not recover
him.
They took him to his house,
he seemed to
to Grandier,whom
talking
perpetually
have before his eyes ; they got him
to bed, still
state of frenzy. During
tremblingand in the same
the few remainingdays of his life he remained in the

was

state.

same

died

He

with

the idea that Grandier

to keep him
present,and endeavoured
away,
a
ll
the
time
exclamations."
uttering
frightful
hours of Charles IX.
Sullyrelates that the solitary
rendered terrible by a repetition
were
of the cries
and groans which assailed his ears duringthe massacre
was

of Saint Bartholomew.*
"

Charles,"says the illustrious minister, heariug,

the night of that day,and during the whole
of
on
the next
day, the account of the slaughterof so
old men,
and children,
called apart
women,
many
Master
Ambroise
Pare, his principalsurgeon, to
whom
he was
greatlyattached,althoughof the proscribed
and
said
I
to
don't
him,
religion,
Ambroise,
know what has come
over
me
duringthe last two or
three days,
but I find both my mind and body greatly
feel as though I had a fever,and,
depressed
; I
whether sleeping
or
waking,the slaughtered
bodies,
"

'

with their hideous

alwaysbefore

are

and

blood-stained
I wish

me.

theyhad

countenances,
not included

the imbecile and the innocent."

When

the mind

is burdened

by a great crime,
monomania
is close at hand.
Not unfrequently
cusing
acvoices terrify
the guilty
person, and he becomes
insane.

of
Example 111. In 1623 or 1624, one Fletcher,
Rascal,a town in the North Riding of Yorkshire,a
of good estate,married a young woman
who
yeoman
had been formerlykind with one
Ralph Raynard,
*

Collection cles Memoires

vol. i. p. 245.
serie,

a
relatifs

VHistoire

de

France,2e

306

OF

CAUSES

HALLTTCrNATIOKS.

who

kept an inn within half-a-mile from Eascal,in

the high roadway betwixt
York
and Thirske,his
sister living
with him.
This Eaynard continued in
unlawful lust with the said Fletcher's wife,who, not
content
therewith,
conspiredthe death of Fletcher,
Mark
Dunn
one
being made privy,aud hired to
assist in the murder,which Eaynard and Dunn
plished
accomas
they
upon May-day,by drowningFletcher,
from
all three together
called Huby ;
town
came
a
the wife with the deed, she gave
and acquainting
them
sack therein to convey the body,which they
a
did,and buried it in Eaynard'sbackfield or croft,
where

an

sowed

old

oak-root

had

been

stubbed

up,

and

mustard-seed

therebyto hide
upon the place,
continued
their wicked
of lust
course

it.

So

and

drunkenness, and the neighboursdid much

they

at Fletcher's absence

but his wife did

but gone
writs being served upon him.
and said that he

was

it,

excuse

aside for fear of

And

der
won-

some

it continued

so

until about the 7th

day of July,when Eaynard,going

to Topcliffe
fair,and settingup his horse in the
of Fletcher,
in his usual shape and
the spirit
stable,
habit,did appear unto him, and said, Oh ! Ealph,
"

And
repent,repent,for my revenge is at hand."
until he was
ever
after,
put in the gaol,it seemed to
stand before him, wherebyhe became sad and restless ;
and his own
sister,overhearinghis confession and
relation of it to another person, did,through fear of
her own
life,
immediatelyreveal it to Sir William
of
who lived in Eascal,and was
a
Sheffield,
justice

peace.
and sent to the
all three apprehended,
They were
all three condemned,
gaol at York, where theywere
to the placewhere
near
and so executed accordingly
buried.*
and where Fletcher was
Eaynard lived,
*

Webster

prosecution.

On

Witchcraft,p.

296.

Webster

assisted in the

308

CAUSES

OF

HALLUCINATIONS.

he

drummer

thought had been put as a spy on him.

He
perpetratedhis crime, and changinghis dress
after the deed was
done, made a long walk across
the country to
he halted,and

inn

an

the Portsmouth

on

went

bed, desiringto

to

the firstPortsmouth

when

summoned

road,where

coach

be

The

came.

called
waiter

him

his

bered,
accordingly
; but long after rememthat when he shook the guest by the shoulder,
first words, as he awoke, were,
My God ! I did

not

kill biin.'

'

"

Matchman

instantly entered

marine,I
to

the

know

seaportby the coach,and

to the

went
as

able-bodied

an

which.

not

tion
and attensobriety
same
good opinionof
which he had enjoyed

the

service

new

or

His

duty gained him

officers in his

landsman

afloat for several years, and

At length
actions.
remarkablywell in some

in the

He

army.

behaved

the vessel

was

into

came

Plymouth,and

paidoff,and

was

of the crew, amongst whom

Jarvis Matcham,
was
dismissed as too old for service. He and another

some
were

resolved to walk

seaman

by Salisbury.It

town, and took the

to

when

was

miles

of this celebrated

than

seemed

within

two

route

three

or

taken
overcity,that they were
by a tempest so suddenly,and accompanied
and thunder
with such vivid lightning,
so
dreadfully
loud,that the obdurate conscience of the old sinner
He
terror
more
bes;an to be awakened.
expressed

natural

for

who

one

elements,and began to
that his companion became
wildly,

the

of

war

than

more

rose

from

desired the

man

highway,to

see

was

alone.

The

complainedthat

the
to

his

road
walk

familiar with

look and
aware

At

companion

and
on

the

other

length

that

the
He

side of the

they would follow him

and Jarvis
sailor complied,
stones

so

thing
some-

flew after him.

if

the

talk

that

the matter.

was

complained to

Matcham
stones

usual

was

stillflew after

when

he

Matcham.

him, and

CAUSES

did not

the

pursue

added, coming up
with

tone

of

309

HALLUCINATIONS.

OF

other.

'

But

what

is worse,'he

his

companion,and whispering,
mystery and fear, who is that little
to

'

drummer-boy; and what business has he to follow

us
so
closely?' 'I can see no one,'answered the
infected by the superstition
of his associate.
seaman,
What
! not see that littleboy with the bloodypantaloons!'
exclaimed the secret murderer,so much
to
the terror of his comrade, that he conjuredhim, if he
his mind, to make
had anything on
clear cona
science
"

'

as

far

fetched
was

unable

as

confession

deep
longer to

led for years.

drummer, and

He

then

added

could

do it.

groan,

and

declared

endure

the

life which

confessed the

that, as

murder

The

that

minal
crihe

he had
of the

considerable reward

he wished
his comrade
to deliver
offered,
him up to the magistrates
of Salisbury,
he would
as
desire a shipmateto profit
by his fate,which he was
convinced was
inevitable. Having overcome
his
now
friend's objections
to this mode
of proceeding,
Jarvis
Matcham
surrendered
to justiceaccordingly,
was
and made a full confession of his guilt. But before
The
the trial the love of life returned.
prisoner
denied his confession,
and pleaded Not Guilty.' By
this time,however, full evidence had been procured
from
other quarters. Witnesses
appearedfrom his
former regiment to prove his identity
with the murderer
and deserter,
and the waiter remembered
the
ominous words which he had spoken when he awoke
him to jointhe Portsmouth
coach.
Jarvis Matcham
found
When
his last
was
guilty,and executed.
chance of life was
over, he returned to his confession,
and with his dyingbreath averred,and truly,
he
as
Plain.
thought,the truth of the vision on Salisbury
Similar
adds Sir Walter
Scott, might be
stories,"
that,under the direction of
produced,showingplainly
fear may be
Heaven, the influence of superstitious

had

been

'

"

310

the

CAUSES

appointedmeans

OF

HALLUCINATIONS.

of

pentance
bringingthe criminal to refor his own
sake,and to punishment for the
advantageof society."*
says Esquirol,
may arise from the
of the same
mental
voluntaryor forced repetition
operations.f
When
the recollections acquire
the same
intensity
first impressions,
when
the same
sensations
as
or
to
are
prolonged,it becomes impossible
indefinitely
between
the two.
This is what happens
distinguish
when
of the brain becomes
the susceptibility
wrought
overdwellingon the same
by constantly
subject.
At those times the individual is apt to hear or see
the special
if
as
objectof his thoughtsas distinctly
the images or sounds came
from without ; his reason
wanders,being deceived by these false sensations.
Example 113. In the month of October, 1833, a
a native of Piemont,went
aged twenty-eight,
woman,
to the ball givenat the fete of her village.
She danced
for three dayswith a hind of frenzy; after that she
heard the sound of the music which had so
perpetually
her.
Tire-balloons had been let off",
and of
delighted
these she saw
a continual succession,
one
making way

[Hallucinat

for another.

This

hallucination

disturbed

the vital

ultimately
broughton a kind of nervous
cal
consumption. Dr. Brosserio observed that the musi-

powers,

and

sounds

continued

to increase with the progress

of

died without ever

and the woman
disease,
ceasing
to hear them. J
cess
Example 114. Tasso,whose passionfor the Prinof all his misfortunes,
the cause
d'Est was
ended
that he had a familiar spirit
with whom
by believing
the

and from whom

he conversed

thingswhich

he had

never

read

he
or

declared he learnt
heard

of,and

Walter Scott : Opus cit. p. 367.

t Esquirol Des Maladies Mentales,vol. ii.
23 Aout, 1831.
X Journal de Paris.
:

1838.

that

CAUSES

311

HALLUCINATIONS.

OE

J. B. Manso,
to other persons.
his friend,says, that one day,at Besaccio,near
Naples,
to convince him of the illusion
when he endeavoured
indeed

were

under

which

unknown

him

laboured,the poet repliedto

he

"

Since my reasons
will do so by your

you, I

not sufficientto convince

are

and
experience,

own

for this purpose

of
eyes this spirit
which I have spoken to you, and for which you will
"I
trust
not
accept the offer,"said
my word."
I wish

you to

with

see

your

own

"

Manso

and

the

day, the

next

being

two

seated

"
he observed that Tasso
before the fire,
on
a sudden
kept his eye on a window, and remained in a manner

immovable.
no

At

answer.

his name, but received

cried out, ' There is the

called him

He

by

last Tasso

is

friendlyspiritthat

to

come

you will be convinced

that I have said.'

of the

look ! and

"

nothing except

saw

windows.

but

could

ask where

the

cast his

He

truth of all

the

over

room,

justgoing to
when

pretendedspiritwas,

the

surprise
; he looked,but
sunbeams
dartingthrough

eyes all
perceivenothing; and was

the

me

with

heard him

Manso

with

converse

he heard

speak with great earnestness,sometimes putting

giving
questions to the spirit,sometimes
in such a pleasing
the whole
answers
; delivering
that he
and in such elevated expressions,
manner,
Tasso

to

interrupthim.
ended

conversation

appearedby

as

Manso,
Manso

asked
was

had

admiration,and

listened with

more

with

Tasso'
him

the
own

At

the least inclination

last,the

uncommon

departureof the spirit,

words, who, turningto

if his

amazed

not

doubts

than

ever

were

he

removed.
scarce

knew

and waived
of his friend's situation,
further conversation on the subject."*
what

to think

Apparentlyslight
causes,
*

The

Hoole's

such

Life of Tasso,p. 48.

vol.
Friend, by S. T. Coleridge,

Vie

as

du

are

enumerated

Tasse,par

xi. p. 236.

any

Manso.

312

OF

CAUSES

below, and

which

HALLUCINATIONS.

do not

seem

to

to

us

have

been

noticed by those who have written on the

previously
of hallucinations.
subject,
may favour the development
Keadingsor conversations on any favourite subject
continued
unreasonablylate at night will produce
unreasonable
restlessness,
and

nervous

sensitive

visions in
fears,or even
people. Conolly speaks of

wake
persons, who, from this cause, would
young
troubled for some
dreams,and were
up with frightful
ing
impressionswith regardto surroundgence
objects.We attended a gentleman of intelliand education,
who, for several years after a
attack of fever,
severe
experienced
every nightthe most
of anxiety,
indescribable terror,and an intense feeling
that he should be surrounded
fearingevery moment
this state was
He
the
was
aware
by apparitions.
but at the approachof darkness,
result of his illness,

time with

false

all his firmness

Second
These

vanished.
Division.

causes

may

be

"

Causes.

Physical

arranged under

five heads.

firstbelong those hallucinations which arise

from special
conditions,such as descent,
sex,
physical
occasioned
chanical
by meclimate,"c. ; to the second,those
by alcoholic drinks and narcotic
causes,
those which show themselves
substances;to the third,
to the fourth,those which are compliwith insanity;
cated
diseases not constituting
with nervous
insanity;
to the fifthbelong those hallucinations which
lastly,
are
produced by inflammatory,acute, chronic,or
other diseases. Many of these subjects
having been
shall
considered in another part of the work, we
of
confine ourselves to givinga generaldescription
To

the

them.
First Section. In this division we
the influence which is exercised over
"

of hallucinations

by descent,sex,

have to examine
the

age,

production
temperament,

CAUSES

OF

313

HALLUCINATIONS.

occupation
causes, by the seasons,
; by physiological
know nothing
We
and by climate and locality.
really
with regardto several of these causes, and of others
our
knowledgeis extremelylimited. It must not be
only a
forgottenthat the hallucination is frequently
cumstances
a
complication,
symptom, and that,under these cirits separatestudyis extremelydifficult.
have

We
descent

records which

no

hallucinations.

on

have

hallucinations

nervous

The

and

had

Two

hereditary

notice,and

our

so

was

the

Catherine

son.

de

hallucination in reference to Pierre de

Charles IX., her son, had one

the massacre
of Saint Bartholomew.
and

We

of

cases

under

come

the influence of

we

opinionthat this disease,like others of the

system, is capableof beingtransmitted.
Carden was
father of Jerome
to appasubject
ritions,

of

are

prove

have

l'Estoile,
night of

anythingin regardto the

hallucinations which could specially
be

not

of

occurrence

the

on

Medicis

observed

referred to the influence of

sex.

Out

of

one

hundred

thirty-six
persons admitted into our establishment,
females. It
males and seventy-three
were
sixty-three
is very different,
however,with regardto the nature
for throughouttheir history
it
of the hallucinations,
in women.
Their
is found that erotic ideas prevail
is explained
in man
by the greaterfacility
iufrequency
his desires.
he possesses for gratifying
in moral
originating
Age.' Hallucinations generally
being very frequently
complicatedwith
causes, and
their appearance corresponds
with the proinsanity,
gress
of that disease,
and they show themselves
at
and

"

the

time

of lifewhich

is most

liable to

it.

There

to this rule,and instances have

exceptions
of children beingsubjectto hallucinations
at a very earlyage.
Example 115. About twelve years ago we saw, in
a private
asylum in Paris,a young girlseven
years
are

many
occurred

314

CAUSES

old,whose

OF

mother

and

HALLUCINATIONS.

grandmother were

insane,and

to hallucinations.
This child had a particusubject
larly
a
intelligent
high forehead,with
appearance
large expressiveeyes. Her conversation was
verysuperiorto that of most children of her age, and
surprisedall who heard it.
"

The

animation

excessive

and

she could

restlessness of the

child

were

quietin one place,

and alwayswanted to be moving about. Any attempt
to restrain her rendered
her irritable and impatient.
From
time to time she was
subjectto attacks,which
showed
themselves
in the followingmanner.
Her
animation and restlessness were
her speech
increased,
short and abrupt,and she soon
fell into a state
was
of ecstasy; her eyes were
turned upwards,
and became
her
fixed,an expressionof happiness spread over
tone of
countenance, and she spoke in an impressive
those angels in the
see
voice, saying, Do
you
heavens ?
with
flowers ; they
They are crowned
advance to meet
to seek me."
me
come
; they have
Very often she would remain silent,as if plungedin
state
of abstraction,
then she would
a
again point
with her fingertowards
the heavens,calling
to the
this had lasted for two or three hours,
angels. When
it continued,the girl
the vision disappeared
; while
white as wax, her skin was
as
was
cold,and her pulse
it was
as
scarcely
perceptible
over, she would
; as soon
fall asleep. Upon waking up her agitation
returned,
and continued for some
days. Her conversation was
understood what
somewhat
disconnected;she scarcely
said to her,and answered
in a peculiar
manner.
was
Everythingwould then go on in the usual manner,
:

never

remain

"

fresh attack took place.

hallucinations in children
These

until

fear

or

from

waking state

may

punishment. They occur

and
well as duringsleep,
as

arise from

during the
in the latter

314

CAlTJSES

oid, wnose^

HALLUCINATIONS.

OP

has taken

the account

subject/hallucination
^r

Example

at .a

118.

distance of

"I
seven

was

from

the

sent

of

an

Mercure

interesting
Galant

of

young to a town
leaguesfrom my native place,

in order that I

very

might be weaned from home and learn

to write.
piration
Having returned from thence,at the exof five or six months, I was
directed to repair
where
to the house of one
of my relatives,
my father,
who was
newly returned from the army, had arrived,
and had sent for me.
He examined
my specimensof
them good,failed not to express
and, finding
writing,
of their beingmy own.
As he was
a suspicion
going
the
one
out, therefore,
afternoon,
ladyof
alongwith
he
the house,to pay a visit in the neighbourhood,
in order
recommended
to write ten or twelve lines,
me
to remove
his doubts.
Immediately
upon my father's
to go up to the
departure,
my duty prompted me
chamber
that had been allotted for us, and having
I knelt down
searched for all my writingmaterials,
being then a littleboy before an arm-chair,
upon
which I placedmy paper and ink.
While
I thought I heard
engaged in writing,
carryingcorn to
upon the staircase peoplewho were
risen from the place
granaries.Having, therefore,
I was
of the
where
kneeling,I turned a corner
little room
a
tapestry,and saw
open, and in this
room
my father seemed engaged in conversation with
her.
As I
the ladyof the house,being seated near
had seen
both one
and the other get into a carriage,
much surprised
and set out from the chateau,I was
united
Terror
at now
them before me.
perceiving
I let go the tapestry,
itself to astonishment.
and,
descended the staircase.
leavingthe chamber,quickly
marked
Upon meeting with the housekeeper,she realteration in my face,and asked what
some
the matter.
I told her allabout it. She honestly
was
"

"

"

"

assured

dreaming,and

been

I had

that

me

317

HALLUCINATIONS.

OP

CAUSES

that the

and my father would not return for more

fain have discredited her
I would
than an
hour.
the door of her room,
and stood fixed near
assurance,
them arrive. My trouble was
until at lengthI saw
marchioness

not

at the

little increased

however,

said

him, all

the

the occasion

nothing to

my

have

would

he

after supper,

sent

to allow

was

upon
not

alongwith him.
to find
retiring,

to

ask

vain

some

what

me

was

accompany

of it ;

cause

him

to

re-enter

and, after

that

was

rather

or
granaries,

It

the staircase led.

I then told him

foolish tales.

he
adventure ; which
my
intent upon undeceiving
me,
to the

to

out

in the chamber.
had appeared
spirits
of me
to whom
I
fear,and demanded

derided my
indebted for such

He

on

therefore,
astonished,
lingered.He failed

I confessed

excuses,

because
terrified,

the

muster

to
unwilling

was

before

be conducted

for him

that I had
was

bed

I could

myselfto

He

to

me

self-collectionwhich

Yet I waited
of his presence.
into our chamber,for I was
me
it but

for the present,

father ; but when,

sight;

was

to

the

then

was

that these garretswere

that there was
corn

not

heard,than,
conducted by him
garrets to which

sooner

no

made

known

to

fit to be store-rooms

me

for

none
there,and that
actually
had been any.
there never
Upon my return,as I
he asked me
to pointout
followed close to my father,
and seen
the placewhere I had lifted up the tapestry
"

the
show

room

I searched for it in all directions to

open.

in vain.

him, but

in the four walls of

from

our

chamber

find

no

than

that which

other

door
led

the staircase.

"Events

so

to
opposite

be the case, alarmed me

from what I had heard
of them
my

I could

senses.

what

I had

still more,

related of

believed could

and

imagined,

that
goblins,

some

had caused these illusions in order to abuse

My

father then insisted that such

alleged

318

CATJSES

freaks

of

OF

HALLUCINATIONS.

were
spirits

than

tbose

fables

mere

"

fabulous

more

of

iEsop or of Phagdrus,adding,
that the truth was, I had sleptwhile writing,
that I
dreamt duringmy sleepall which I now
believed I
had heard and seen, and that the conjoined
influence
of surprise
and fear havingacted on my imagination,
even

had

caused

the

same

been

producedby

it for

it as
effect upon
truth itself. I had

would

have

at
difficulty
the time to assent to his reasoning
obliged
; but was
to acknowledgeit in the end as very just. Observe,
however;,how strong the impressionof this dream
I think, candidly,
that if the vision had not
was.
been falsifiedby all the circumstances which
I have
justnoted, I should,even at this time,have received

truth."*

There
but

can

be

no

doubt

hallucination.

instances which

that this

I could

caused

cite

by

was

not

numerous

dream,
similar

preoccupiedstate
of the mind, by fear,by the dread of punishment,or
from the alarm which is producedby the silence and
darkness of night.
be stated with regardto the
can
Nothing positive
those which afford
influence of professions
: a priori,
the greatestscope to the imaginationshould be the
of hallucinations.
favourable to the production
most
we
In support of this opinion,
might mention several
and whose aberration
poets who have had hallucinations,
of their
was
owing to the nature
evidently
occupation.
exercises an influence over
Climate, undoubtedly,
hallucinations. The character of the European differs
The physical
from that of the Asiatic and African.
character on
constitution tends to impressa special
feel
we
the various nations ; but,in addition to this,
were

convinced that the ideas vary with the natural features

*

Hibbert

Opus

cit.p. 436.

CAUSES

Or

319

HALLUCINATIONS.

it is
proofof climatal influence,
creeds and the syssufficient to recal the theological
tems
of cosmogony
belongingto the north ; in these
countries the aspectsof nature are gigantic,
wild,and
the Laplanders,the
the inhabitants
terrible
as
of a highly susare
ceptible
Ostyaks,and the Samoiedes
temperament, and peopletheir solitudes with
invisible beings.* On
comparing the opinionsof
these nations with regardto the world of spirits
with
those which
prevailedin Greece and America, they
of the district.

In

"

"

found

are

in each

case

accord

to

with

the

natural

features of the

country.
present remarkable differences
in regardto locality
in towns are
occur
; those which
frequently
very distinct from those which take place
in the country. Thus, while the effects of the passions
reflected in the first,
and of scepticismare
impresstheir characters on
ignoranceand superstition
The

the

hallucinations

second.

histories

The

the

of

most

civilized

France, England,and Germany,

with these popularsuperstitions.
would
fillvolumes
The
is one
belongingto Franche-Comte :
following
On the plateauof Haute-Pierre
there is often seen
half-woman
a
figure,
half-serpent
; it is the Vouivre.
countries, such

as

"

She has
carbuncle

no

eyes, but on her forehead she carries a

which guides her by a ray of lightwhich

she wishes
by day as well as by night. When
she is obliged
to enter a river,
to leave the carbuncle
the land.
on
Any one who can then succeed in
the spirit,
and compel
obtainingit,may command
her to bring him all the treasures which
hidden
are
in the mountains ; but it is a dangerousadventure ;
darts out of
for, at the least noise, the Vouivre
the river,and
to him
whom
she may
woe
enshines

The countries of the North

and
demons
magicians. Broc
vol. i. 1836.
"

were
:

long regardedas the abode of

Essai

sur

les Races

Humaines,

320

CAUSES

counter.*

The

confesses his
the

the

HALLTJCIKATIOXS.

who fears nothing

Englishsailor,
else,
terror for Old JS"ick,
and believes him

of almost

author

which

OF

all the

life of
precarious

various

calamities

sailor is

to

continually

so

exposed.
The Bhar-guest,
it
or
Bhar-geist,
by which name
is generally
acknowledgedthrough various country
in Yorkshire,also
partsof England,and particularly
called

Dobie

local

"

spot under
of
implies,

name

Solitude

is

which
spectre,

various forms

Teutonic

haunts

is

"

as
deity,

particular
his

descent. t

of the influences which

belongsto
This will constantly
hallucination
produce a partial
locality.
in imaginative
individuals.
or
especially
ecstasy,
The

one

Eastern

feelingsof those
powerfuleffect of

tales

who

have

this

cause

of the

desert,and the
traversed it,show the
tion
observa; nevertheless,

The
proves that it varies with the locality.
hallucinations which occur
the Northern
on
Steppes
different to

are

those

which

arise

on

the

burning

plainsof the South.

of hallucinations,
In speaking
of the physical
causes
we
again refer to those which are produced
may
voluntarily
by lookingat the sun, or an image of it
the vision to a dark
in a glass,
and then directing
part of the room.
of this kind,Darwin
Amongst other experiments
has related the following. I covered a paper, about
and with a pen, filled
four inches square, with yellow,
the middle of it the
wrote upon
with a blue colour,
with my back
in capitals
word BANKS,
; and sitting
to the sun, fixed my eyes for a minute
exactlyon
"

the

centre

shuttingmy

of

the

letter

eyes, and

in

de

word.

the

shadingthem

Xavier Marmier
: Souvenirs
73.
laires,
p.
f Walter Scott:
*

Voyage

somewhat
et Traditions

Opus tit.p. 97.

After
with

Popu-

CAUSES

OF

321

HALLUCINATIONS.

in the
seen
hands, the colour was
distinctly
spectrum in yellowcolours on a blue ground; and
then, on opening my eyes on a yellowishwall at
the magnified
of BANKS
name
twenty feet distance,
appearedon the wall,written in goldencharacters."
"
A friend of mine," says Abercrombie, had been
one
day lookingintenselyat a small print of the
Virginand Child,and had sat bending over it for
time.
On raising
his head he was
startled by
some
at the farther end of the apartment a
perceiving
female figure
of the size of life,
with a child in her
The firstfeeling
of surprise
arms.
having subsided,
he instantly
traced the source
of the illusion,
and remarked
that the figurecorrespondedexactly
with
that which he had contemplated
in the print. The
my

"

illusion continued
The

ocean

All who

are

mirage.

minutes."*

of the atmosphere
may producesingular

state

visions.

distinct for about two

have

traversed

acquaintedwith
General

Travels of the Arab

the

the

desert

phenomenon

or

the

of the

Daumas, in his translation of the

Sid-el-Adg-Mahommed, has

tioned
men-

examplesof this. Soldiers who

have made campaignsin Egypt and Africa have witnessed
distant views
of rivers,trees, villages,
or
have resolved
armies,which,on a nearer
approach,
themselves into dryand burningmasses
of sand. The
effects may
be producedby great elevations in
same
the atmosphere.
Onanism,by its action on the nervous
system,and
the mental depression
which it produceswhen it has
been long continued,
has frequently
been the cause
of
several curious

hallucinations.
"We

have

known

men

young

who

had

and

been

well

brought up, but having contracted

religiously
this pernicious
dehabit,theysank into the deepest
*

Abercrombie

Opus cit.p.

63.

322

CAUSES

OF

HALLUCINATION'S.

lost all desire

spondency,
of imaginaryterrors,and

of life,
became

the victims

pursued by tions
temptathe physical
cases
constitution was
but the distressing
not
altered,
from the mental suffering.
arose
feelings
The second division of physicalcauses
which may
give rise to hallucinations,
comprises,mechanical
alcoholic drinks, certain gases, plants,and
causes,
narcotic substances.
poisonous
suicide.

to commit

The

mechanical

include pressure

In these

which

causes
on

were

favour

the organs

of the

hallucinations
senses,

their

by foreignbodies,concussion of the brain,

and insufficient
abstinence,
food.
hanging,
shut up in one
of the galleries
A miner was
of
the mine for fifteen days,havingno food,and onlyso
much
water as he caught by a drop at a time in
his hand.
lost his
During all this time he never
he thought upon the distress of
senses
; but when
irritation

his wife and

he
children,
quietedall anguish.*

heard celestialvoices which

Savigny,who was on the raft of the wrecked

all the horrors of starvation,
Medusa, and experienced
and
himself surrounded
saw
by beautiful plantations,
with beingsof an
in communication
was
agreeable
M.

reasoned,however, upon the state he

was
in,and felt that it was
onlyby a strongmental
effort he could ward off this kind of incipient
insanity.
Many of those on board the Medusa dailyimagined
He

nature.

surrounded

Medical

adiii.No.

and

by

similar

saw
objects
; some
to their
vessels in the distance,which they signalled
or
assistance,
theybeheld a road leadingto a magnificent
city. M. Coreard fancied he was passing
through the most beautiful scenery of Italy. M.
Savigny observes,that during the nights he and
attacked with dementia.
"When
his companions
were

themselves

PhysicalJournal,by

252, Feb.

1850.

"William

Hutchinson,vol.

324

CAUSES

The

universe is

Of

OE

HALLUCINATIONS.

ideas,pleacomposedof impressions,
sures,
"#
and pains!'
all the substances whose
action on
the body

givesrise
remarkable

to hallucinations

and

the
illusions,

most

opium and the haschisch. In the work

entitled Confessions
of an EnglishOpium Eater, the
author has admirably
described the sensations which
he experienced
from the prolonged
of this drug.
use
portant
Example 119. The first notice I had of any imchange going on in this part of my physical
from the re-awakeningof a state of
was
economy,
incident to childhood,
exalted state
or
eye generally
At night,
I layawake
of irritability.
when
in bed,
vast
processions
passed along in mournful pomp ;
that to my feelings
friezes of never-ending
stories,
sad and solemn as if theywere
stories drawn
were
as
before Tyre
from times before CEdipusor Priam
before Memphis. And
at the same
time a corresponding
change took placein my dreams ; a theatre
seemed suddenlyopened and lightedup within my
of more
brain,which presentednightlyspectacles
than
earthlysplendour. And the four following
are

"

facts may

be mentioned

That, as the creative

as

"

noticeable at this time

of the eye
the
to arise between
state

"

a
increased,
waking and
point. That

sympathyseemed
dreaming states of the brain in one
I happened to call up
and to trace
whatsoever
by a voluntaryact upon the darkness,was
very
dreams, so that
apt to transfer itself to my
I feared to exercise this faculty;
for, as Midas
all things to gold that yet baffled his
turned
ever
whatsoso
desires,
hopes and defrauded his human
I
represented
thingscapableof beingvisually
did but think of in the darkness,
immediatelyshaped
into phantoms of the eye ; and, by a
themselves
*

Davy'sResearches

on

Nitrous

Oxide,p.

488.

CAUSES

process no
faint and

OF

325

HALLUCINATIONS.

thus traced in
when once
less inevitable,
like writingsin sympacolours,
visionary
thetic

iuk, they

chemistryof

my

drawn

were

dreams

out

by

the

into insufferable

fierce

splendour

that fretted my heart.

For
this,and all other

changes in my dreams,
and gloomy
were
anxiety
accompaniedby deep-seated
by
melancholy,such as are wholly incommunicable
I seemed every night to descend,not metaphorically,
words.
and
but literally
to descend,into chasms
sunless abysses,
depths below depths,from which it
seemed
hopelessthat I could ever re-ascend. Nor
did I by waking feel that I had re-ascended.
of
of space and, in the end, the sense
The sense
affected. Buildings,
scapes,
landboth powerfully
time,were
vast as
exhibited in proportions
so
"c, were
the bodilyeye is not fitted to receive. Spaceswelled,
to an extent of unutterable infinity.
and was amplified
the
much
as
so
This, however, did not disturb me
seemed to have
vast expansionof time ; I sometimes
lived for seventyor a hundred years in one
night
of a millennium
representative
nay, sometimes had feelings
tion
passedin that time,or, however,of a durafar beyondthe limits of any human
experience.
incidents of childhood,
The minutest
or
forgotten
"

scenes

not

"

often revived.
I could
of later years, were
be said to recollect them, for if I had been told

waking I should not have been able to

acknowledgethem as parts of my past experience.
before me
in dreams, like
But, placedas they were

of them

when

and clothed in
intuitions,

all their evanescent

stances
circum-

I recognised
stantaneo
inaccompanyingfeelings,
relative
I was
told by a near
once
of mine, that having in her childhood fallen into a
river,and being on the very verge of death but for
in
the criticalassistance which reached her, she saw
in its minutest
her whole life,
incidents,
a moment

and

326

CAUSES

OE

HALLUCINATIONS.

as in a mirror ; and
arrayedbefore her simultaneously
she had a faculty
developedas suddenlyfor comprehending

the whole

opium

and every part. This,from

experiencesof mine, I can believe. I

indeed,seen
books, and

have,

.thingasserted twice in modern

accompaniedby a remark which I am
convinced is true ; viz.,
that the dread book of account
which the Scriptures
the
speak of is,in fact,

mind

the

some

same

itselfof each individual.

With

tion,
power of endless growthand self-reproducarchitecture entered into my dreams.
In the
of my
very earlystageof my maladythe splendours
dreams
indeed chiefly
and I beheld
were
architectural,
a

such pomp
of cities and palacesas was
never
yet beheld by the waking eye, unless in the clouds.
To my

of lakes and
succeeded dreams
architectural,
I suffered
silvery
expanses of water. For two months
greatlyin my head. The waters now
changed their
from translucent lakes,
character,
shininglike mirrors,
became
And
and oceans.
seas
now
came
they now
tremendous
itself slowly
a
change,which, unfolding
like a scroll,
through many months promised an
left me
until
abidingtorment ; and, in fact,it never
the winding up of my
Hitherto the human
case.
face had mixed often in my dreams, but not despotically,
of
with any special
nor
tormenting.But
power
that which I have called the tyranny of the
now
human
face began to unfold itself. Upon the rocking
waters
of the ocean
face began to
the human
the sea
appeared paved with innumerable
appear;
faces upturned to the heavens
faces imploring,
wrathful,despairing,
surged upwards by thousands,
by generations,
by myriads,
by centuries ; my agitation
infinite my mind
tossed and surgedwith
was
"

"

the ocean.*
*

Confessions
of an EnglishOpium Eater,pp. 37-40. London,

5th edition.

327

HALLUCINATIONS.

OF

CAUSES

in his Voyageen Moree, has given

Porqueville,
a frightful
pictureof the effects of opium on those
it. Their passionfor it is so
who
use
habitually
of death and all the miseries
strong,that the certainty
which precede
it,cannot hinder them from indulging
in this deadlypoison.
Example 120. This writer relates the case of an
sent
on
a
political
English ambassador, who was
of the Indian kings. On his arrival
mission to one
conducted
he was
at the palace of the sovereign,
lined
througha long suite of magnificent
apartments,
by officers of state clad in the richest apparel
; he
Dr.

led into

then

was

and

decorations

than
description
There
persons

small

what

chamber, where
of

were

he had

the

still more

niture
fur-

costly

seen.
already

left by himself./In a short time two

of high rank entered,preceding
a litter borne
he

was

by slaves,and covered with rich silks and cashmere

stretched
On the couch was
shawls of greatvalue.
a human
form,which he should have mistaken for a
sponded
corpse but for the motion of the head,which correto that of the bearers ; two

had

attendance

each of which
a

in their hands

was

cup, and

golden waiter, on
small bottle containing

liquid.
bluish-looking
The ambassador,thinking
he

witness of

some

of the officersin

was

funeral ceremony,
undeceived
upon

involuntary

the
wished

to

retire ;

of
observingone
lifeless
the officersraise the head of this apparently
being,replacethe tongue, which was hanging from
at
it swallow some
black liquid,
the mouth, and make
time closing
the mouth, and gentlyrubbing
the same
but he

was

soon

When
the throat in order to facilitateits passage.
five or six times,
this operationhad been repeated
the
own

figureopened its eyes

accord

another

it then

largedose

and closed its mouth

swallowed,without

of the

and, in
liquid,

of its

assistance,
less than

an

328

CAUSES

hour,became

of its limbs.

use

HALLUCINATIONS.

and
revived,

recovered

somewhat

OF

sat up on the couch,having

its natural colour and the partial

He

then

addressed

the

envoy in
of his mission.
the objects

Persian,and asked him

For nearlytwo hours this extraordinary
person
conscious
perfectly

mained
re-

and

of transacting
capable
business of the greatestimportance. The English
ambassador
of asking him
took the liberty
some
which he had
questions
concerningthe strangescene
witnessed.
Sir,"he replied,I have long been an
and by degreeshave fallen into this deplorable
opium-eater,
condition.
I pass three partsof the day in
the torpidstate in which you have seen
me.
Although
I retain my conof moving or of speaking,
sciousness,
incapable
and during this time I am
surrounded
with the most
visions ; but I should never
delightful
awake if I was
not surrounded
tionate
by zealous and affec"

"

who watch over

with the most
me
attendants,
anxious solicitude. When, from the state of my pulse,
and
theyknow that my heart is becoming enfeebled,
is scarcely
perceptible,
theythen make
my respiration
swallow a solution of opium,which revives me
in
me
the manner
During these four hours
you have seen.
I shall have swallowed

several ounces,
time I shall relapse
into my habitual

and

in

short

*
torpor."

cases
opium has been known to
particular
effects on the brain without the
produceits peculiar
persons havingused it for any lengthof time,and,in

In

some

few cases, this has occurred

Example 121. "Sometime

from

the firstdose.

ago,"says Abercrombie,
I attended a gentlemanaffected with a painful
local
but which
disease,
requiringthe use of largeopiates,
often failed in producingsleep. In one
watchful
night there passedbefore him a long and regular
"

Universelle de
: Voyage en Moree.
Porqueville
Bibliotheque
Geneve,1841. Neuf A nnees a Constantinople,
par Brager,2 vol.
"

in-8.

1S36.

CAUSES

with certain
of much
The

which

occurrences

conversation in
vividness

had

been

Edinburgh some

each

figuressucceeded
and

transactions

and

of characters

exhibition

329

HALLUCINATIONS.

Or

of

connected

the

subject

time

before.

all the larity

regutheatrical exhibition : he
other with

long speecheswhich
in rhyme ;
of which were
were
made, some
occasionally
and he distinctly
remembered, and repeatedthe next
effusions. He
day,long passages from these poetical
was
quiteawake, and quitesensible that the whole
he
that when
was
a
phantasm; and he remarked
opened his eyes, the vision vanished,but instantly
reappearedwhenever he closed them." *
stance
Attention was
some
directed,
years ago, to a subused in the East, under
which is extensively
heard

the

name

and

their conversation

of haschisch.

It is made

from

the seeds of

hemp {CannabisIndica); and it would

Michaud,
Lengles,
appear, from the researches of MM.
portant
and De Sacy,that this compound performedan impart during the Middle Ages ; it is highly
probablethat the Vieux de la Montagne made use of it
of delirium.
to plunge their fanatics into a species
The facts which have been observed in Egypt and
Erance
in favour of this opinion. In 1840 I
are
with several other medical men, at an inquiry,
assisted,
in the Gazette
of which
the results were
published
Medicate.
Those who were
present felt no doubt
in the
that the haschisch was
the principal
ingredient
liquidwhich was given to the persons experimented
if it was
without
not that preparation
itself,
on, even
The following
the admixture of any other ingredient.
of what took placeat this meeting. I
is an account
had been requestedby M. A. de G., well known
by
his translation of Pliny,
to be present at some
riments
expeabout
to be made
which were
a
on
liquid
the

Indian

Abercrombie

Opus

cit.p. 388.

330

CAUSES

OF

HALLUCINATIONS.

whose

lie said,
when
effects,
drank, were
preciselysimilar to the phenomena which were
exhibited by
the adeptsof the Vieux de la Montague.
I arrived,
When
I found,amongst the persons who
were
Ferrus,and others wellEsquirol,
present,MM.
known
in science,
and art.
literature,
Example 122. Three persons had taken the liquor
at eleven o'clock :
A. K., a novelist,
of strongphysical
of the most
one
organization
; D., a barrister,
celebrated pupilsof the university
; and B., a painter
and musician.
hours elapsedwithout any senTwo
sible
ministered
adeffect beingproduced. A fresh dose was
when we noticed the following
phenomena
in two of these gentlemen: A. K. resisted the action
of the liquor,
to his own
ment,
stateaccording
experiencing,
sensation in the head and epigastrium
only a slight
a second
meal,which he had taken,
; possibly
: all three had
preventedthe effectsof the liquor
taken
parof breakfast previous
to the experiment.
not noticed at the comThe state of the pulsewas
mencement,
"

"

but its acceleration at

the state of the
the

later

and
period,

provedthe
pupil,
sufficiently

action of

liquid.
the first to experience
M. B., who was
any effects
from the drug,complained
of a drynessin his throat,
in his limbs ; the pulsewas
96 in a
and twitchings
minute, and the countenance
injected.Soon M. B.
closed his eyes in order to collect his thoughts; his
with extraordinary
ideas seemed to become developed
phenomenon
rapidity.At one time he exhibited the singular
of the double man, a fact which had already
in some
been observed
previousexperiments
; he
heard, he said,music with one
ear, and what was
spoken with the other : this,however, did not last
greatlydilated.
long. The pupilsat this time were
Upon being asked what he felt,M. B. said he had
voluptuoussensations. He became very animated,in

332

CAUSES

OF

HALLUCINATIONS.

to the questions
which
correctly

knew

the persons

who

spoke with
he would

rather

enjoymentof

his

put to him,

were

he

around

him ; but he evidently

the greatestreluctance,
and that
were

have

been

left in the undisturbed

four
ecstasy.At half-past

90 ; the ecstatic reveries continued.

was
though his soul was liberated from his

the

He

pulse

felt

as

body ; but,
nevertheless,had the most
agreeablesensations.
All those I have questioned
who have
the subject
on
made
the experiment,
assured me
that theyfelt no
inconvenience the next day,and that the feeling
of
happinesscontinued for two or three days.
M. D., the second who was
experimented
on, felt
convinced that the liquid
would have no effect upon
him, and

was

two

hours and

The

countenance

determined
a

half

no

to resist its influence.

symptoms

For

manifested.

were

of M. D. is

stern ; he is of
naturally
serious disposition,
and engaged in the studyof
a
metaphysics.
Towards
o'clock his pulsewas
two
100, and the
heart beat violently.
M. D., who up to this time had
been perfectly
with the different
collected,
conversing
in a
persons at the meeting,cried out that he was
delirium ; he began to sing,
and takingup his pen,
endeavoured
to describe his sensations. The following
It is very
of these fragmentary
notes :
are
some
cided
droll; my sensations are extremelyvivid ; what- dethat I
to take this admirable
me
was,
beverage
might be usefulwithout fear; I am very singular.
Ah ! theyare laughing
more."
at me, I will write no
"

"

"

"

"

He

his paper
features of M.

threw

aside.

The

delirium

increased.

changeable
; he
of the eye,
had a sarcastic smile,a lively
expression
the pulse120, and the
the countenance
was
injected,
pupil dilated. Like M. B., he seemed perfectly
and spoke
happy; he laughed,sang, gesticulated,
His ideas succeeded each
with extreme
volubility.
The

D.

became

very

OE

CAUSES

333

HALLUCINATIONS.

of
greatrapidity
; he had the appearance
In the midst of these numemonomaniac.
rous
a delighted
and versatile ideas,those which belong to his
still prevailed.
These grave subjects
usual pursuits
and puns.
The
were
mingledwith jokes,witticisms,
spitting
tongue was dry ; he was constantly
; and the
with slight
convulsive
lower extremities were
agitated
himself remarked,
The experimentalist
movements.
kind of insanity."Like M. B.,
This is a singular
He had
his sightand hearing
were
extremelyacute.
no
longerany notion of time or space, but he recognised
and
all the persons who were
at
times
present,
which were
to the questions
correctly
replied
put to
him. He drew out his watch,and said very seriously,

other with,

"

"It

is such

to

express
take away
the more,
I feel."

an

softer,and did

him,

might be

that I

continued

delirium
and

cried

he

came

in which

"

tongue
what

it
frequency,

became

some

communicate

more

out,

giveme

able to

in

beat

not

find terms

not

eye, and

an

pulse diminished

The
The

and

ear

of ideas

wish," he said," you would

"I

them.

multitude

could

he

head,but

into his

hour."

an

That

than

90

water

will

in

minute.

given to
produce frogs,
was

which will swallow the

liquor."He uttered a number

with inconceivable volubility
of incoherent phrases,
and much
gesticulation.
The delirium then changed its character ; M. D.
sat down

in

corner

talked to himself:
who

of the room, closed his eyes, and

he had the appearance of a person

is inspired.We
the

stood around

him

while he discoursed

and gave definitions ; then,

sciences,
like a person who is making preparatoryefforts,
he
peated
pronouncedcertain broken words, and suddenlyresome
twenty verses.
Believingthey were
alreadyknown, we neglectedto note them down ; but
asked if Victor Hugo was
when
not the author,
he
upon

334

To
They are your own, then?"
His countenance
which he made
a sign of assent.
had a gay and satisfied expression
; he had become
extremelypale; the pulse beat 100 ; the eyes were
closed,but he opened them at the request of his
less dilated.
brother,and the pupilswere
and
ceased to improvise,
He
spoke of foreign
had been told that the experimentacountries. We
lists
manifested
the phenomena of secoud
sight.
D. accurately
M.
described,as though they were
he had
which
present,the countries and towns
events which hapvisited ; he remembered
pened
particular
during his travels : thus he told us that he
at
men
saw
engaged in building the Pantheon
of
description
Naples,and gave us a most poetical
"

"

replied,No."

HALLUCINATIONS.

OF

CAUSES

countries

the localities and

which

attracted his

had

he
attention ; but, in spiteof all our
questions,
was
quite unable to describe placeshe had never
He

visited.

No, it is empty
expect I can see

had

if he could

asked him

brother

His

objectswhich

saw

see

into his brain.

your brain
objectsbetween

into

curtains and other

"

when

do you
there are

us."

Presently

he added,
besides,"

"

existence.

no

how

All this has been a dream

up, saying:
aberration gave a powerfulimpulse to my
I knew."
but it has added nothing to what

he

"

rose

for

delirium,which
train of

one

person
case,

who
make

time

some

had

him

in

were

ideas,
The

confined to

general. The
in the previous
he pleased.* This
as
remarkable phenomena.

talk and

act

the influence of
under
person
maniacal exaltation ; his ideas were
succeeded

and

been

the

ideas,now
again became
put questionscould,as

several
experimentpresented
The

had

haschisch

unconnected,

great rapidity
; they
excitement, which placedthem

each other with

state of

Brierre de

the

Boismont

Gazette

Mtdicale, 2 Mai, 1840.

CAUSES

beyond the
under

OP

influence

the dominion

335

HALLUCINATIONS.

of the

will.

mind

The

of hallucinations

and

was

illusions.

and revived,
as
Things of the past could be recalled,
sary
necesthoughtheywere
actually
present; but it was
lor the individual to have had a personal
ledge
knowof them, for when
questionedconcerning
thingswhich were not known to him, he would reply,
that it was
impossiblefor him to describe what he
had not seen, or, if he attempted,the description
obscure.
As in dreams, the idea of time and
was
lost. In one
of the three,the excitement
space was
far exalted his faculties,
to enable him to improvise
so
as
of verses
a number
; it is not, however,proved
that the subject
had not been previously
treated by
him.
What
is certain,
is,that M. D. declared he
felt his intellectual capacities
but that
were
enlarged,
the exaltation had added
nothingto what he previously
knew.
In the midst
state which

of this disordered

of the

career

ideas,

of the

termed a
experimentalists
the feeling
of personality
was
singular
insanity,
served
precurious
the
than
was
contrast
more
nothing
;
which existed between
the rational replies
that were
made
to the questions
addressed to them, and the
rambling character of their ideas when there was
nothingto recall them to the realitiesof life.
a

In

one

instance

one

circumstance

occurred which had

of the
analogyto the doctrine of the duality
mind, which Dr. Wigan has endeavoured to establish
some

"

with
with

one

the person heard the

other the music which

ear

the

All the

persons experimentedon
and great sensibility
of the
feelings

theywere

and
conversation,

being played.
had voluptuous
organ of hearing;

was

delirious ; the ideas became

subject
; and

they were

fixed

liable to

on

particular
irresistible

impulses.
Stramonium

(Datura stramonium) is

another

poi-

336

OF

CAUSES

which

substance

sonous

HALLUCINATIONS.

has the power

of

producing

hallucinations.

Example

123.

who

was

determined

to

years ago a musician

down
by domestic

Some
borne

put

an

and

poser,
com-

calamities,

end to his existence.

For

this

The
large dose of stramonium.
but^soon gave rise to
poisonfirst producedgiddiness,
He saw
symptoms resemblingthose of drunkenness.
whirlingbefore him, and endeavouring
troops of men
All
to entanglehim in their disordered movements.
purpose

he

the persons
assisted on

took

of the ballet in Gustave,at which

he had

previousnight,presentedthemselves
before him, mocking him and tormentinghim in every
He lost his consciousness,
and fell
manner.
possible
carried to the policehe was
the ground,when
on
extremelyviolent,thinking
court, where he became
surrounded
who
he was
by thieves and assassins,
The figuresappeared by
intended
to ill-use him.
and were
the room,
possessedof the
hundreds,filling
most

hideous

Taken
furious

to

the

countenances.

the

madman,

confinement.

The

Hotel-Dieu, he
whom
next

it

was

treated

as

necessary to put in
day,when he was brought
was

his excitement, althoughvery

establishment,
diminished.
The
much
pupils still
decided, was
still sursomewhat
remained
rounded
dilated,and he was
by phantoms. These phenomena soon ceased,
and at the end of three days he was
completely

to

my

recovered.
In November, 1843, three young
seeds of the stramonium.
They

children ate
soon

exhibited

some

the

symptoms produced by this drug: to these

and
were
added, in two of the children,numerous
hallucinations of sight. The next day all
continued
much
diminished,the youngest
the symptoms were
continuingvery weak in its legs. On the third day
usual

CAUSES

all the

had

symptoms

337

HALLUCINATIONS.

OF

as
disappeared,

if

by

chantment.*
en-

of the

who
treated with the
were
patients
stramonium, accordingto the plan of Dr. Moreau,

Many

animals in their beds.

saw

This hallucination occurred

principally
duringthe night.
The

berries of the belladonna

hallucinations
Sciences

illusions.

or

Medicates

case

company
berries

of

She

herself surrounded

will likewise

In

produce

the Dictionnaire

is mentioned

des

where

of these
soldiers,
having eaten some
attacked by numerous
sions.
illuby mistake,were
M. Baillarger,
in his clinical lectures at the
has related several cases
of this kind.
A
Salpetriere,
infusion of
cook,at the monthly period,took some
which brought on an attack of delirium.
belladonna,
saw

animals,which
to put
hold of

took
and

her

in the Tales of the Thousand

as
leaf,
Nights,or in those legendsof treasures sold

One

by the

ran

of little
by a number
voured
along the ground ; she endeahand upon one
of them, but only

devil.

The

compriseshallucinations complicated
diseases. It is to be observed,that
and that
theyprecedethe insanity,

third section

with mental

in many instances
then they ought to be considered
but in

great number

of

the

of it ;
they arise duringthe

cases

as

cause

They are then only

progress of the mental disease.
of it. Several
a result,
a symptom, and
complication
here suggest themselves : Do the hallucinations
questions
dependupon the organicchangessuperinduced
by the mental disease ? Are they associated with
the psycho-cerebral
excitement
which has produced
In a word, are
the insanity
?
they physicalor
moral ?
The
distinction is often very difficult,
yet

the nature

of the hallucinations
*

Examinat.

Med.
z

15

and

their immediate

Mai, 1843.

338

connexion
in

OF

CAUSES

with
that

thinking

"With

this

action

of

should

the

HALLUCINATIONS.

of

cause

often

they

reservation,

nevertheless

be

insanity,
from

arise

we

diseases,

mental

the

of

are

although
classed

justify

moral

causes.

that

opinion
imperfectly

the

known,

the

amongst

us

physical

causes.

The

diseases

nervous

and

of

those

just

stated

moral

and

in

in

forms

insanity,

What

ecstasy.
the

of

also

have

we

distinction

will

of

between

apply

the

to

in

have

thus

our

power,

this

omitted,

do

we

but

at

essential

etiology

includes

the

hallucinations

inflammatory,
have

and

chronic,

acute,
been

which

considered

already

chapter.

former

doing

to

causes,

These

diseases.

We
was

regard

section

observed

and

nightmare

physical

fifth

The

other

hallucinations

constituting

not

with

the

section.

present

are

contains

section

fourth

of

this

endeavoured
the

to

causes

not

suppose

least

we

feel

materials
disease.

of

out,

trace

as

far

hallucinations.

that
satisfied
towards

of

In
have

none

having
a

as

been
mulated
accu-

complete

340

HALLUCINATIONS

research,we
clergyman,an
for the
before

IN

have

EELATION

seen
frequently

intimate

whenever

use

of his

had

we

selected

his artistic ance.

appearhis image
summon

characters

faithfully
representsall

and dress.

figureof

it only
chose,whereas now
of
to time,and independent

we

appears to us from time

will. It has the size and
our
and

PSYCHOLOGY,

the

whom
friend,

account
of
on
experiment
At that period
could
we
us

person
make

TO

"We

it

see

habitual

of the original,

the details of his

and
smile,talk,preach,

attitudes.

This

mental

is visible to us whether
our
representation
eyes are
The image is external,
in front of us,
open or shut.
and in the direction of the visual ray; it has a shadowy
tive
appearance, and is of a different nature to an objecsensation ; but nevertheless
with the hues of
outline,
perfect
its

in

peculiar
way
this
In
case
object.

all the

use

that

objectto

and
distinct,

it with

see

and possessing
life,

characters

it is therefore

of any other term

is useless to say that to see

make

we

than

of the

real

impossibleto

the word

see.

It

and to repreobject,
sent
two
are
oneself,
thingstotally

that there is

an

vast

difference between

tion
impressions.Our replyis,we have the sensaof an idea,an image,so trulyrepresented,
that
it would not be merelya resemblance,
were
we
an
artist,
but as a ray of lightemanating from our
could reproduceupon the*
interior sense, which
we

these

canvas.

of the professors
at the
Boisbaudrant,one
Ecole Imperialof drawing,has endeavoured to make
his pupilsavail themselves of this power of mental
of objects,
representation
or, as it has been termed,
before
of painters.He places
the mnemonic
faculty
them
fully
a
model, and directs them to examine it careit is removed, and
; at the end of a few minutes
M.

he then tells them

The

are
following

to

the

draw
answers

the model
of

some

from memory.
of the students

AND

MORALITY,

HISTOKY,

341

RELIGION.

which were
put to them with respectto
questions
this mode
of proceeding
:
Q. After having studied your model, and allowed
it to be removed, what plando you pursue when
you

to

"

endeavour

guide? A.
model, but
"

Another

it from

endeavour

only obtain

"

A.

figureto
confused

is your
myself the

view

of it.
"

I close my eyes.
the image is too
I make

an

fused
con-

and
effort,

it

visible ; sometimes

more

but

to

do when

?
disappears

or

? what

memory

it best when

see

do you

Q. What
becomes

draw

to

with

some

it escapes me
gether,
altoI am
able to recal it.
difficulty

this for four months.

practised
Do you alwaysexperience
the same
of difficulty
amount
? A. No ; the image at presentis much
more
distinct than when I commenced, and,if it disappears,

Q.

You

have

now

"

can

recal it almost at will.

This

replywas

confirmed

by

all the other

pupils.
This fact therefore verifies the proposition
have
we
it is possible
laid down
that by practice
to give
viz.,
such intensity
to the mental
that it
representation,
be combined
with sensation.
In treating
so
may
difficult a subject,
amples.
theoryis best explainedby exThe following
shows that,if the mnecase
monic
the hallucination
facultyand consequently
it approachesit so closely
is not the first sensation,
excusable.
that the mistake is perfectly
One
Dantan, saw a
day the celebrated sculptor,
"

"

"

young man
of the

his studio,his countenance

sive
expres"
"
he
I
deepestgrief. Sir," said, have a

sister who

is

enter

on

her

death-bed,and

I have

come

to

To take you to her

ask you to make a bust of her.
would reveal to her the state
and requesta sitting
she is in.

I must

therefore

find

some

means

of

introducing
you which shall not excite her suspicions."
The next day the unhappy brother entered his sister's
of the
room, accompaniedby a shopman from one

342

HALLUCINATIONS

first houses
The

RELATION

IN

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

Paris,bearinga quantityof jewellery.

he who playedthe part of the
for it was

in

artist
"

assistant
jeweller's

boxes

spreadsome

"

of

jewelson

the bed.
roused up by
temporarily
the sightof the jewelsthe sculptor
contemplatedher
with that comprehensive
glancewhich daguerreotypes
While

the

invalid

the

model

was

The

in his memory.

brother

supposed shopman prolongedthe

signfrom the artist indicated that

and

selection
he

the

until

prepared

was

to leave.

obtained
impression

The

at the interview

and
realized,

the result

was

of the young

invalid

pieceof

"

was

soon

perfectlikeness
livingmarble.

most

when
one
year had passedsince this occurrence,
announced.
was
morning the father of the young man
"Sir," he said to the sculptor,
"my son is on his
A

death-bed,attacked
of my

deprivedme

by the same
and
daughter,

fatal disease which

I have

come

to ask

you for his bust,as he asked you for that of his sister.
Tou
will requirean interview to impresshis features
is all the more
which
difficult
your memory,
to him."
because your person is known
of the furniture
They bethoughtthem of changingsome
on

in the

room

of the

dyingman.

Disguisedas

entered the room,

Dantan
assistant,
upholsterer's
and approaching
the bed to receive the young
man's
The patientdid
orders,was enabled to watch him.
the sculptor.
not recognise
Dantan
arranged
Having removed a looking-glass,
an

it

so

and

as

to reflect the

in such

manner

of the young
man,
that he could fix his attention

countenance

time without
upon it for some
brother died,and his bust was

being noticed. The

placedbeside that of

his sister.
This

is not
faculty

confined to the recollection of

HISTORY,

features

the

343

RELIGION.

but may
include an
individual,
entire composition.
In the church of St. Peter,at Cologne,the altarpresenting
pieceis a largeand valuable pictureby Rubens, rethe martyrdom of the apostle. This picture
having been carried away by the French in
a painter
1805, to the greatregretof the inhabitants,
of that cityundertook
to make
a
copy of it from
and succeeded
in doing so in such a
recollection,
that the most
delicate tints of the original
manner
The
are
preserved with the minutest accuracy.
but the copy
original
paintinghas now been restored,
is preservedalongwith it ; and even
when
they are
to distinguish
rigidly
compared,it is scarcely
possible
the

of

AITD

MORALITY,

from

one

an

the other.*

Serious

have emanated
from some
bers
memobjections
of the Societe Medico-Psychologique
to this
doctrine of mental
representation^ M. Baillarger,
who
regards a hallucination simply as a disease,
observes

that,like Burdach
various

they could

not

distinct.

Moreover, he

phenomena

there

between

substance

is the

least to

say a shadow
distinct outlines.

told him
which

M.

the memory
*

f Societe
Ann.
p. 126

which

Maury

that the

Horace

of his

previous

that between

shadow

of
"

Yernet,

these

as
affinity
ought at

he

reflects and

the

perienced
ex-

the most

were

kind

same

and

great artist,M.

by

considers

has

that he feels certain

be associated with any

of those images which

even

by

Muller,he

phantasms,and

ideas,not

and

is bounded
when

tioned
ques-

mnemonic

faculty,
most
distinct images of objects
reproducedcould not be compared

Abercrombie

to

as

Opus cit. p. 130.

les Hallucinations,
: Discussion
sur
Me*dico-Psychologique
Med-Psych. 3e serie,t. i. p. 526. 1855, idem, t. ii.

et suivantes.

"

1856.

344

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

with actual sensations.

EELATION

PSYCHOLOGY,

TO

concludes from
Baillarger
these observations,
that the mnemonic
even
faculty,
when most developed,
becomes a hallucination,
never
a
phenomenon which constitutes the most complete
deviation from the laws of physiology.
He sees an
insuperabledifference between a normal sensation
and

M.

the recollection of this sensation

"

between

the

is spontaneous and involuntary,

reminiscence
which is summoned
up by

which
hallucination,
and

that

act of volition.

an

it is

to this gentlefact,according
man,
kind,which
phenomenon,of a special

new

In

is

entirely
pathological.
M. de Castlenau is also opposedto physiological
and moreover
declares that they are
hallucinations,
He commences
not consistent with reason.
by denying
the identity
of the hallucination with the sensation,
because
the

the latter presentsthree distinct facts"

and
the transmission,
impression,

the

tion
percepwhile
in
the
there
is
hallucination
evidence
no
;
whatever of the impression.He adds,that there is
no

proofthat

the brain is the exclusive seat of the

hallucination ; and with respect to the argument

which has been drawn from the excited state of the
of

nerves

sense

in the

blind,and in the
value,inasmuch as

he says it is of no
be shown that the cerebral termination

dumb,

was

or

itself altered.

deaf and
it might

of the

nerve

lucination
frequentassociation of halwith mental derangementis onlya coincidence.
It is equally
difficultto show the identity
of the hallucinations,
of the true
or
non-identity

with
sensations,
because

The

the ideas

or

the sensational

the recollection is

lections,
recol-

under
essentially

the control of the will ; while the sensation and

hallucination are completely
involuntary.

the

of MM.
BailHaving thus stated the objections
largerand Castlenau to the theory,that the mental
is a phenomenon of sensation,
we
representation

to the consideration of those

return

which
M.

to

seem

Buchez

has

facts and

exhibited in health

ments
argu-

its correctness.

that
observed,
justly

since it is the

is the seat of the

organism which

same

to prove

us

345

RELIGION.

AND

MORALITY,

HISTORY,

of the

and

phenomena
symptoms presented

it is quitenatural that there should be

by disease,
pointsof analogy between the two states. This
common
why they
originis, however, no reason
that they
and especially
should be confounded together,
An enershould be designated
terms.
getic
by the same
and enduringwill,
centration,
or
a state of prolongedconwill sometimes producea certain condition
of

mental

abstraction

as
objects,

was

Are
to
meditation,

we

and

isolation from

external

medes.
the case, so often quoted,of Archito admit that a state of profound

which

that have

we

done

owe

the most

honour

to the

coveries
splendiddishuman
mind,

because it offers certain analogies

disease,
with ecstasy
ecstasyitself always
; or is even
It is certain that
a
pathological
phenomenon ?
these two states should not be confounded
together
;
is

the

state

of

the
belongsto physiology,

one

other to

patho-

log7of

the

applythis reasoningupon
in support of the
hallucinations,

Let

us

sound

phenomena
and

lucid

arguments of M. Peisse.
"

Some

persons,"says

this

that I should have maintained

only an exaggeratedcondition
exhibited in the mental

writer,"are
that

surprised

hallucination is

of the normal

of
reproduction

menon,
phenotional
sensa-

tion
perceptions
by the memory and the imaginathe mental
Grarnier,
; while,accordingto M.
consists only of the conception.Yet
representation
I believe it to be so literally,
and without any figure
of speech5 and I think I am
in saying,
justified
that the representation
in the mind of any sensible
and known
which
whatever may be the cause
quality,

346

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

BELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

sensorial act,identical
a
producesit,is a perception,
in its

with those sensations which

essence

external.
summon
as

"

are

termed

When, havingclosed

my eyes, I mentally
is what I then pervisible object,
ceive

up any
M. de Boismont
"

lucinations
halon
says, in his work
of lines
else than an assemblage
anything

in
colours,
arrangedin a determinate manner
one
word, an image ?
Having thus logically
proved that every mental
of
of a colour,
and equally,
therefore,
representation
a sound,a taste,
or
an
odour,is ipsofactoan art of
of hearing,
of taste,or of smell,I believe I
vision,
in concludingthat the phenomena apam
justified
parently
dissimilar of sensorial perception
or
sation
senso
and normal mental representation
; of voluntary
voluntary
and of in{memory, imagination,
conception),
and abnormal
mental representation
sions,
{illuof
result from the operation
hallucinations')
and the same
one
actingunder
faculty,
psycho-organic
different conditions,and with apparent degreesof

and

"

"

"

"

which have
In answer
to the objections
intensity.
been urged by MM.
Gamier
and Baillarger
against
I shall producea simplestatement
this explanation,
and
comparison of facts,which are open to the
observation

of every
material

one.

objectis placedbefore me, I

in which the
have a consciousness of a representation
object let it be a man or a picture appears to me
and externally
exists substantially
and really
it actually
as
become
The act by which I usually
to me.
externally
cognizantof this evidence of somethingexisting
sensation.
external perception
is termed
or
of sight.To
it is a perception
In this particular
case
by the eye, is to see.
perceive
Now, if I close my eyes, the image of this man,
of
that is to say, the man
for,as regardsthe sense
the man, or his image,is the same
thing
sight,
"When

"

"

"

"

348

HALLUCINATIONS

IN"

At

dreams

in
length,
is engenderedin
The

person sees
In all these
which

of each

the

RELATION

and

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

hallucinations

of
reality

the

belief

imaginary
objects.

and believes.
cases

visible image is

is the essential and

of these

In

acts.

evidently
duced,
pro-

invariable element

all these

instances the

also

uniformly
expresses himself by the term
implyingthereby consciousness. Doubtless
there are great differences in these psychical
tions,
condibut the differences onlyrelate to accessory and
to such as are even
connected
unor
circumstances,
secondary
with the existence of the phenomenon.
Amongst these differences there are principally
two,
which seem
to MM.
and Gamier
to form
Baillarger
the one
an
on
barrier,
hand, between the
insuperable
tween
sensation and the conception
the other,be; and on
In the
the conception
and the hallucination.
the representation
is involuntary
sensation,
say they,
and compelled
the so termed
the contrary,
; while on
and
mental acts of seeingand hearingare voluntary,
produced designedly
; but this difference in no
way
alters the essential nature
of the thingrepresented,
of the act of representation.
voluntary
nor
Voluntaryor inthe images are
permanent or fugitive,
alwaysimages,the sounds are still sounds ; it will

person
I see,

be

found,moreover,

by

MM.

that the distinction established

Gamier

and
Baillarger

is far from

being

absolute.
Another

distinction,
which, accordingto these
is the character of
gentlemen,is not less important,

presented
by the
objectperceived
by the senses, and which is entirely
wantingin the object
by the imagination.
represented
the object
This requires
In fact,
to be examined.
conceived
is always like the
by the imagination
thing
perceivedby the senses
object
presentedas someoutwardness

"

exteriorite
"

which

is

"

"

exterior and at

some

distance from the ego.

HISTOEY,

MOBALITY,

AND

349

EELIGIOtf.

objectis not in me, it is beforeme ; it has

always an ideal positionin space. The luminous
circle which is perceivedon
pressingthe eyeball
but,moreover, as being
appears not onlyas external,
situated to the rightor to the left,
above or below.
This image,althoughentirely
is projected
subjective,
at a distance,
and occupying
in space.
a place
objectively
The

In
when

the

same

way,

the

a
mentallyrepeating

without, further

sounds
song,

which
seem

to

are

heard

come

from

proportionto their
intensity.Thus, far from being,as has been stated,
the mental representation
of sensible
internal,
strictly
objects at least as regardssightand hearing always
involves an idea of outwardness,
of distance,
and even
of a particular
in relation to the individual,
locality
and it thus partakesof all the characters of sensational
perceptions.
An examination of the anatomical and physiological
conditions furnishes the same
for the mental
results,
and organicportionsof the phenomena correspond
and are simplyparallel
precisely,
aspectsof the same
fact. Thus,in the effortwhich we instinctively
make
to recal an
the influx
image or a sound,we perceive
in those portions
from the will acts locally
of the
brain which correspond
to the organs
of the senses.
Eor example,in matters which relate to vision,
the
organicaction is referred to the regionof the orbit ;
for that of hearingto the side of the head.
This is
a further proof of the functional
ternal
identityof the exand of the mental representation
or
perception,
conception.
Now
to decide this questionof the relation which
exists between the sensation and the conception,
and
and the hallucination,
the conception
must
admit
we
that these phenomena cannot
be associated together
without violence to a generallaw, and that it is
necessary to refer each of them to a special
organ ?
"

or

nearer

in

"

350

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

RELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

and
takingfor our foundation the law of unity,
recognisinga strict analogybetween these various
admit that they are the functional results of
facts,
mental
the same
and organicactivity
exercised in
differentways in consequence of varyinginfluences ?
The latter is the inference we draw from a comparison
of the facts ; and on summing them up, we feel justified
in stating
that imagination,
memory, conception,
and
the
various
forms of these
illusion,
hallucination,
or,

conditions and mental

acts,when

divested of all accidental

have the same

and
common
circumstances,
identical foundation,the same
essential element
that is to say, the normal
sorial
phenomenon of the senof a sensation ; it is,therefore,
in a
perception
correct theoryof sensation that we ought to find an
"

of hallucinations.
explanation
lated
rearguments used have principally
to external images; but the mental representation
of reproducingsounds ; this
is equallycapable

Hitherto

the

power of internal audition is frequently

very marked
and in some
musicians.
M. Buchez
in composers,
has known

several

after

position
hearingan entire comable to
were
performedby an orchestra,
repeat on the pianowhat they had thus heard and
Beethoven
must
meditated on.
have possessed
this
for during the latter years
in a high degree,
faculty
of his
of his life,
althoughdeaf,he produced some
novel and beautiful compositions.The leader
most

of

an

who,

orchestra well known

to the

musical

world

of

Paris,who was accustomed to direct concerted pieces

of music, when
by M. Buchez on this
questioned
told him that he heard it as if he
internal audition,
did so with his ears, not onlythe harmonies,but each
the
orchestral sound, so that he could appreciate
beautyof the symphony and the effect of each particular
When
instrument.
a new
was
score
givento
him

of

an

overture

or

symphony,at

the firstread-

HISTORY,

AND

MORALITY,

351

RELIGION.

inglieheard the sound of the quartett; at the second

and followingreadings,
he successively
added
the
audition

of the

obligedto

other

in order

recommence,

the

effects ; sometimes

he

was

to
thoroughly

preciate
ap-

effects of these

bined
secondarysounds,comwith that of the four principal
instruments,
but he could alwaysaccomplishthis by repeating
it
several times.
This composer
added, that every
musician by attention and study could arrive at this
internal audition,
and that without it there was neither
orchestra.
a good leader of an
a greatcomposer
nor
This vivacity
of the internal audition havingbeen
shown to reproducean entire concert
in the perfect
of internal vision.
musician,we return to the subject

"We

his

read

in the

life of the

Mebuhr, that when

that he requiredto
arm-chair,he was in

friends the most

the sites which

exact

he
be

celebrated
was

Danish

blind,and

carried from

veller,
traso

firm
in-

his bed to

the habit of

and

minute

he had visited in his

writingto his
of
descriptions
youth. When

theyexpressedtheir surpriseat the vividness of his

he told them, that as he layin bed,
descriptions,
allvisible objects
shut out,the pictures
of what he had
in the East continually
floated before his mind's
seen
wonder
he could speak of
no
eye, so that it was
them as if he had seen
them yesterday."With like
vividness the deep intense sky of Asia,with its brilliant
and twinkling
host of stars,which he had so
often gazed at by night,or its loftyvault of blue by
ness
day,was reflected in the hours of stillnessand dark"

his

inmost

soul.

Abercrombie, who has

this interesting
ample
published
case, regardsit as an exof what
may be called the highestdegreeof
adding,somethinga littlebeyond
healthyconception,
this leads to that state on which dependsthe theory
of apparitions
illusions.*
or
spectral
on

Abercrombie

Opus cit.p.

129.

352

HALLUCINATIONS

This further

IN

stephas

BELATION

been

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

and
accomplished,

there

proofaiforded of this than the case

of the artist recorded from Wigan, p. 33.
Dr. M.
stated at the meetingof the Medical Society
of the
Twelfth Arrondissement, on February6th, 1847,that
hallucinations at his pleasure.
he could summon
The
would appear at first obscure,like a shadow,
object
and ultimately
then it would become
more
defined,
to his pupils,
distinct. In lecturing
he
perfectly
described the parts of the body better than
never
he could
when, by the concentration 'of his thoughts,
bestow upon them the characters of the reality,
and
far less
render them objective
were
; his descriptions
unable to depict
them thus naturally
clear when he was
stated he could easily
He
before him.
cause
to disappear."We may also
these visual impressions
be

can

no

better

refer to the

of the celebrated

anecdote

actor

Talma,

effects on
produced such startling
when
as
by the power of his will he
spectators,

who

never

into

converted them

In the discussion

skeletons.
many
at the Societe Medico-Pycholo-

established
act

as

the
a

theoryof

of reminiscence

from
to
are

It is

the
possessing

seen

and

hallucination,
summoning the images

and
involuntary

that this distinction is far

value which

it,and unless the facts which

denied,it must be admitted
and

mental

representation,
distinctive character,
tween
be-

the power in the first case, of

while in the second theyare
at will,

spontaneous.

had

so

the opponentsof
gique,
the

the

has

been

have

assigned
been quoted

that the mental

hallucination resemble

presentation
re-

each other.

with
bring further proofof this identity
when we enter
foundation,
respectto their common
examination of the part which is performed
an
on
of hallucinations.
by the attention in the production
of genius,
of many men
In readingthe biographies
is
obtain a convincingproofthat the conception
we
We

shall

converted

into

idea becomes
as

invested with

him
time he
friend

the

rather that the

sensible form.

Raphael,

before
passage in Abercrombie,saw
at the
pictureof the Transfiguration
a

it. In one
of his letters to
painting
he says that, being unable
Castiglione,
was

obtain models
he

types

353

EELIOIOtf.

or
hallucination,

learn from

we

AXD

MOKALITY,

HISTOBY,

which would

serve

compelledto figurein

was

of these creations.

Michael

him

remained

Angelo

vacancy, where
image of his

We
for

have

his
to

for his Madonnas,

his mind

the

also read that

days gazing upon

he beheld at those times the reflected

giganticcupola. Leonardi da Vinci,

commissioned
when he was
by the priorof the Santa
Maria della Grrazia to painthis celebrated picture
of
the Last Supper,after havingworked
at it steadily
for some
time, suddenlylaid it aside. The prior,
discontented at this,made
great complaintsto the
Duke
Louis le Maure, who, in consequence, requested
his work. The illustriouspainter
Leonardi to complete
to the duke, but began
did not givea direct answer
to discourse upon his art with that enthusiasm which
caused it to be said of him, that he paintedwhile he

that he had satisfied the

perceived
duke, he observed to those presentthat the ideas of the
formed in his brain,
artist were
and not merelyon the
he was more
canvas, and that frequently
trulypainting

spoke;

when

at

when

he

rest,than when

Observation,as well

the brush

was

in his hand.*

the

ber
studyof a largenumof works on psychology,
has convinced us that
and sculptors
whose geniushad driven
poets,painters,
from her seat,have all,
after prolongedmeditation,
reason
the ideal forms of which
seen
they had
Their historyattests that these forms
dreamed.
not only visible to the "mind's
quently
were
eye,"but fre-

to

as

their actual organs

Ferriet

Les Hommes
A

of vision ;

IllustrescVItalie.
A

fact of

354

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

KELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

availed himself
Shakespearehas so wonderfully
in the air-drawn dagger,and in the apparition
of the
In
ghost of Banquo in his tragedyof Macbeth.
which

these

cases

the ideal form

somethingwhich

assumes

the character of

is

and becomes converted

external,
We
into a hallucination.
that no
believe,
moreover,
immortal work of geniushas been producedwithout
this external realization of the ideal.. If the great
have never
been surpassed if
artists of antiquity
their productions
have continued to excite the admiration
"

it is because these artists

of successive ages,
filledwith enthusiasm,or, in the words of M. Th.
"

were

de Bauville,
they attained to a state of ecstasy,
and,
confident of the enduring character of their works,

they laboured

for

posterity.
therefore regard the hallucination as physioWe
logical
in the cases
which have justbeen mentioned,
in dreams,in
and also in many other instances,
as
and waking,
the intermediate state between
sleeping
It is the revivification of those
in ecstasy,"c.
numerous
images, sounds, and tactile impressions
which can
onlyexist in the brain with the loss of
is tempted to
their sensible signs,and which
one
to the mystery of the resurrection of the
compare
body,when it will be raised with all its attributes of
sensation. Physiological
hallucinations,
althoughnot
in former times,which is explained
common
as
by
the difference in the ideas of the two
periods,
are,
and
however, still observed in persons of intelligence
of sound mind,who are led,by their religious
opinions,
by the tendencyof their ideas,and by their temperament,
to believe in them.

The

opponents of

have

of

talked much

to
physiology,

never

be

theoryof mental representation

of sensibility,
and of the laws

the

show

that the

reminiscence

can

in any way comparableto the actual sensation.

But to deny the sensations of others be-

356

HALLUCINATIONS

the

IN

of the Ecstatic

case

EELATION

of the

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

Tyrol(p.207).

In

and

susceptible
persons, the vividness of
the recollection may almost
and
equal the original
and the objections
which have been
actual sensation,
made
to this nervous
phenomenon simplyresolve
of degree. The propriety
themselves into a question
which we
have appliedto
of the term physiological,
has been strongly
class of hallucinations,
one
objected
be out of placeif we here
to ; it will not, therefore,
make a few observations on the meaning of the word.
by experiments,
by the studyof
By dissections,
the different organs in their healthyand diseased
the anatomist has established the science
conditions,
similar proceedings
be apof human physiology
; can
plied
modes of opeto the study of the mind, whose
ration
to us ?
are
whollyunknown
In an
of the mind we recognise
the existence
analysis
of different manifestations,
of a number
such as
reverie,
profoundmeditation
duringwhichthe person
is lost to external objectsthat kind of excitement
of a great work, ecstasy,
involved in the production
observer
"c. ; in all of which the most
superficial
and eccenwill perceive
tricities
extravagancies,
peculiarities,
form
which,in the eyes of those who lead a uniof life,
course
pass for acts which approximate
to insanity.
Nevertheless,it is from these apclosely
parently
conditions
that
the
sublime
most
exceptional
undertakingsand the most wonderful creations of
nervous

"

"

the mind

arise.

of these intellectual phenomenawe

Out

that
only one, viz.,
is

from

and

the lives of

excitement

which

of intellectual
production
this we shall illustrateby examples
and religious
musicians,painters,

condition

necessary

works

state of mental

shall select

for the

writers.
celebrated composers have had recourse
and
their enthusiasm
methods of exciting
to peculiar
Most

of

our

A!NTD

MOEALITY,

HISTOEY,

357

EELIQION.

their thoughts. Haydn,

inspiring

like

required
JSTewton,
his world was
bounded
to be alone
by the
walls of his room.
Seated in a chair,he had onlyhis
as the confidant of his inspirations
harpsichord
; when
he felt these upon him, he fixed his eyes on the ring
which had been given him by Frederick the Great,
"

and continued

to

gaze

became
imagination

it.

it

Then

into
transported

divine harmonies

celestial choir,whose
mankind

on

was

that

the midst

his
of

he revealed to

and from this

there
singular
contemplation
issued forth his masterpieces.
Contrary to Haydn, Gluck wanted space ; his
geniuswas inactive when confined by four walls. The
his head were
on
open air and the sun's rays falling
in open day,and in the
what he required. It was
midst of a meadow, whither he had had his piano
that he composed his opera of Ipliigenia.
transported,
;

Granville,when
himself embarrassed

struck

with

an

idea,if

he

fouud

in the

compositionor execution
of his design,
would
get up, jump about his room,
throw his velvet cap againstthe walls and ceiling,
time ; or, with his finger,
he
talkingto it at the same
stir up a frog,
would
which he kept in a glassjar
the chimney-piece
after thus shoutingand
on
; and
jumpingabout,he would become serious and quietly
absorbed.
return to his work, in which he was
speedily
have been noticed in proThe same
singularities
found
thinkers and great orators.
One of the most
celebrated preachers
in the time of Louis XIV.
was
in the habit of shuttinghimself up in his rooms.
then permittedto come
No
was
one
near
him, his
servants
on
havingreceived the strictest injunctions
this point.Piqued either by curiosity
or
attachment,
his valet availed himself
the

forbidden

of

an

open

door

to

enter

his surprise
:
precincts
greatwas
to hear the tones of a violin. He stopped,
and
endeavoured to ascertain from whence theycame
; and

within

358

IS

HALLUCINATIONS

EELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

having satisfied himself that they issued from his

master's apartment,he placedhis eye to the keyhole
of the door, and there "beheld his master, in nothing
but his shirt,
playingon the violin,and dancinguntil
in a profuse
he was
when, havingseated
perspiration,
In this way,
himself at his desk,he began to write.
after
mode

years, was
secrecy of many
in which the Christian orator
a

discovered

composedhis

the
mirable
ad-

discourses.
show that,
greatmen
and extravagant,
if we are to refer all that is singular
the ordinaryroutine of
and
all that differs from
attribute
must
we
everydaylife,to a state of disease,
to many persons who have been
symptoms of insanity
countries.
the prideand gloryof their respective
to establish the
to us clearly
These arguments seem
theoryof hallucinations which has been put forward.
that this is not a demonstration
Perhapsit may be objected
These

in
episodes

the lives of

in the strict
it ; but matters

sense

of the word.

We

admit

of fact do not admit of demonstration

to the
appealing

testimony
by
and to their immediate
of each person'sconsciousness,
This psychological
observations.
and personal
good with the
experimentation
appears to us equally
methods
used in physiology,
and, in this kind of
It remains,before
to be conclusive.
investigation,
ligious
treatingof hallucinations in an historical and reobservations with
pointof view,to make some
respectto the influence which is exerted by the moral
the physical
over
part of our nature, upon the effects
of hallucinations,
of certain excitements in the production
of the ideas,and upon the
the nature
on
theoryof attention.
be regardedas at the
M. Lelut, who
may justly
the intervention
head of that school which has proclaimed
has enunciated his
in history,
of physiology
Consider Socrates,
words :
doctrine in the following
they can

onlybe shown

"

HISTORY,

who

not

MORALITY,

AKD

RELIGION.

359

of superonlyimaginedhimself the recipient

natural
influences and divine inspirations,
sequence
but, in conof this privilege,
believed he possesseda

similar influence

over

his friends at

his
over
distance,
strangers. This influence
a

and almost over

disciples,
was
even
independentof the words,or of the looks ;
it took placethroughwalls,and over
a space more
or
In truth,it would be difficultto meet
less extended.
with anything
characteristic
more
extravagantor more
of insanity
; and those hallucinated persons who, in
my presence, pretendto convey and to receive from a
distance physical,
do not
or other influences,
magnetic,
to Socrates,
express themselves in a different manner
insane than he was.
and in that respectare not more
In modern
of Tasso, of Pascal,
of
times,the insanity
Bousseau,of Swammerdam, of Van Helmont, and Sweadmitted by all who have
denborg,is now generally
added the studyof mental disease to that of history
and philosophy."*
and M.
Leuret, in his FragmentsFsycliologiques,
Calmet, in his work,t have advocated the same
doctrine,and it is also that of M. Baillarger.
M. Al. Maury, who, by his great learning
and his
own
researches,has supportedthe opinionsof M.
that regardmust
be had to the
Lelut,also observes,
influence exerted
over
societyby the temperament
and diseased condition of the individual. According
historical events
to this writer,
are
mostlybrought
about by isolated minds and individual acts,and that
in this respect,the facts of history
consequently,
often fall under the dominion of physical
laws. J
de Socrate, Specimen cVune Application
Lelut : Du
Demon
celle de VHistoire,augmente de
de la Science psycliologique
a
Hallucinations
et la Folie,p. 121, 2nd
Memoires
les
sur
edit.
*

Paris,1856.
consideree sous
la Pointe de Vue pathologique,
Folie,
et
liistorique,
judiciaire.
philoso[jhique,
Paris,2 vols. 1845.
Annal.
Med.
vol v. p. 317.
1845.
J Al. Maury:
-psych,
+ De

la

360

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

The

EELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

of history
is altogether
opposedto
philosophy
In

this doctrine.

that individuals

it shows
fact,

never

lead the age in which theylive ; and the proofof this

is that,if the time is not ripefor the principles
they
persons are in advance of their time,
in dungeons,
in
in misery,
of them perish
or

advocate,such
and most

Happy those who have not been branded

obscurity.
with the chargeof insanity.With regardto such as
and have come
at the
have been favoured by fortune,
so
long as they
righttime,theyhave achieved success
of the day; but if,
dazzled by
fulfilledthe requirements
their triumphs,
theyhave endeavoured to substitute
of others,and to turn the
of public
opinionto their advantage,
theyhave

their

will for that

own

course

from the highposition

in
been precipitated
generally
them.
which circumstances had placed
Man, in spite
in the hands of
of his pride,
is but an instrument
Providence ; and, as Fenelon has truly
observed,man
proposes, but God disposes.
that madmen
It has been said it is not surprising
for
have accomplished
and monomaniacs
greatthings,
no
obstacles,
they are hindered by no
theyrecognise
but recklessly
misgivings,
pursue the realization of
whose
their ideas ; while men
consider the attendant
carefully

intellects

are

sound

and leave
difficulties,
and then
nothingto chance. Grant these premises,
Columbus, and a thousand
Alexander, Christopher
others

madmen.

were

All the acts of heroism

historyhas recorded,and
admiration

all those

"

have called forth

into acts of

by

which

deeds

cold and

cautious

filled us

with

of self-devotion which

sympathy
for theyhave
insanity,
our

have

which

"

would

been

not

calculation

"

be converted

governed

honourable

have alone producedthem.

feelings
predominanceof the mind over the body may

and

enthusiastic
The

observed in

greatnumber

Asiatic conqueror, when

be

of instances. A celebrated

dying,learnt

that his army

HISTOKT,

361

EELIGIOIS'.

AKD

MOEALITT,

pointof being defeated ; he directed his

to close the
officers to placehim in his palanquin,
curtains,to carry him to the pointsof the battle
the greatestdanger,and not to
where there was
reveal his death until they had gainedthe victory.
At the sightof the imperial
palanquinthe soldiers
was

the

on

recovered their courage

put to flight.When
emperor

had

been

the enemy

were

beaten and

the
theyopened the curtains,

dead

some

hours. ' Moliere,that

profoundobserver,was an invalid,
depressed
by melancholy,
yetno dramatic writings

great geniusand
and
have

contained

ever

such

rich vein of humour

as

It is
his immortal works.
distinguishes
that
which
is overcome,
the mind
not, therefore,
active principle
governingthe body rather than itself
submittingto the yoke of the different organs and
that which

ings
Pascal himself,whose sufferof his
have been looked upon as the mainspring

their various diseases.

convincingproofof this
the physical
predominanceof the intellect over
in the following
structure
anecdote,related by M.
has afforded
actions,

Lelut
"

most

:"

This

which

greatman

formed

suffered from

the commencement

of those infirmities which

violent

of the
soon

to

toothache,
second stage
conduct

him

nightthe Duke de Eoannez, his

left him in great agony from this
friend and admirer,
him well,he asked him
cause
day,finding
; the next
the secret of his cure.
Pascal,without seeming to
attach any importanceto it,and as though he had
of an
made
use
ordinary
remedy,said that he had
solved some
problems in cycloidcurves, and that
duringthe process the painleft him."
Without
referringto such illustrious examples,
has witnessed the suspensionof disease
every one
and suffering
during study and the distraction of
Those who have been present during
conversation.
to the grave.

One

were

362

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

the last moments

of true

EELATION

TO

Christians

cannot

PSYCHOLOGY,
gotten
have for-

the elevation of their

thoughtsand the serenity

of their souls.
JSfot unfrequently
the minds of those
the strongestwhose bodies are the most feeble.
are
To regard,
the beliefs,
and
therefore,the doctrines,
the result of disease is to advance
as
opinionsof men
which may be true of the general.chaa proposition
racter
and of the temperament, but is totally
false
with regardto those phenomena of the reason
which
take placein the soul. The facts of psychologydiifer
from those of physiology
are
governed
; each of them
blishes
by separate laws. If their mysteriousunion estacertain pointsof contact, stilltheir nature
is
distinct : the one
the other tangible.
is impalpable,
The
positiveinfluence of a diseased state of the
in the productionof hallucinations is the
organs
substance

of the

intervention
of the

of

doctrine

of the

advocates

physiologyin history;

the

of the

integrity

of many
celebrated
the secondaryinfluence of the organs in numerous

men;

reason

cases

are,

in

on

hallucinations

which
contrary,the principles

the

have advocated.

we

lucinatio
chapterdevoted to the consideration of halwith a sound state of mind we
co-existing
the exampleswhich have served
have broughttogether
remains
the foundation of the presentwork ; it now
as
for us to interpret
their meaning,and to pointout
In the

of their results.

some

productionof an image
sign" is alwaysthe same, stillit will
and according
in different individuals,

If the essential fact

"

or

of

sensible

necessarily
vary
to circumstances.

"We

of the lunatic

as

the

cannot

poet,or the thinker ; to

recognisestheir nature, and
; to

those of him

the hallucinations

similar to those of the

the

them

consider

who

those

of the

is not

submits

child,

man

controlled

to them

who

by
through

364

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

EELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

formed,
variously
figures,
occupied
grotesque,de; faces or
or
threatening,
grimacing; the beginning,
the

middle,and the conclusion of

voices which whisper in our
ears
that have

matters

thoughts;

in

combination

of hallucination

vealing
cry aloud,rehidden in our inmost

from
many

thoughts. For

or

us,

then,the

state

under

stances.
very different circumit is
state of cerebral excitement,

occurs

If it is
In

train of ideas ;

word, theyimage forth every possible

of the

far
certainly

been

being a
persons

constant

symptom

it is almost

sanity.
of in-

their normal

condition.
We

pretendedto separatemind from

distinct from each
matter, althoughtheyare perfectly
to us far
other,and the influence of the one seems
That they are united
to that of the other.
superior
but
by a mysteriousbond of union is incontestable,
the psychological
phenomena have a mode of existence
distinct from that of the physical.We
fully
totally
admit that hallucinations are
nervous
phenomena,
and have their seat in the brain ; we will onlyremark
other portionsof the nervous
that possibly
system,
the ganglionic,
especially
duction
may contribute to the propressions
imbut
for
these
of certain impressions
;
it is necessary
to be converted into ideas,
that they should be subjected
to the influence of the
lectual
central part of the nervous
system, for no inteltake placewithout its co-operation.
process can
When

by

the

have

never

of hallucinations,
causes
speakingof the secondary
we
pointedout the partwhich is performed
and

nervous

vascular

systems in

time it is

their production

alwaysto
impossible
in which they act ; it is the
the way
determine
material boundaryof our
knowledge,beyond which
tion,
of a hallucinaTo judge correctly
cannot
we
pass.
in a psychological
pointof view,it is necessary
; at

the

same

HISTORY,
to

for

pause

the

on

the

chapteron

and

moment

influence

ideas,whose

and

AND

MORALITY,

on

has
individual,
the

causes

be referred to two

consider

of

the nature

on
civilization,
society,

been
those

in

examined

of hallucinations.

sources,

365

RELIGION.

which

the

They

may
derived

are

or
sensational,
secondaryideas
and those which are derived from the mind, and from
God
or
spiritual,
primaryideas.
defined ;
The operation
be clearly
of the senses
can
their function is to transmit the image of external
to the brain,and to givenotice of their preobjects
sence
in
that
some
by effecting
peculiarchange
the idea.
Thus a
organ ; but they do not originate
who
read sees
the written characters,
cannot
man
his eye perceives
prehend
them, but his mind does not comthem.
An idea is the thoughtwhich passes
from one
individual to the another,from one
tion
generato another,while an image is onlyproducedby
external
conceive an
some
idea,we
object. We
figureto ourselves an image. An idea dwells in the
mind ; it is the impressionor image which remains
the senses.
on
Thus, in judgingof the sensations
in the same
cannot
that
Nihil
way, we
say strictly
est in intellectu,
quod non primsfueritin sensu.
The ideas furnished by the senses
the firstto
are
become evolved. By this we do not in any way mean
ideas ;
to imply that they pre-exist
to the spiritual
which we
the term secondary,
have applied
to them,
indicates our
sufficiently
opinion.
Man, therefore,possesses two classes of ideas
and are
those which are derived from external objects,
communicated
through the senses, and those which
termed
are
generalideas such as ideas of existence,
and causality,
of analogy,
of quality,
of time, order,
These are the attributes of mind,
"c.
law, justice,
sensible qualities
those of material objects.
as
are
This division of ideas,established by the spiri-

from

the

senses

"

"

"

"

"

"

366

HALLTJCmATIONS

Iff

EELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

of whom
we
are
selves
tualists,
proud to acknowledgeourdoes not hinder us from appreciating
a disciple,
the great influence of the physical
and
organization,
which is most
importantin relation to our present
convinced that the primaryideas
are
subject
; for we
cannot
be changed,that their essential character,
their type,is not affected by insanity
sider
con; but we
that the sensational ideas

it is true
and if a

the exclusive materials

are

"

the most

"

examination
superficial

numerous,

of

insanity
;

of facts indicates that

the first class of ideas may

become
involved in insanity,
careful studywill show that it is only
a more
the sensible forms with

compels us to invest
implicated.
really

which

our

immaterial

nature
imperfect
which
are
objects,

of

thingswithout
spiritual
them by some
form or image. It is true
representing
conscious that such a proceeding
is defective,
we
are
and even
false,and that such thingshave a mode of
under the cognizance
existence which does not come
We

of

our

and

This

senses.

truths which
admitted

conceive

cannot

is

to
onlyrequires

but

our

errors.

of those

fundamental

be stated in order to be

finitenature, surrounded

associated
intimately

into these

one

with

by matter,
it,is perpetually
falling
,

obtains his first information

Man

throughthe medium of the senses, while the primary

ideas are
only developedwith the acquirementof
dition
language,by education,and by a knowledge of tracompelledto form abstractions,
; continually
of cases, the maand remembering,in the majority
terial
he sees in these abstractions
originof this operation,
of those bodies to which he
onlythe qualities
refers them.
Thus,when we say that a stick
naturally
each of these qualities
is white,long, and pointed,
becomes associated with the image of a stick ; so when
is good, amiable,and just,
it is affirmed that a man
these various attributes

are

associated in the mind

with

AXD

MOBALITY,

HISTOEY,

367

EELIGIOF.

proceedingis adopted
figure. The same
world ; we givesome
regardto the spiritual
special

the human
in

form

the ideas which

to

in
attributes,

derive from

we

their turn, become

it,and

their

materialized in the

shows that this proinvestigation

ceeding
of the mind is purelyartificial,
and that the
sensible signsattached to the spiritual
ideas do not
under the cognizance
of our
bringthem any the more
the independenceof the
In other respects,
senses.
mind remains as distinct and as completebeneath
sensations as in the ordinary
these illusory
sensations
brain. A

exact

more

the external world.

derived from

if,with sensations
very surprising
different to those which are
experiencedby persons
in health,the invalid should continue to reason
the
It

would

as

same
reason

brain

be

such persons do ; it is then, indeed,that the

and strange. Because the
would be perverted
be

may

the

againstcoming
brain which
as

the

to

thinks

and

let
insanity,

conclusion
reasons

that

it is the

instrument

it is the

it would

by which

we

guard

us

be

to say that the eye discourses upon

correct

because

of

cause

quite

colours

distinguish

them.
will next
we
point havingbeen established,
due to the senses
be
can
inquirehow the impressions
with all the
without their intervention,
reproduced,
itself. In blindness,
in sleep,
characters of reality
there can
be no doubt,they are derived from images
of the
impressedupon the brain by means
previously
This

senses,

and

under

which

seem

influences

to manifest

which

It is said that the movement

must

themselves
now

by which

nally
exter-

be examined.
the sensation

produced from without to within passes in the

The nervous
course.
filaments,"
opposite
says Malebranche, may be excited in two ways, either at the
extremitywhich is away from the brain or by that
is

"

"

which

terminates

in the brain

If these

fila-

368
ments

mind
and

IK

HALLUCINATIONS

EELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

excited

by any cause within the brain,the

somethingexternally."Ch. Bonnet,
perceives
after having established the prinall logicians,
ciple
are

that the final act of every sensation consists in

and actual molecular changein the brain,
special

some

ought to be excited
molecular state is reproducedin
every time the same
which Meyer,
the Drain itself. This is the explanation
Professor in the University
at Halle,has givenin his
Essay on Apparitions*
these external and internal sensations happen
When
in the healthy
brain,we are Dot conscious of their
attention is strongly
occurrence
excited,
; but if our
the material form,or the sensible sign,
may show itself

maintain

almost

that the

at

the

sensation

same

moment,

same

which

then

leaves

no

of their presence in the organ.

Thus, if we
before us, we close
desire to bringan object
anxiously
it will presentitself to us
the eyes, when possibly
doubt

"

but
it is true, confusedly,
first,

at

clear to

giveus

of the mind
and
daylight,

with

the
indistinct,

idea of it.

some

may

enable

our

us

eyes open.
colours faint,the

still sufficiently

tration
greaterconcenin
to see it,even
The image is still
outline undefined,

it would
and it appears as if every moment
more
but by degreesits form becomes

pass away ;

decided,its

of the object
and the perception
vivid,
is perfect.Lastly,in a more
profound state of
completeisolation
meditation,and with a still more
from the external world,the image,which has gone
throughthese different shades of developmentin the
brain,passes from within to without,and placesitself
before the eyes.
substantially
These
phenomena are observed in
psychological
such as poetsand imaginative
persons givento meditation,
writers,who, surrounded
by an ideal world,
colours

more

Essay on Apparitions.Attributed
1748.
of Halle,a.d.
the University
*

to M.

Meyer, Professor in

HISTORY,

mistake

AND

MORALITY,

of
offspring

the

369

RELIGION.

their

imaginationfor

realities.
In these

the mind

cases

of excitement

a certain
requires

in order that the

amount

illusions should

be

produced,but there are conditions under which they

sensible
are
present,and in a stillmore
constantly
manner

we

allude

to

the states

of reverie and

of

and the intermediate state between sleeping

dreaming,
and waking. Thus, in dreams,for example,objects
attracted our
which have strongly
attention when
awake, frequently
duringsleepin a most
re-appear
exact and perfect
manner.
A pre-occupied
state of the mind, or a powerful
effect as long-conemotion, may produce the same
tinued
meditation.
In moments
of extreme
peril,
persons

have

transactions of their lives

all the

seen

the passage of
rapidlybefore them, verifying
wherein
it is said, In the hour of judgScripture
ment
all your deeds shall be retraced in the twinkling
last moment
of a warrior,"says
of an eye." "The
the Arab proverb, is the mirror of his life; all that

pass

"

"

is dear to him

is then remembered."

After continued mental

have

been concentrated

work,where
on

one

all the faculties

the
subject,

material

forms associated with it may continue visible,

although
the attention.
the subject
itselfhas ceased to engage
after being many hours
Reynolds,
walked out into the street,the
occupiedin painting,
seemed to him to be trees,and the men
lamp-posts
and women
moving shrubs.*
Theory of Attention. In our analysisof those
When

Sir Joshua

"

faculties of the mind

which

exercise

greateror less

of hallucinations,
have
we
production
further,
placedthe attention first. Before proceeding
attach to
it is necessary to apprehendthe value we

influence in the

Conolly: Opus cit.p.

B

119.

370

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

KELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

forms the foundation.

theoryof which this faculty
lectively,
Looking at man's moral and intellectual nature colhave no
faith in those systems which
we
The history
law.
of phito a single
refer everything
losophy
shown that if a certain number
has constantly
of these new
of facts accord with one
systems,there
contradict it. To
to be others which
are
sure, also,

the

this is another

us

of the consequences

of

our

finite

nature.
to find that M.
surprised
cinations,
memoir
entitled Halluin an interesting
Eaillarger,
ivhicJi produce them, and the
the Causes
Diseases theycharacterize* has stated that the production
tary
of hallucinations is favoured by the involunand the imagination,
exercise of the memory
by
and by
of all external impressions,
the suspension
excitement of the sensorium
or, in other words,by
actual suspension
of
an
or
a relaxation,
a weakening,

"We

therefore

are

not

"

the attention.
stantiate
quotedby this observer subhis opinion.We
must, however,observe,
in
that the hallucinations producedduring reverie,
ing
dreams, and in the intermediate state between sleepto those which
and waking,have a different origin
the

]So doubt

refer to

we

cases

disturbed

condition

of the

mind.

It

equallycertain that the visions of the

were
celebrated EnglishpainterSir Joshua Keynolds,
condition of the brain.
owing to a fatigued
we
proceedto show
Having made this observation,
in many
fluence
inthat the attention,
cases, has a positive
of hallucinations,
and
the production
over
of the visions
that it affords a satisfactory
explanation
seems

to

us

celebrated persons.
of many
hallucinations by an effort
The power of producing
of the will has been mentioned
by many observers.
*

Memoires

de

VAcademie

pp. 273, 426, et seq.

Roycde

de

Medecine, vol.

xii.

372

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

EELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

minutes,and the opinionsit contained confirmed

then disappeared,
and
own
; the phantom work
continued his investigations."*
M.

Moreau

de Tours

has

he

in the Gazette
reported,
of his patientswho
one

of
the case
Hopita-ux,
could instantaneously
summon
sight. To producethem he

des

his

hallucinations of

up

only to incline his

medical man,
An intelligent
a littleforwards.
but which
afflictedwith a nervous
was
disease,
of his faculties,
formed
inhim in the full possession
lucination
halthat he had become
to slight
us
subject
of vision,and he found that theyreturned

head
who
left

he allowed

whenever

had

his mind

to

dwell upon

them.

studyingthis singularphenomenon, he
the subjects
several times,so to speak,
daguerreotyped
then presentedthemselves
of his thoughts. The objects
of

Desirous

with all the vividness of

and remained
realities,
peated
a
Observing that the relonger or shorter time.
revival of these imageswas
becoming a state
of actual disease,
by a determined effort of the will
he freed himself from the hallucinations.
the hallucinations
To these cases
may be added
and of persons who
of ecstatics,
their thoughtsfor a longtime on
the

these circumstances

have

concentrated

subject.Under
hallucinations are
evidently

the climax of the meditation

one

and to

assume,

as

has

done,that in this case also they follow the loss

lowing
is to be led into error
of the attention,
through fola
system. If,then, a diminution
particular
this
of the attention is favourable to hallucinations,
will not applyto all cases, and especially
explanation

been

those

to

sound
The
to that
*

the

hallucinations

co-exist with

state of mind.

remark
following

is most

importantin regard

arrested state of the attention

Baudry

1833.

where

Essaisur

les Hallucinations,
p. 11.

in which

the

These.

Paris,

HISTORY,

individual has been

is evident

is

that,in

soughtcannot

AND

HOBALTTY,

compared to
many

373

EELIGION.

an

automaton.

It

instances,the objectwhich

be attained

daringthe

concentrated

condition of the
which

thoughts.In criticalmoments, upon

hangs the destinyof a nation or the fate of

individual,the

an

obtainingthe

will weary
itself without
information
it. requires
taneously,
instan; but
mind

and when

least

the
expected,

suddenly present itself. It

admiral,that he alwaysmade
to have

an

solution will

is related of

certain

his arrangements so as
hour leftto himself before the engagement

place. It has often happened that during this

periodof repose the idea has occurred to him which
secured him the victory.It is clear to us that the
in spite
mind continued to meditate on the subject,

took

take
of its apparent repose, and it would be a great misto refer the successful idea to a relaxation of the

attention.
This tension of the

mind, in a less exalted sphere

and under certain conditions,
of life,
such as darkness,
the silence of night,
will create
or
completesolitude,
fantastic images,and peoplevacancy
with hideous
tion
objects.We have alreadycalled the reader's attenwho are
to this (p.275). In nervous
persons
and uneducated,the brain at
timid,superstitious,
and horrifying
those times is filled with depressing
If the eye then
indefinite form,the

ideas.
an

converted

are

into

of
objects
phantoms of the imagination
It is under
actual apparitions.

similar circumstances

becomes

fixed

that the dead

on

have

been

seen

to revisit the earth.

conceived that,when
the mind is in
easily
is free to exert its influence.
this state,the imagination
In most persons the hallucination reflects their daily
thoughts; so that it seldom consists of sensations
to them.
which are altogether
new
The
Salverte,
imagination,"
says M. Eusebe
It is

"

374

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

DELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

nothing; it merely associates impressions

In the phanreceived.
which have been previously
toms
it
in the wanderingsof wakefulness,
of sleep,
felt or
or
presentsnothingwhich we have not seen
heard of. Fear, sorrow, anxiety,
or a pre-occupation,
ing
easily
producesthat intermediate state between sleepbecome
the dreams
and waking, during which
"

creates

converted
had been

by his circumstances.
of hideous aspect appearedto him, and told
A man
to believe
his evil genius. Accustomed
him he was
in the existence of such supernatural
beings,Cassius
and to
of the apparition,
felt no doubt of the reality
mind it would be the sure
a superstitious
presage of
the violent death which
a
proscribed
person could
hardlyescape."*
to the vision which
A similar explanation
applies
The
the eve of the battle of Philippi.
Brutus saw
on
is the account which Plutarch givesof this
following
celebrated apparition.
about to leave
When
they were
Example 124.
tion.
appariAsia,Brutus, it is said,had an extraordinary
Thus, a littlebefore he left Asia,he was sitting
and at a late hour.
alone in his tent, by a dim light,
while the
The whole army layin sleepand silence,
wrapt in meditation,thought he perceived
general,
somethingenter his tent : turningtowards the door,he
a horrible and monstrous
saw
spectrestandingsilently
What
art thou ?' said he,boldly
; Art
by his side.
what is thy business with
thou god or man
; and
I am
?' The spectreanswered
thy evil genius,
me
!' To which
at Philippi
Brutus ! Thou wilt see me
I'll meet thee there !' "When the
he calmlyreplied,
was
gone he called his servant,who told
apparition
of

"

Cassius Parmensis, when he

sleptin a state
proscribed
by the triumvirs,
into visions.

well warranted

too
anxiety,

"

'

'

'

Eusebe

Salverte

Opus cit.

HISTORY,

him

they had

MORALITY,

neither

heard

AND

3/5

RELIGION".

any noise

seen

nor

any

night he did not go to rest,but went

earlyin the morning to Cassius,and told him what
of the school of
had happened. Cassius,who
was
with Brutus
and used frequently
to dispute
Epicurus,
It is the
him
thus
answered
these subjects,
on
opinionof our sect,that not everythingwe see is
vision.

That

'

real ;

for

matter

is

evasive, and

sense

deceitful.

it receives are, by the quick

Besides,the impressions
thrown
into a
and subtle influence of imagination,
varietyof forms,many of which have no archetypes
in nature ; and this the imagination
effects as easily
But
when
make
the
as
we
an
impressionon wax.
body, as in your case, is fatiguedwith labour, it
suspendsor pervertsthe regularfunctions
naturally
of the mind.
bable
Upon the whole, it is highlyimprothat there should be any such beingsas demons
or
or
that,if there were
such, they should
spirits,
human
assume
a
shape or voice,or have any power
to affect us.'

"#

whatever
be
hallucination,
explanation
may
the conduct
of
given of it,had no influence over
of superiorintellect,
and
a
man
Brutus, who was
whom
has ever
accused of insanity.
one
no
"We should placethe dream of the Emperor Julian
A phantom with
in the same
disturbed
class.
a
Marcellinus,appeared,
countenance, says Ammianus
the night before his
and seemed
to leave him
on
death : it was
the geniusof the empire,whose image
before his eyes ; it was
on
was
constantly
engraven
the coinage
revered by his army ; it was
picted
de; it was
his standards ; and, without doubt,a statue
on
of it was
placedin his tent. Troubled by the scarcity
of provisions,
which distressed his soldiers,
certain
also that a religion
which was
opposed to his own
This

Langhorne's
Plutarch,vol.

vi. p. 84.

London, 1770.

376

HALLUCINATIONS

have

must

IN

procuredhim

RELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

in
enemies,even
his own
it
army, and on the eve of a decisive battle,
is scarcely
to be wondered
at if his sleepwas
turbed
disIs it surnature.
prising
by dreams of a depressing
that the enthusiastic disciple
of the Theurwhose
doctrine assignedan
portant
imgisticphilosophy,
beings,should see
part to such supernatural
in his dream, and believe in the reality
of the vision,
the genius of the empire mourning, and about to
departfrom him ?
The hallucinations may also consist of things
long
since impressedupon
the brain,which at the time

of association.
The
principle
material forms which paintersand sculptors
have
and which are
given to the characters of Scripture,
so
commonly representedin books,in churches,and
have formed
in paintings,
the foundation of those
visions of saints,angels,demons, and many
other
which
have appeared to ignorantand
apparitions
troubled with hallucination
superstitious
persons who were

are

recalled

numerous

by

Nocturnal

the

hallucinations,
dreams,

and

bulism
somnam-

have been referred

to the action of
exclusively
There is no
it is said,either exthe brain.
ternal
longer,
internal impressions
to excite it. How
or
then does it act ?
Clearly
by a kind of spontaneouslectual
It seems
to us
that these intelness.
impossible
be accomplished
can
operations
solely
by the
its co-operation
That
is indispensable,
brain.
no
will deny ourselves less than any ; but it requires
one
"

the assistance of the mind.

We

thus

have

endeavoured

as

far

as

to
possible

pointout the mental phenomenawhich are concerned

of hallucinations.
If this examination
in the production
effect on the mind of
has producedthe same
he will have
ourselves,
upon
of
the conclusion that in a certain number
the reader

as

come

cases

to
a

HISTOEY,

hallucination

is

regardedalmost

but may
nothingextraordinary,
a normal
as
phenomenon, which

have

men

have not

been

have

been

sound

state

is

and

cumstances
how, under the cirbrated
mentioned, many cele-

been

insane.

co-existence

the

reason

be

but
subjectto hallucinations,

that account

on

order that

In

with

understand

it is easy to

which

exercise of the

due

consistent with the

hence

377

EELIGIOtf.

A^D

MORALITY,

of hallucinations

of mind

be fullycomprehended,
may
two series of these
examine

proceedto
the
to a multitude of individuals,
relating
cases, one
both series
other concerningpersons of celebrity,
havingbeen recorded in history.The materials present
themselves in abundance, and the onlydifficulty
is in forming a selection. That our
examplesmay
we

be too

not

numerous,

shall confine ourselves to

we

periodsare so full of
interest in regard to the present subject.Kings,
in the habit
and civilians were
soldiers,
daily
generals,
of witnessing
apparitions.
to
Historical Hallucinations occurring
1st Seeies.
Collections of Individuals.
Peter the Hermit, to
salem,
whom
belongsthe gloryof having delivered Jerudrew
with the world and mankind, withdisgusted
Pew

the time of the Crusades.

"

"

into

one

of the most

became
imagination

His

meditation,and

from

austere

exalted
the

orders of recluses.

by fasting,
prayer,

effects of solitude.

He

apostleand the courage

and all
of a martyr ; his zeal recognised
no
obstacles,
that he aimed at seemed
to him easy of accomplishment.
The power of his eloquence
and the force of
the extraordinary
irresistible. Such was
his example were
the Crusades, and
who
man
inaugurated
or
fortune,solely
by the influence
who, without name
the
possessed

of

fervour of

his lamentations

"Western
such

and

an

his

prayers,

excited

the

the East.
In
array itself against
he
state of mind, and filledwith the project
world

to

378

HALLUCINATIONS

had conceived

IN

BELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

in his

it is hardly
retirement,
religious
to be wondered
at that he imagined he held continual
intercourse with Heaven, and believed himself
of
the instrument of its designs,
and the repository
its counsels.

risingcivilization of Europe
associated with
was
religion
intimately

midst

In the

the Christian

of the

all the interests of its inhabitants ; it formed

basis of every societyit was

societyitself. "We cannot, therefore,be
the

manner

that

bond

of

to cherish the enthusiasm

to excite and

The

powerfullycontributed

universal church

surprised

rise in its defence.

ready to

in fact

"

were

men

in

and progress

of the

Holy Wars.
concurred to
Everything
the
hallucinations
religion,
ignorance,
anarchy,and the

love of the

"

the

of the world

end

of
production

favour the

marvellous,

fear that
still lingering
hand.

at

was

awaited

Men

great event, preparedto welcome

to the degree in
ardour proportioned
with their feelings.The voice

it with

some

which

it

of Peter

an
corded
ac-

the

stirred up the hearts of men, and the delivery

of their most
the object
of the Holy Places became

Hermit
ardent

wishes.

The

of the

name

very

something magicalin its sound,

of the people; it was
imaginations
had been

of the New

of a
birthplace
Scarcelyhad

inflamed

and
accomplished,

thousand

marvellous

had
the

the land where

and

of the Old Testament

the wonders

and

East

the miracles
was

stillthe

tales.

signalbeen given for the first

made
their appearance ;
Crusade, when apparitions
related the visions he had had, the words
every one
which he had received.
he had heard,and the commands
The

signsin

the

civilian and
heavens.

the

But

it

soldier alike beheld

was

when

the

into the regionsof Asia

penetrated
without end.
were
multiplied
prodigies
had

these

the

saders
Cruthat

380

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

hallucinations may

EELATION

TO

affect a number

same

time,without

them

of

insanity.This

such

combination

PSYCHOLOGY,

of persons

at the

there

to accuse
beingany reason
phenomenon is explained
by

of circumstances

those

as

we

have

described.
previously
"We next proceedto show that the same
remarks
will applyto the hallucinations of celebrated men.
2nd Series.
Historical Hallucinations relating
to
Individual.
an
Loyola,when compelledto a long
period of inaction,in consequence of a dangerous
wound
which he had received at the siegeof Pampeluna,directed his thoughtsto the state of religion,
which had alwaysbeen the object
of his veneration.
The distant rumours
of the secession at Wittenberg,
of
which he correctly
estimated the importance,
reached
him in his seclusion,
where his mind
had already
conceived the planof that institution which was
to
render such great services to his religion.Filled
"

"

with
the

that idea whose

throne
tottering
that

at

time

realization

-was

to

re-establish

of the
so

ligion,
Pope and the Catholic rehe preattacked,
vigorously
pared

himself for the encounter.

In the presence

of

this

of which he comprehended the

great struggle,
difficultiesand the dangers,
his mind attained to its
that is to say, to
greatestenergy and concentration,

that state which

of

an

idea into

is most
a

favourable to the conversion

sensible

sign or

image.

Neither

it be

that these events took placeat

forgotten
the beginning
of the sixteenth centuryand in Spain,
where nothingwas
than for the individual
more
common
must

to

attain to

that

state

of exaltation which

is induced

and where
in the
men
were
by solitude,
habit of concentrating
all their faculties and all the
energiesof their mind on one object.
It was
of his lifethat historians inform
at this period
us

he had

ecstasies and

who encouragedhim
Virgin,

visions.

in his

He

plansand

saw

the

in the

MORALITY,

HISTORY,

mission

by

undertaken

lie had

celestial voices.

A]S'D

; he

381

RELIGION".

himself

surrounded

These

hallucinations,
admitting
such in a scientificpointof view, were
only
forcible expression
of his meditations,
the
those profoundconvictions which constituted
t

them

as

the most
result of

of the distinctive features of the age.

which had taken possession
of him became

The

one

assumed

idea

intensified,

form, and presenteditself to his

his evincingany symptoms of
mind's eye without
the original
in this case
insanity;
idea,instead of
became external ; it placeditself
being intercerebral,
and guidedhim in all his underbefore the individual,
takings.
But in Loyola,as in other celebrated men,
the hallucination was
subsequent to the original
conception.
The
must

material

character
not

of the

age

in which

Loyola lived

and moreover
that he was
forgotten,
by the citizens and peopleof Spain,an

be

surrounded

and enthusiastic
ardent,credulous,excitable,

race, but

of a sombre character. To such a

was
religion
oracles,
people,visions,
spectres,
supernatural
events,
and so to speak,of daily
were
simplematters of fact,
whose

in their cemeteries

Phantoms

occurrence.

in their streets created

or

saints

surprise.
The hallucinations of Loyola,
therefore,
belonged
and his sufferings
to the age in which he lived,
only
bestowed on them
The immense
greaterintensity.
which was
shown
ascetic in
ability
by this religious
his plansand his writings,
sufficiently
proves that his
reason

Are

not

was
we

now

order which

no

affected.
to believe that the

formed

establishment of that

to Protestantism,
counterpoise
of that secret army which mingled with
by means
all orders of society,
and which was
less devoted to
than to works
which were
practices
religious
truly
to
serviceable
the offspring
of a
Catholicism,was
Does not the evidence,
diseased brain ?
the conon
a

382

HALLUCINATIONS

RELATION

IN

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

in Luther's
that it originated

trary,show

?
religion

attack upon
than
History contains more

the

Catholic

one

instance of this kind of

against another

of

"

one

power
will devoting itself to the

one

We

another.

reversingof

antagonismof

therefore admit

cannot

the original
visionarysoldier was
Such an explanation,
of this wonder.
source
although
to us
contrary to the
supportedby science,seems
To transform philosophers,
of man.
reformers,
dignity
and the inventive geniuses
the founders of religion,
hallucinated madmen, is
of the world into so many
insult to human
nature.
to offer the grossest
cell of

that the

devolve

It does not

the character

examine

to

us

upon

religious
point of view this
task has been admirablyfulfilled by others ; but it is
in him one
of the
for us not to recognise
impossible
existed amongst
natures which has ever
most powerful
What
men.
strengthof will,what power of argument
in

of Luther

all his

how

"

labours

harmonized

Always engaged in

of his enemies

with

each

did he pursue his

repulsethe attacks

perseverance
did he
vigorously

How

course

"

what

With

other !

the

died,knowing that the doctrine of free

he
struggle,
was
inquiry

triumphant.And yet the father of

to be classed with
Reformation ought mercilessly

henceforth

insane, for

had

he

interviews

numerous

with

the
the
the

devil.
"

"

he
happened,"

It

occasion

one
on
says,
and Satan
that I woke up suddenly,
The
conference
with me."
on

the

subjectof
of Luther's

and there

can

be

no

daysand nightswere
of his

allthose whose

and

puting
dis-

commenced

turned

entirely

is

merelya reproduction
this sacrament
argument against
;
doubt that the Reformer,whose
with the accomplishment
occupied
mass,

great work,

thoughtsassume
as

the

(1521)

saw

on

this occasion

material form,in the

minds

are

same

his

manner

with
pre-occupied
strongly

HISTOKY,

383

RELIGION.

AFD

MOLALITY,

take
before them, and misit distinctly
perceive
subject
is
until the tension of the mind
it for a reality,
is
to the real life which
relaxed,and they return
a

around

them.

ference
Claude,will onlyregardthis conof myth, imaginedby
a
a
as
parable,
species
Luther ; engendered,he says, by readingmonkish
The
works, where the Tempter is often introduced.
but
character of Satan in this case
beingnot a reality,
or a symbolical
a philosophical
abstraction,
tion
representaof our evil passions.
has himself refuted this supposition
of M.
Luther
Claude, in his Missa Privata, where this vision is
which
the power
After expatiating
is
related.
on
givento Satan,he says, this explainsto me how it
found dead in their
sometimes happens that men
are
them.
it is Satan who
has strangled
beds
Emser,
and others like them, who have fallen
(Ecolampadius,
into the clutches and under the ban of Satan,have
thus died suddenly."
is proved to
In a scientificpointof view,Luther

One

writer,M.

"

"

have had hallucinations

which
the

but

consider must

we

At
negative.

the

an

immense

be answered

periodof

power ; he
opinionsof the time
religious
had

he insane ?

was

A question

in
entirely

the Reformation
mixed

was

he

Satan

with

up

the

spoken of in
books and conversation ; he was
representedin the
of the period;
and sculptures
and all evil was
paintings
The ideas of Luther, exalted by
attributed to him.
tion,
by the dangers of his situaperpetualcontroversy,
by the fulminations of the church, and by
would
religioussubjects,
continuallydwellingon
fallunder the influence of the demon, which
naturally
he attributed all
he saw
everywhere,and to whom
the obstacles he encountered,and whom
like his
cotemporarieshe conceived interfered in all the
;

was

"

"

affairs of life.

384

HALLUCINATIONS

EELATION

IN

The

if we
hallucinations,
and not
belongedto society

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

express ourselves,
to the individual.
This
so

may

of

character

which is observed in the

universality,
of the Middle Ages,originated
in the
extravagancies
circumstance
of faith had subjugated
that matters
of
mankind; while,on the other hand, the liberty
free examination
would cause
the predominance
of

Thus, in

the individual.

attained

has

insanityof

our

times,where

own

its maximum

development,
almost disappeared,
of insanity
peculiar

type has
replacedby forms

common

and has been

viduality
indi-

to each individual.

To the instances
of the

heroine

drivingthe
Buchon,
as

"

whom

France

that

indebted

was

for

invader from her soil.

is

"There

to

will add

quoted,we
already

episodein

no

which excites

the

brief

so

much

historyof

annals," says

our

admiration

the

M.

and interest

arrival of Joan

of

her exploits,
her courage,
camp
has
her martyrdom. This extraordinary
event

in the French

Arc
and

"

opinions.Those who
opposite
in the ideas of the periodbelieved her to
participated
with supernatural
have been trulyinspired
powers ;
the most

givenrise to

others looked upon her enthusiasm

and
exalted state of her religious
whilst
of

have

regardedher as
deep intrigueplanned by
some

the result of

as

an

patriotic
feelings
;
the agent or dupe
the

ministers

of

Charles VII.*
this Maid

"Who, then, was

of Orleans ?

young
of
years
age, with a

peasant,eighteenor nineteen
noble and lofty
bearing,her countenance
pleasing,
of pride,
racter
but with an expression
possessinga charemarkable

for its mixture

determination,of modesty and

whose
*

conduct

Buchon :
pp. 196, 198.

excited

the

Analyse Baisonnee
Paris,1843.

of candour

and

and
self-possession,

admiration

clesDocuments

of
sur

all who
la

Pucelle,

knew

her.

AKD

MOEALITY,

HISTOEY,

that she entered

the firstmoment

From

385

EELIGI03".

and from which no

pulses
rewarrior,
the most
able to deter her,she became
were
defatigab
inperfectmodel of a Christian knight. Intrepid,
woman,
calm, pious,modest, an excellent horseleader in all
and as skilful as an experienced
manifests a
the practices
of arms, her whole career
on

the

of

career

and bears
loftyinspiration,
authority.Charles Nodier.

At

"

her mission

impressof

the

the age of

divine

eighteen

it

only remained for

her to crown
it with the act of martyrdom.
side the most unimpeachable
Thus we have on one
of no
kind, and perfect
conduct, sagacity
ordinary
the
of the reasoningpowers ; while, on
integrity
other,as in many other celebrated persons, there

and
terminated,

visions and

were

of the
^

is

revelations.

Let

case.

us

examine

Such

them

were

the

facts

in detail.

more

only eleven years old,Joan had her first

which took placein the following
manner.
apparition,
she
"When in a meadow, alongwith her companions,
who
saw
a young
man
near
said, Joan, run to
her,"
When

"

the house,your mother is in want of your assistance."

Joan hastened to her mother, who declared she had
The young girl
her comnot asked for her.
panions,
rejoined
when

white

suddenlya

and

brilliant cloud

before her eyes, and a voice came

"
the midst of it,saying,
Joan,you are born to

presenteditself
from

follow

different

greatwonders,for
has

you

selected to restore

to afford

succour

deprivedof

his

of

course

and
life,

to

accomplish

Heaven
the person whom
the kingdom of France, and

are

who is
supportto Charles,
empire. Dressed like a man,
and

now

you

you will become the leader of the war,

will be conducted
and everything
to your
according
directions." Day and nightsimilar apparitions
sented
pre-

will take arms,

themselves

remained

to

for five years she

At length,in a
state.

Joan, and

in this troubled
c

386

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

EELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

she received the foliowing announcement.

vision,
The King of heaven commands
you to proceed on
how it is to be done, for
your mission ; ask no more
in heaven, and as such it
such is the will of God
earth.
shall be fulfilled on
Go, then, to the neighbouring
district of Yancouleurs, which alone of all
Champagne has remained faithful to the king,and the
final
"

you without
of your desires."*
to the accomplishment
difficulty
the questions
When
the unhappy girlanswered
commander

of the

which

put

were

St. Catherine
when

she

conduct

district will conduct

to her

and

St.

thirteen

was

herself.

The

by her enemies,she said that

Margaritehad appearedto her
years old,and taughther how to
firstvoice which

she heard

was

himself before her,

Michael,who presented
all of them havingassumed
a
accompaniedby angels,

that

of St.

form.
corporeal

She

whom
saints,

two

she

Hallucinations

she had

declared

discerned
clearly

of all the

senses

are

embraced

the

and touched.f
evident in this

sufficient reason

regard
We
the heroic Joan of Arc as a lunatic ?
strongly
protestagainstsuch an opinion.Read the questions
which are filledwith malevolence,
of her interrogators,
cunning,and hate,and you must be struck with the
of Joan ; she
and uniform answers
ingenuous,
simple,
and
is always superiorto her judges; her openness
and
stand in strong contrast to their perfidy
courage
Is

case.

cowardice

that,however, a

strong mind

her

to their

to

weakness

and

loftypietyto their degradingbigotry.

Her life,
as
displayed
by these examinations,was

her
of

romantic

and

innocent

character.

When

the

caused by the disorders of the

which was
paniccame
for her courage,
Joan, alreadyremarkable
soldiery,
would
escort through the dangerousplacesthose of
'

Buchon

Opus

cit.

du 17 Mars,
f Interrogatoire

p. 492.

33S

HALLUCINATIONS

each

and
occasion,

IN

EELATION

the

as

her pure and noble heart

honour
and devotion,she
relied

them

on

formerlyhad
nearlyseven

with

doubts

PSYCHOLOGY,

voices which

appealedto
inspired
onlythoughtsof
but
no
longermistrusted,

much

as

TO

confidence

concerningthem.

as

she had

Alreadyfor

templation
conyears she had lived in the constant
of the most
loftyideas,which found a

echo in her bosom.

The age of eighteen
responsive
had arrived,and she was
in all the vigour of her
splendidorganization.She was
eager to fulfilher
mission.
She
presentedherself to the Governor
of Vancouleurs, who, after considerable hesitation,
touched by her courage and perseverance, which alone
sufficientto rouse
the hearts of the most dejected,
were
he yielded
to her prayers, armed
her, and had her
conducted
This

by

of
appreciation

so

exactlywith

here

occurs

alluded

the conduct

undoubted

considered

have

But

of

man

accord
we

to Chinon.*

an

the

of Joan

merit, seems

to

of
us

Arc,
to

that
judgment of science,

it desirable to report it entire.

which we
have elsewhere
objection
If

the absence

of

important
is to be regardedas
change
economy
of Joan's hallucinations,
the source
how
does it
happen we do not find in it any analogy to what
in the presentday under similar circumstances f
occurs
The period of menstruation
does in fact influence
the brain, and producesdisorders of the sensibility
and the powers
of motion ; it affects the mind, and
givesrise to symptoms of insanity
; in other words,
to a state of disease.t
isted
Nothing of this kind exin Joan ; her health was
her reason
perfect,
and her hallucinations only reflected the
excellent,
to.

an

in the female

t A.

Brierre

CUniqo.essur
1851.

Buchon : Opus cit.pp. 196-198.

de Boismont : Becker ches Bibliograpliiques
et
la Menstruation.
Annal.
Med.-psychol.Oct.
"

of
opinions

the

have

had

never

hallucinations

subjectto

divine

pretendedthat

389

RELIGION.

period;theyresulted

that her mission

We

AND

MORALITY,

HISTORY,

from

the

viction
con-

origin.

the

who

persons

in their

ordinaryIt is in that state of enthusiasm

condition.
arising
from strong convictions,
and which is favoured by the
circumstances in the midst of which they have been
that we
have sought for an explanation
engendered,
of hallucinations ; phenomena which
were
formerly
were

so

which

and

common,

were

still to

are

be

with.

met

This is also the

which has been givenby

explanation
a distinguished
writer,M. Ch. Louandre ; and it will
be found that it is quiteas ingenious,
far more
pro^
and
has
and
historical
a
bable,
philosophical
bearing
which is founded
very different from that hypothesis
a

upon
Let

diseased condition of the organs.

reconsider this case
of Joan of
us

full

Arc, so

of interest and of heroism.

During the

Middle

Christendom

Ages

that

it was

God

had

believed

out
through-

honoured

Prance

with his

and had chosen it for

special
protection,
terrestrial kingdom. This belief entered into the
of

foundation
it

of

historical events, and formed

number
of marvellous legends.

by means
supposed,
dove, conveyed into

oil for the

coronation.

terpretati
in-

the

God,

of that celestialmessenger'

was

the

his

the cathedral of Rneims

It

the

hardlybe doubted
that this legendexercised an important
influence over
of the kingsof France,and consequently
the destiny
that

over

of the

can

country.

The

coronation

of its

kingswas not a vain ceremony; it was a solemn mystery,

by which God conferred on them special
favours,
of justice
the spirit
and the giftof miracles.
as
These

such
would

traditions had

no

doubt

come

ledge
to the know-

of Joan ; and it is easy to understand

how, in
times,and with her peculiartemperament, she
mistake

the voices which

she

heard

in her

390

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

ecstasies for that

KELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY

of the

guardianangelof France.
Joan obeyed the superior
mination,
power of enthusiasm,illuand ecstasy; conditions which, while they
fluence
form part of man's
nature
and indefyall analysis,
the events
of history.In the internal derangement
which
is producedby ecstasy,the mind
becomes
and demands
from the imagination
excited,
greatly
the phantoms of its dreams, and the latter,
in spiteof the continuance
of the reason,
invests
with

them

material

forms.

The

mind

itself

tains
longermainlongerbounded
by the actual,but a miragerises on all sides possessed
of such mighty power, that the mystics have maintained
of this inner over
the outer
the superiority
This inner sight,this mysticalvision,says
sense.
sees
Hugues de Saint- Victor,endowed with ubiquity,
to

new

horizons ; the external world

its ordinary
appearance ; it is no

extends

God, and all that belongs to God

no

when

enlightened

a
character,and the
spiritual
by faith,it assumes
soul by faith discovers in itself thingsw hich escape

the

in the world

senses

Hallucinations
occur

also to

are

of matter.
to individuals,
peculiar
they

not

the masses,

and

visions may

become

contagious.
Joan

and

traditions

of

hallucinations.

Moses,

and

cotemporarieswould find in the

confirmation
of these
a
Christianity
sent
to Abraham, to
Angels were

her

to Joshua.

The

ecclesiastical writers of

the first ages maintained

that,when two nations
celestial spirits
at war,
placed themselves on
boundaries

of the

two

kingdoms, and

were

the

engaged

in

plain
desperatecombats ; a circumstance which tends to exthe propensity
of the peopleduringthe Middle
The
Ages to see armies fightingin the clouds.
spectatorswho witnessed the sacrifice of the heroic
the sacred name
Joan of Arc, declared that theysaw

HISTORY,

of Jesus

the last word

"

391

RELIGION.

AXD

MORALITY,

she uttered

"

iuscribed iu the

flames.
Patriotism
the

and

verge
of the

very

is the

onlyone
reasoning.
The

more

examine

we

more
are

geniuselevated by faith to
military
of inspiration,
afford the true explanation
gloriousdestinyof Joan of Arc, and
be admitted
which
can
by modern
the

compelledto

we

those
especially

who

have

records

admit

of

the
history,

that eminent

desirous of

been

their race, must be placedin the Pandemonium

insane,if the diseased halluciDation is the

men,

benefiting
of the

only form

has heard of
recognised. Every one
the sect of Friends or Quakers,whose
probityis proverbial
medical doctrines,
; yet,accordingto the existing
would
GreorgePox, the founder of the society,
be regardedas a lunatic.
George Pox, in order to devote himself to the work
of regeneration,
withdrew
himself from his familyat
Por many
an
earlyperiod of his career.
years he
in leather.
clothed himself entirely
Sometimes
shut
crouched
up in his chamber, sometimes
up in the
hollow of an old tree, but always fasting,
praying,
and meditatingon the Scriptures,
he was
assailed by
temptationsand discouragements.At this time he
which

had

be

can

several

revelations
It

whether
sons

of

was

revealed

Protestants
God.

which

Alarmed

or

struck

to him

with

nishment.
asto-

that all Christians,

were
Papists,

and

him

believers and

disconsolate at

the

findingno

for

commencing his intended work, he was at

length consoled by a voice which said in his heart,
There is one
who can
comprehend you, it is Christ
Himself."
Por fourteen days he continued in a kind
of lethargy
as though it
; and while his body remained
and to
was
dead,his vision was extended to eternity
means

"

matters

which

the tongue

cannot

utter.

"

I beheld,"

392

HALLUCINATIONS

adds, "

IN

EELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

and the love

greatness,the infinity,
One
of God."
Sunday,in 1649, he felt himself
the cathedral at Nottingham,and
to enter
impelled
there to utter his testimony.
It is,
disputabl
intherefore,
that the founder of the society
of Quakers
had visions and revelations. These psychological
nomena
phe-

he

tlie

...

...

also manifested

themselves

in the first converts

to his

of

preaching.Like him, theywere all convinced

their infallibility
; they looked
upon themselves
saints cleansed from

endowed
sin,and all were
time they
with the giftof prophecy;at the same
of heroism,a contempt of
a certain amount
possessed
danger,and the zeal which is impartedby sincerity.*
If the cases
have quotedare conclusive,
and the
we
inferences we have drawn
correct,the opinionwhich
has converted
Socrates,Plato, JNuma, Pythagoras,
into hallucinated
Pascal,and many other celebrated men
be rejected,
must
and Eeason be perlunatics,
mitted
to claim these great minds as her own.
have alreadyquoted
To the four examples we
tellect
should be added that of Socrates,the grandestinof ancient times. But if our arguments,which
have satisfied
onlyfeeblyrepresentour convictions,
the minds
of our
readers,they will spontaneously
who, in spite
applythem to the Grecian philosopher,
will ever
remain
the most
of all medical theories,
as

noble

of
impersonation

master

of Plato.

the human

Common

sense

regardas a lunatic
pure, so wise,and in a

itself to
so

familiar demon

His

Ego son
owing to
"

was

common

moi

the

"

whose

man

manner

but the
material

will

bring

never

whose

the

conduct

was

providential.
of his
impersonation
was
representation
so

those ages a belief in dreams

and the rest of mankind.
The

period.In
to him

which
reproaches
*

was

intellect and

have been cast upon

George Fox et les

Mondes, vol. ii.p. 94.

Premiers
1850.

him

Prophets. Revue
"

ParM.

J. Melsand.

on

account
des

Deux

393

EELIGION.

AND

MOEALITY,

HISTOEY,

his disciples
over
imaginedhe possessed
in the admiration they
distance originated

of the influence he
at

their devotion
talents,

felt for his

to his person, and

office.
he entertained of his priestly
high opinion
whom
the celebrated men
we
Thus, in our opinion,
nations
have quoted,and many
others,may have had hallucitheir plans,their
without their influencing
its being
actions, or their conduct, and without
possible
justlyto charge them with insanity.This
the

establishes

vast

difference between

them

and

the

times, whose

conversations,
and conduct are alwaysindicative of insanity.
actions,
They are persons who representno want, fulfil no
to be utterly
mission,and, in a word, who seem
of

hallucinated

our

own

useless to their fellow-men.

In

intended

work

to prove

that the

of
integrity

persons with the

I should show an
undue
existence of hallucinations,
opinionsif I did not declare that
respectfor human
the

reason

consistent in

was

some

of
of whom
most
were
Christianity,
humble origin althoughM. Lelut says, I have confined
hallucinations to
the existence of physiological
of
enjoyedthe full possession
persons of highrank""

the founders

of

"

"

their mental

faculties.

We

must

exist

the hallucinations did not

also remark

merelyin

and isolated cases, as the same

in order to produce the
stated,

some

exceptional
writer has further

that
impression
doctrine in regard to a

onlymaintain our
individuals ; they also occurred to multitudes,
as
in the present day amongst
them
have seen
could

nations of the North

We

are

not

the

that

we

few
we

the

and of India.*
in the Divine
first wrho,believing

have pointed out the line

originof Christianity,
of Scripturefrom
which
separatesthe apparitions

146.

le Bcu/kavat Pourana, vol. i. p.

Debat du IS Octobre,
Revue Mrangere, par PhilareteChasles,

Burnouf

*
"

1857,

Commentaire

sur

394

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

KELATION

TO

PSYCHOLOGY,

those of

of many
Christian
and even
profanehistory,
English medical writers who have written
persons.
this subjecthave alreadymaintained
similar
on
a
But
rational
as
a
opinion. Thus, Arnold says,
Christian can allow of no
but what
such inspiration
was
givento Christ and to the prophetsand apostles,
to
we
must, of course, conclude that the pretenders
Divine illumination and the giftof prophecywere,
the ancient heathens,as they have since been
among
"

of two
sorts ; and were
Christians,
better than insane,or were
no
downrightcheats
and impostors.The latter became
such either from
and emolument,
views of ambition,
private
reputation,
attachment
to the
a zeal for the publicgood,or
an
interests of a party."*
It has been asked," says Hibbert, if all the
and
authenticated
instances of apparitions
natural
superbe
to
communications
are
regardedas cases
of disease,
it is necessary to make a distinction with
regardto those which are recorded in Scripture.It
would indeed be most
on
presumptuous to comment
modern

among
either

"

"

the
with

man

God

in which

manner

for

has chosen to communicate

special
purpose

but this distinction

havingbeen made, it is necessary to remark that there

is nothingwhich proves to us that similar events have
taken place since the apostolic
times, and all the
alleged instances of this kind which have occurred in
recent

than to

times

to

seem

f
theology."

Arnold and Hibbert

us

to

It is not
were

medicine

belongto
to

be

rather

that
forgotten

Protestants.

"Lastly,"adds Abercrombie, in

his work

on

the

304.
f Hibbert : Opus cit. In the work of the Abbe LengletDufresview of those apparitions
of the religious
noy is a very clear account
have
occurred since the apostolic
times, and
and visions which
et
Traite
Middle
Historique DogmaAges."
during the
especially
Revelations particules
et
l
es
Us
Visions,
sur
Apparitions,
tique
*

Arnold

vol. i. p. 97.
lieres,

Opus cit.vol. i. p.

2 vols, in-12.

Avignon et Paris,1751.

396

hallucinations

from

their

mouths,

chancellor
The

Church,

accords

visions.

She

actions.
of

for

subject

such

even

and

matters,
acted

personal

these

revelations

for

signs

with

and

the

of

birth

not

by
are

form

is at

liberty

their

causes,

character,

visions

the

the

the
from

series

subject, continued
characters

same

regeneration

Saviour.

of

them

they present

same

the

have

we

theologians.

distinguish
;

such

accepted

orthodox

that

which

the

do

miraculous

as

hallucinations

all connected

are

visions

rejected them,

way

possessing

the

to

as

sometimes

times

to

pays

forgotten

relating

and

ages,

same

be

have

prophets
of

the

in
not

must

other

at

she

mass

she

person

their

have

we

they

pleases

unorthodox.

if

the

accompanied

are

Each

with

away

then,

Thus,

It

do

as

See,

he

in

special

all

to

this

Lam-

Cardinal

when

even

belief.

in

canonization

they

Holy

opinion

becoming

without

only

the

general

what

form

to

unless

very

illustrious

work

from

but

of

acts

Lastly,

by

The

authority

some,

her

them

to

approved

little

the

errors

entire

an

learn

we

tolerates

attention

virtuous

written

very

In

to

blasphemy.*

as

but

rejects them.
no

has

eeligton.

to

exposed

was

Grerson

spirit.

eelation

were

of which

publication

bertiui,

nr

In

word,

of the

they

they

world
form

complete system.
*

De

Canonis,

Sensations,

p.

27.

De

Profectu

SS.,

lib. iii.

Relig. lib. vii.

c.

52.

M.

c.

8.

Michea,

Du

Delire

des

397

CHAPTER

TBEATMENT

OF

XIII.

HALLUCINATIONS.

Until

of late years the treatment

of hallucinations
in France
had not attracted the special
attention of
medical

This

men.

was

the

natural

consequence

of

the universal

opinionthat theywere merelya symptom

of insanity. In the importantworks
of Ferriar,
Hibbert, Esquirol,and Jacobi, on
hallucinations,
there is no
chapter devoted to their treatment.
The
author
French
that they do not
assures
us
method
requireany particular
adds, however,
; he
that they ought to be taken into our
serious consideration
when
the
moral and intellectual
decidingupon
of the insane and the therapeutic
treatment
The Englishauthors
agents which are to be used.
have not been
does the German
more
nor
explicit,
in this respect.
philosopher
suggest anythingnew
Such was
the state of the science when M. Leuret,
having carefullyconsidered what had been done
declared that hallucinations,
which
had
previously,
hitherto been left entirely
to the resources
of nature,
amenable
to treatment, and capableof being
were
cured,and that this desirable result could be easily
obtained
by resolutely
opposing and continually
pursuingthem until theygave way.
Experiencehas
since shown
the value of this method, but at the
time it does not possess that generalapplication
same
*

in mind
that,since a hallucination is
of
of the different forms of
some
one
generally complication
what we shall say with regard to the treatment
will often
insanity,
It should

be

borne

apply to both disorders.

in the

means

which

are

This distinction is

particularly
perceptible
employed againstthe false idea.

398

TREATMENT

OE

HALLECI5sTATIOyS.

by its author,who had onlytried

of hospitalpatients.It was
it in the treatment
evident that in privateestablishments,
intended for
in society
and from
persons who, from their position

which

believed

was

their education,had been accustomed

to
endowed
with a largeamount
and who were
"

is

which

would

be

treatment

an

amongst

under

the second

the medical

heads

we

With

availed ourselves of it in the

cases

to which

it seemed

of hallucinations may be
the first comprisingthe

"

the moral

enteringupon the
firstrefer
must
we
subject,
the treatment

adapted.
arranged
physical,

means.

Before

which

proposedby

these reservations,
we
the first to call attention to the utility

treatment
two

"

Bicetre.

of this method, and

of those
treatment
The

in many
of insanityit
cases
to modify very materially
the

necessary
which has been

officerof the
were

element

command,
of pride

should

details of this

partof

our

to

the conditions

be

pursued. Ought

hallucinated to be removed, or

under

treated at their

the

own

Accordingto the plan of M. Leuret,their

The nature
of the
removal is absolutely
necessary.
the lengthof time it has lasted,
and its
hallucination,
also circumstances which establish
are
complications,
question
importantdistinctions. To this preliminary
shall replyby quotingcertain cases.
we
A naval officer,
who held a lucrative
Example 125.
much
and responsible
attached to
was
situation,
and imaginedthat he
observations,
making telescopic
had made remarkable discoveries in the sun.
Among
he solemnlydeclared that,
other strange assertions,
at the time of the abdication of Napoleon,in 1814,
the emperor's
in the sun, and that the
he saw
figure
next day the figure
appearedagain,but reduced to a
On the third day the figure
skeleton.
was
no
longer

houses ?

"

visible,but the united colours of the allies were

seen.
distinctly

minute

of these appearances

very
was

TKEATMENT

399

HALLUCINATIONS.

OE

and it is said that

log-book,
of the ship were
several of the crew
readyto testify
observations.
to the perfect
accuracy of the captain's
In the face,
however, of such evidence,few persons
found who believed a word of it,and the gallant
were
in the

entered
regularly

mortification

officer had

the

considered

to be

was

doubt

mind

indeed,be

delusion,and all the other

individual,were
by the same

they did

in the

business

common

him for
disqualify
from whom
Conolly,

way

case, adds that

affect

not

it

kind of
delusions

perfectly
of his
the operations
of his life,
in any
or

his officialduties."
we

must

men

was

That

no

but the

cherished
harmless

this

of his delusions.

delusion there can,

mere

only one

find that

to

have

copiedthe preceding

be

not

confined

for entertaining

on
particular
subjects,
peculiar
opinions
or, if
they are, it is clear that no rule can be found by
be guided on the one
which any one
can
hand, or
be aceven
counted
protectedon the other. A man
may
that there are
mad for believing
two worlds
connected with our
of created intelligences
planet
"

one

the other visible ;

invisible,

thingas

solitude

that every

that there is

no

such

lonelyplaceis peopled,

action done before many witnesses ;

and every solitary
in avowing this belief
yet he would not assert more
has taughtmany to believe.
If he goes
religion
and imaginesthat he can communicate
a step farther,
he will certainly
with the invisible beings,
run
great
looked
of
risk
being
upon as a dangerousmadman,
have cherished the same
although some
great men
belief. He is then, in fact,
under the dominion of a

than

hallucination

he

has

allowed

his idea to

assume

bodilyform, and his powers of comparing and

judging are defective. But, although he may
insane upon this particular
point,if his conduct

of
be
is

his actions blameless,no one

has a rmht
to interfere with his affairs or to call him to account
correct

and

400

TEEATMENT

for his

OF

HALLUCINATIONS.

stillless have theythe rightto place

opinions;

in confinement.*

him

Thns, so long as

the

hallucinations

are

harmless,

necessary; but that is not the case

to the
when
the hallucination may prove injurious
is then
individual himself or to others ; confinement
is not

confinement

It may
also be asked whether
absolutely
necessary.
in the treatment
confinement
is not justifiable,
even
when
of harmless hallucinations,
sisted
they have long rethe means
usuallyemployedin such cases ?
some
Example 126. "We were consulted,
years ago,
whose
had short
husband
by a young lady(an artist)
but which
attacks of epilepsy,
were
immediately
of these
followed by a state of insanity.In one
voured
attacks he seized his wife by the throat and endeashe
to strangle
her,and it was with difficulty
At another time
managed to escape from the room.
surrounded
he imaginedhe was
by enemies, and
asked for his daggerto kill them.
The

of his young wife at these two attacks

"
I cannot," she said,
readilybe conceived.
alarm

may
lead such

longer. My sleepis disturbed

dreams ; I continually
imagine that I
by frightful
the symptoms which precedethese attacks ;
perceive
"

life any

whole attention is
his every movement
; my
him ; my powers
fixed on
are
paralysed
; I cannot
preventedfrom following
speak; and I am entirely
Pray,sir,assist me, and do not leave
my profession.
of Heaven
in this cruel position.In the name
me
I watch

take

pityon

On

the

my misfortunes."
other hand, the husband, when

he

had

recovered himself,
gave no further evidence of insanity.
reasonable ; he was
aware
His conversation was
fully
he

under

had laboured

in that

delusion.
"

way," he observed,
*

it

"

seems

Conolly: Opus cit.p. 406.

When
to

me

I suffer
as

if my

TEEATHENT

ideas

"

OE

401

HALLUCINATIONS.

head becomes
a
jumbled together
; my
chaos,and I can distinguish
perfect
nothing."
in
Young, devoted to his wife,and not believing
the dangerousnature of his disease,
the position
of
the patient
most
it less so
was
nor
was
embarrassing;
were

for the medical

It

quiteevident

was

of

was

man.

serious character with

most

that the young

man's

disease

respect to the

has too often shown

safetyof his wife,for experience
the dangerouscatastrophes
to which those persons
are
exposedwho reside with the insane epileptic
he labours under

when

hallucination.

state of the wife had also to be

rendered

driven

have

might

more

for
considered,
to

commit

her insane.
and I

her

The

was
Separation
advised
accordingly

little

suicide

or

therefore indispensab
it ; but

into consideration the briefness of the

the

moral

taking

attacks and

of the reason, I did not think it

recommend
an
asylum. His friends

speedyreturn

desirable to

of
promisedme they would show him the necessity
from his wife for some
months, and that
separating
they would take care he should keep to the arrangement
I had suggested.
In

the

this case,
disease
reason,

out

was

to be

was

of

presentstate

might

in
laws,confinement,
question
dence
depen; yet, what

of the

the word

placedon

at

any

and what

our

of

man

deprivehim

moment

whose
of his

there he would

guaranteewas

not

seek his wife ?

Section

The
two

may

some

"

Physical

intimate connexion

constituent

are

to

make

use

Teeatment.

which

of
principles

be affected in its

necessary
as

I.

man,

exists between

shows

that

the
each

turn, and that it is therefore

of

such

therapeutic
agents

Let
to both of them.
take
us
applicable
examples: a person giveshimself up to the
D

402

immoderate

HALLUCINATIONS.

OE

TREATMENT

hallucinations

subjectto

and
liquors,

of fermented

use

is

confinement

sometimes

becomes

it is also
frequently
to opium,bleeding,
to have recourse
baths,
necessary
and
"c.
Another
person imagineshe sees the devil,
the use of ridicule or the
reasoningwith the patient,
douche, will succeed in banishingthe false sensation.
course
Generallyspeakingit will be necessary to have resufficient to effect

but

cure,

in

of treatment

modes

these

both

to

quence
conse-

action of the two principles.

reciprocal
which
some
great misfortune,
experiences

of the
A

person
he attributes to

of his enemies

one

the fio-ure of the latter,

or

afterwards

soon

fantastic form, makes

some

longersleeps
; his blood,to use
becomes
heated ; the secretions
a common
expression,
and excretions are
deranged. In this case, ought
remedies to precede
not the employment of physical

its appearance

no

What

agents ?

of moral

that

he

teaches

reason

us,

confirms.
experience
]N"icolaiwas

to congessubject
tions,
of
employment leeches,but

Academician

The

requiredthe
to make
sequence
which he had neglected
use
of,and the consurrounded
by all
constantly
was, he was
kinds of phantoms. He is then bled,and the phantoms
disappear.
with a strong
keeper,
Example 127. A lodging-house
constitution and sanguinetemperament, who from
time to time gave way to drink,was
broughtto the
Marcel de Sainte Colombe,
establishment of Madame
which

of which
His

countenance

wild.
his

He

aunt

had

let

of wild
had
"

part

beasts

"

of his house

this

greatlyannoyedhim.

insulted my

wife

exasperated
me,

attendant.

eyes brightand
that
excited manner

in the most

me

medical

the

inflamed,his

was

told

time

the

at

was

on

three

and I threw

"

was

not

to

hibitors
ex-

some

true

"

of them," he
different occasions

which

said,

One

myselfon

this

the scoundrel ;

40JJ

on

OE

TREATMENT

her head

the fourth

form

in the

had

day she

and at the end of

Bleedingsare
but they should

HALLUCINATIONS.

of continued
no

week

useful
not

irrigation
; on
longerany hallucinations,
she was
quiterecovered.

under

be excessive.

to the serious consequences

and

the truth of which

the insane

circumstances,

some

all who

Without

mentioned
have

ring
refer-

by Pinel,
chargeof

had

confirm,experienceproves that the

until the patient
be carried on
faints,

will

bleedingmay
without producing
any alteration in his ideas.
who had hallucinations
Example 128. A physician
of sight and hearing,requestedEsquirolto bleed
refused ; but at length,
him. For a longtime Esquirol
he consented.
overcome
Scarcely
by his importunity,
when
dage,
he tore off the banhad the patientbeen left,
utensil and

and filleda chamber

tin basin with

which
his blood,besides a considerable quantity
the floor ; feelingfaint,he laid himself on
on

fell
his

tance
assisWhen
bed, the blood still flowingfrom him.
bloodless.
He was
he was
arrived,
ultimately
In spiteof his
blind.
restored,but had become
his insanity
anaBinic condition and the loss of sight,
unaltered.

remained
the
as

character,
theywere

same

long as they had

The

The

cure

of

done

hallucinations
as

vivid,and

preserved
lasted just

previously.*

hallucinations

has

sometimes

been

to
a
disgrace
by violent means, which were
there are
humanity, but of which, nevertheless,
numerous
examplesrelated by authors.
Example 129. A carpenter of Anvers imagined
number
of horrible
that during the night he saw
a
so
spectres.The terror which they caused him was
great,that he became insane. He was taken to the
had the retomb of the Virgin St. Dymphrea,who
putation
of curing the possessed. The
carpenter

effected

Esquirol: Des Maladies

Mentales,vol. i. p.

183.

TREATMENT

405

HALLUCINATIONS.

OF

mitted
sub-

there for the space of a year, and was

which
of treatment
to the various modes

remained
made

But

of in mania.

use

at the end

of that

were

time,

paid,he
was
journey,
his chains,jumped from
the invalid having broken
side.
the vehicle into a deep pieceof water
by the roadhis conductors succeeded
With
some
difficulty
in rescuinghim, and placedhim half dead in the
This cured him, and he lived for eighteen
vehicle.
years afterwards quite recovered from his insanity.*
banish
will sometimes
An
emetic or a purgative
as

not
for his maintenance
was
money
tied in a cart.
sent home
During the

the

the hallucinations.
A

refused

obey the

to

devil should

recover

Ferriar,over

his

liberty.I triumphed,
says
to him
resolution,
by administering
his food.f

continued
the hands

of M.

The

use

convinced

once

his

Leuret

the

the

with

douche

or

In

notice.
especial
has

douche

than

more

the hallucinated of the false nature

have
practitioners

Other

ideas.

days

nature, for fear the

calls of

of baths, combined
deserves
irrigation,

several

his

alongwith

emetic

an

and
devil,

the

For

in his stomach.

he still remained
he

swallowed

lunatic believed he had

been

not

of
so

successful.

us

with useful

recent

date,if

If the

resources.

column

false sensations continue

other

gentlemeans

accustomed

to

with

endowed

Van

in

moderate

Helmont

his wishes

have

and

f Ferriar

use

person

Idea, 49
:

stantly
in-

of
who

may
Should

Opus cit.

the

persuasive
has

and
fulfilled,

amount

Demens

the
fearful,

of water

of his ideas.

after the

provides

hallucination is of

invalid is timid

the

producedby a
impression
change the nature
and

method

this
regulations,

certain

Under

who

of energy,
oper. p. 175.

been
is

then,

406

TREATMENT

in such
effect a
The

case, the

of
application

circumstances

where

not

are

in

occurs

and
in

HALLUCINATIONS.

the douche

may-

cure.

hallucination

same

OE

favourable when

so

of energy and determination,

loug time. It is the

person
lasted for a

has

the

it is

with insanity,
complicated
especially
monomania
with a tendeDcyto suicide.
melancholy

The

of mania, of dementia, and of

will seldom be treated successfully
generalparalysis

by

hallucinations
of the

means

cases

the

of the douche

use

instead of
We

have

those from
while

certain

will

water

aggravatethe

for the

is allowed

thin stream,

or

in

seated

toms
symp-

in the

this continued

bath.

douche, continued
for hours toto fall,
gether,

number

the
on
watering-pot,

of

number

them.
benefiting

substituted

The
irrigation.
in

In

douche.

The

of streams

like

head of the
effect

patient
produced by
advantageof

has first the

sprinkling
keepingup a constant coolingeffect on the organ
which is congested,
without causingthose injurious
results which have been laid to the charge of ice.
In the second place,
that
it harasses the patient,
so
others have
he will often ask for pardon. What
action of the
seated,as regardsthe instantaneous
tinued
douche,we have also observed from the use of conhas been
After this treatment
irrigation.
hours, the patientshave
perseveredin for some
them from the bath,admitting
begged of us to remove
that what theyhad said
deranged,
theywere previously
but that now
was
they were
completely
nonsense,
cured.
female who had become
young
hallucinated after her confinement,imaginedshe saw

Example

before her
her

130.

largefigureclothed in white,which
everywhere. Her medical attendant

lowed
fol-

plied
apleeches to the neck,and ordered her several baths.
This treatment
producedno amendment
; the patient

TEEATHENT

became

throw

She
soon

water

At

the

establishment.

my

me

her head

of this

out

come

she

for two

the water

As
The

to the bath.

of that time I visited her.

end

let

said,

entertained

were

taken

was

allowed to fall on

was

"

brought to

she arrived she

as

fears

of the window.

herself out
then

was

407

HALLUCINATIONS.

violent,and

more

would

OF

hours.

Sir,"she

"

which

falls

Tou
my head like a shower of rain is unbearable.
have done it because I was
out of my mind ; I know
on

it ; but, thank
Glod, I am
Do not leave me
here any
her request, I asked
her

figurein
"

white.

what

had

become

of the

longer,"she replied;
milk
fever."
illusion produced by my
was
an
to all my
lady havingrepliedrationally
tions,
quesI took her to her apartment,and in eight

it

The
hours

she

"It exists

alwaysturn

not

often known

have

after

no

restored to her friends.

was

Things do
we

in my rightsenses.
longer." Before granting
now

the

out

erroneous

so

and
fortunately,
to
impressions

momentary cessation. In other cases

the false sensation disappears,
but the insanity
mains.
reWe
have, however, found such beneficial
that we constantly
results from the use of irrigation,
bining
employ it ; and the cures we have effected by comit with baths of considerable duration,
have
consider we
been so numerous
and rapid,
that we
peutics
have rendered
an
important service to the therareturn

of mental
under

diseases in
which

pointingout

this treatment-

the circumstances

should

be

pursued.
leave

just related can scarcely

of physical
to the efficacy
agents; in
the
the cases
they act by quieting

facts which

The
a

doubt

as

we

have

majorityof
symptoms of excitement.

the

attention

has

not

disease that

such

maintained.

When

It

is because

sufficient

paid to this periodof the

have been
contradictory
opinions
the excitement has passedaway,
been

408

TREATMENT

OF

HALLUCINATIONS.

from
of remedies
the
or
owing to the use
lapseof time,then the greatestadvantagesare to he
either

derived from
Before

moral

treatment.

enteringupon

is necessary to say
which was
Dr.

Moreau

of

part of

few words

Bicetre.

case

our

it
subject,

the Datura

on

proposedsome

Tours, the

the insane at the

in the

this

medical

by
years back
attendant upon

medicine

This

monium,
stra-

of hallucinated

ployed
em-

was

persons,
in
were
incurable,

who,

if

a
more
they could not be termed
less hopelesscondition.
Seven were
or
cured,and
three experienced
The
onlya temporary amendment.
in from four to seven
were
cures
accomplished
days
of graduated doses of the
to a month, by means
sweetened extract of stramonium,beginningwith one
creasing
decigramme (1'5432 grains)night and morning,inof five,
the dose, in the course
eight,or
made
fifteen days,to three decigrammes,
up into a
taken every
was
drink, of which a tablespoonful
At
the end of twenty-fourhours the doses
hour.
tract
were
greatlyincreased,one decigramme of the exbeingadministered every hour, until its physiological
effects were
evident.
According to Dr.
showed themselves after the
Moreau, these generally
is
administration of three decigrammes. Great care
in the administration of largedoses of the
required
in order
be left,
should never
The patient
Datura.
that the effects of the remedy may be watched,and
not allowed to pass beyondthe normal limits.*
of these precautions
show that this
The necessity
Another
remedycan onlybe used with greatreserve.
is,that the remedy has not producedthe
objection
same

fortunate

did with M.
Some
*

results in the hands

of others

as

it

Moreau.

years

ago

M.

Mitivie

Journal desConnaissances Medicates

1842.
Analysede M. Bouchardat.

attemptedto
Pratiques,
p.

treat

134.

Fev.

OF

TKEATMENT

"hallucinations by

of

means

reverted
subsequently

to

found, however, to

was

difficultin its

409

HALLTTCrNATTCWS.

M. Baillarger
electricity.
of this agent : it
exceedingly
painfuland

tbe
be

and
application,

use

was

therefore

hallucinations
cure
may sometimes
of their therapeutic
action,but by

Drugs
means

the

chain

of ideas which

possess

the

doned.
aban-

by
breaking

mind

; not

of the

patient.
who had always
Example 131. A student of Berlin,
enjoyedgood health,returned home one eveningin
a state of greatalarm
was
pale,his
; his countenance
and he declared he should
eyes had a wild expression,
die in six-and-thirty
He went
hours.
to bed, sent
for a clergymanto reconcile him to God, and wrote
his will.

These

serious

Hufeland

was

panions.
symptoms alarmed his comrequestedto visitthe invalid,

reasoningshad no effect upon him. This

then
celebrated physician
ordered a large dose of
opium,and so produced a deep sleep,which lasted
until the fatal periodhad passed. On his waking up
the day and the hour was
shown
to the patient,
and
thus proved to him
he had been under the
it was
influence of his imagination.When
the young man
had become thoroughly
convinced,quietin his mind,
and restored to his usual state,he related that,as
he was
leavingthe town at the close of the day,he
saw
a death's
head, and heard a voice,which said to
hours.''''
him, You ivilldie in six-and-thirty
The principal
physicalagents which are used in
the treatment
of hallucinations,
consist of general
and local blood-letting,
of prolongedgeneralbaths,
either by themselves
combined
with the douche,
or
with the bath of irrigation,
with purgatives
or
sionally
; occaand antispasmodics
emetics,narcotics,
; and,
external revulsion,
of blisters,
lastly,
by means
moxas,
and setons.
Many other remedies have been exbut

his

"

410

TREATMENT

but
tolled,

OE

HALLUCINATIONS.

consider

we

them.

it would

Manual

be

useless

labour is often

merate
enu-

very useful
brought into asylums
a

auxiliary.Persons are sometimes

whose insanity
to depend
seems
nutrition.

to

Should

this be

the

upon

cient
insuffiof the

cause

nutritious regimen must

be prea
hallucinations,
scribed.
it
is
most
to
Lastly,
importantcarefully
examine all the organs of the body,and to ascertain
that their functions are properly
performed.
Section
When

II.

Moral

"

the excitement

Treatment.

has been

ployment
subdued, the emof moral means
which consists essentially
in givingrise to fresh impressions,
re-awakeningthe
and
in directing
the attention to new
aifections,
objectsmay be productiveof the greatestgood.
The choice of these different means
must
necessarily
the disposition,
and
to the education,
vary according
"

"

the

kind

which

of

insanityof

will succeed in

useless

in

of

one

artisan cannot
which

will be
intelligence
understanding. The

person
moderate
A

in the

terms

same

as

is accessible to

woman

would

Means

of

be addressed

of education.

man

hallucinated.

the

have

no

influence

on

the
solations
con-

the

The employmentof moral means

quires
reoppositesex.
a
intelligence,
knowledge of mankind, great
of pertime, a largeamount
tact,and, at the same
severance.
ideas
the
how
are
cerned
conKnowing
largely
it is easily
in the production
of hallucinations,
understood
the

cure

After

that

must

revert

false sensation

which

we

course
judicious
but the
the patient,
changed,althoughhe talks
a

it is that the medical

the

resources

he is

man

to them
torments

of medicine

in order to

the hallucinated.
has

hallucinations
less about

are

quillized
trannot

them, then

should avail himself of all

with
acquainted

to

combat

the

412

TBEATMEXT

notions

correct

Then

would

infuse

doubt

At

OE

the devil ?"

suppose you have seen
to
leave, after having endeavoured

can

into her mind.

other times I would

all my

arguments

you.

Those

long been
to be

HALLUCINATIONS.

as

have attended

myselfby observing
they fail to convince
the insane have

upon

that to

aware

bad

useless ;

are

who

content

as

insane."

Then

would

the

hope to convince a
But
patienthimself.

lunatic is

"

not

am

follow me, and endeavour

to prove the truth of her sensations.
I would
go
w
ithout
times
Somesayinganythingmore.
away laughing,

having

she would

exclaim

committed

either from

pride or

bring forward
of
possession
make

no

found

her.

so

againsther pretensionsof
crimes

many

show

to

I would

reason.

would
in

was

listen to her

the

accordingto

answer,

she

me

arise

she

insanity. Again

arguments
her

it must

in which

state

or

excitement,I ordered her

physical
Her hallucinatio
some
baths,and gave her coolingdrinks.
continued without any cessation,
although
for fear of my
she avoided speakingabout them
laughingat her. One night she was alone with my
Do
daughter,at that time ten years of age.
you
not see the flamesivhich are
coming out of my mouth V%
I am
lost!'1'' My
she cried.
They surround one
sense.
talkingnondaughter,laughing,told her she was
She sighed,
and from that moment
spoke no
To

subdue

the

"

"

"

about

more

the flames.

intervals of repose, after

seize upon her anew.
the hallucinations would

Mademoiselle
which
At

Claire had

had

those times advice and remonstrance

her
upon
she became
As

only,when

she

less communicative

Mademoiselle

I proposeda
life,

Claire
blister

was
on

much

too

was

and

effect

harassed,

dissembled.

at the

her

no

arm,

criticaltime
to

which

of
she

OF

TREATMENT

consented.

the

her other delirious

Amongst

the habit

she had

making

whom

with

person

of

413

HALLUCINATIONS.

she

generalconfession

derangement of the intellect in this

change of life,and I told the patientmy
"

have

been

disturbed

"

JSTone of

insane.

all
previously;

has

reason

illness

your

to

case

the

opinionin
relatives,"I said,

your

Your

to

I attributed

conversed.

the

this respect.

propensities

been

never

depends upon

this criticaltime."

Mademoiselle

Claire,althoughshe would not admit

she was
she was
insane, was
a
fullyaware
great
and, like many others,said she should never
sufferer,
that the idea I had suggested
get better. I perceived
made
an
impressionon her mind; and from that time
I continually
referred to it,combining it with other

moral

which

resources

I bestowed

I had

at my

command.

great attention upon

her ; I
judgment, and

her

praised

at the
understandingand her
time expressedmy
same
surprisethat a person so
happilyorganizedshould giveway to such ideas. I
often laughed at her about her devils.
You
may
laugh,"she said,"but for allthat they exist." Then
she would
laugh herself at the jokes I passed upon
These
her.
conversations were
agreeableto her. I
called her self-esteem into play; I engaged her
This
attention, and appealedto her good sense.
followed,ultimately
plan,which I perseveringly
duced
prothere
a
happy diversion in her ideas. When
was
a marked
improvement,I allowed her to go out
"

and

visit her friends.

her

melancholy.
lost.

These

The

These

visits sometimes

persons

lamentations

whom

she

had

made
seen

happened especially
and
passedthrough the publicgardens,
the luxury and
had seen
brilliant dresses of the
The
her
the
to
modern
city seemed
company.
Babylon,with all its iniquities.
By degreesher ideas

were

when

she had

414

TREATMENT

became

OF

HALLUCINATIONS.

quently,
freless melancholy ; she went
out
more
and,when she was out,occupiedherself with

the affairsof life.

These

results

from

better

obtained

not

were

Tvithout alternations

Thus

Mademoiselle

after having been lively,

would
Claire,

againbecome

to

worse.

Her amendment
and refuse to go out.
melancholy,
characterized by the desire which she
was
especially
showed of beingemployed. She commenced
working
for several hours in the day. Her cries occurred at
and
longerintervals ; she no longeravoided society,

would

conversation

into

enter

for

considerable

time.
after her admission

months

Two

she had

relapse
;

in tears, groaned,and declared

constantly
the devil was
going to take her away, because she
while labouring
under a
had received the communion
mortal sin. Nevertheless,she continued to improve,

she

was

and

we

watched

between
struggle
every hope that
Mademoiselle
that
indicating
She

she

at

the

the

greatest interest
and

reason

the firstwould

Claire

the false idea

to

go

entrance

we

to

was

this

but with
insanity,
triumphant.

be

at

was

smiled when

determined

arrived

the

with

this time

church

about

but

state

dation.
to its foun-

shaken

jokedher

in

it,and

when

she

she could not

she declared

pass in,for she felt as if fastened to the spot;and as

could induce her to enter,she returned.
no
reasonings
and
By degrees she became more
appliedherself to needlework,and

more
now

tranquil,
frequently

visited her friends and relations.

Mademoiselle
At the end of four months
was

able to

write

and

work, and

in

two

Claire
months

lady'sconvalescence had so far advanced,

her to leave,there being no longer
that I persuaded
Mademoiselle
Claire
well.
any doubt of her getting
excited on
much
offered some
objections
; she was
more

this

TEEATMENT

the

disease
and

would

and

door

entered

with the

that she had

us

quitewell. Eive
good.
perfectly

that she felt

which

case,

have

we

others,is sufficient to enable

method

our

passed the
felt better

agents ; but

Her

church,and

to

selected

from

several

the reader to

no
use
was
blister,
am
fullyconvinced

followed

Claire.

years after her health

treatment, which

interest
greatest

been

With

of treatment.

baths and

some

had

of Mademoiselle

condition

letters informed

This

fearful her

more

the mental

continued

was

she
carriage,

the

happy.
subsequent^watched

"We

she

When

return.

had

seemed

and
departure,

of her

morning

415

HALLUCINATIONS.

OF

appreciate
the exceptionof
made of physical
that

with

the

moral
for

perseverance

contributed to the restoraseveral months, powerfully

tion
of the reason.

event, the

unforeseen

An

exists
actually

what

under
sufficient,

some

sudden

comparisonof
with the belief of the patient,
is
to destroy
the
circumstances,

hallucinations.
is detailed at page 73,
seeingthe Cossacks in the Jardin des

The

whose

governor

exclaimed,on
Plantes,"Enough

"

case

am

awaited the coming of

Esquirol
she made
a
long conversation,

of
a

with
she

her medical
was

insane

in which

if the Messiah

On

patient

the Messiah.
written

she

agreement

engagedto

did not

come

After
admit
on

the

day fixed the Messiah did

The patient
not appear.
performedher promisewith
a
good grace, returned to her ordinaryhabits,and
the restoration of her reason
was
completedin a very
25th

of March.

man,

Another

cured!"

the

short time.

Example 133. A lady affected with melancholia

after her lying-in,
between
began,after a longstruggle
to believe she had been guilty
of
sanityand insanity,
crimes for which she was
to be publicly
executed,

416

teeat3j:ent

of

infamy had

tliat her

husband, and
her custom

hallucinations.

occasioned

the

haunted
spirit
eveningto fix herself

death

of

her.

It

that his

every

at the

her
was

window,

and to gaze on a white post,which seemed to her to

be the ghostof her husband.
Several weeks having

passed without change or amendment, her husband

thoughtit would be better that he should see her ;
for,althoughhe had been told that her removal from
home
essential to her recovery, he reasonably
was
imaginedthat the best way of provinghimself to be
He was
told that,even
to show himself.
alive was
if he did show
himself,his wife might persistin
him to be a ghost; but he was
obstinate,
believing
attendants

and the medical

gave way to him.

stated by the husband,was

afterwards
as
effect,

The
very

striking.
"

she
her

As

entered

as

soon

the

drawing-roomwhere

spent the day,she

usually

ran

into

corner, hid

handkerchief,then turned round,

moment
in the face,one
lighted
me
appearingdebut immediately
that I was
afterwards
alive,
of countenance, and
hideous expression
a

face in her

looked
assumed

out that I

screamed

dead and

was

to haunt

come

her.

had anticipated,
and
exactlywhat Dr.
lost.
minutes I thoughtall was
for some
and argument onlyirritated
Findingthat persuasion
I desisted,
and
and confirmed her in her belief,
It
tried to draw off her attention to other subjects.
This

was

"

was

put her arm

and began to
garden,

me

attention
with

the

since

them

and

she

utmost

her

into
to

her

I entered

circumstantiality

nursery, her home, and her

felt that I was
gainingground; and

friends.

and

the

or

excited

and
interested,

minuteness

affairs of the

when

me

had occurred

parted. This

we

into the

now

seen

mine, took

relate what

became

soon

either

under

children.
the

since she had

time

some

thought I

had

of
completepossession

her

TKEATMENT

mind,

OF

I ventured

417

HALLUCINATIONS.

ask

her,in

joking manner,
whether
I was
not very communicative
for a ghost.
She laughed. I immediatelydrew
her from
the
and again engaged her attention with her
subject,
The
children and friends.
plan succeeded beyond
my hope. I dined,spent the eveningwith her,and
herself again."
left her at nightperfectly
This happy result was
permanent ; and whatever
to such trials,
it is
generalobjections
may be made
not to be deeplyimpressed
with the fact
impossible
that they sometimes succeed.*
The
method
of M. Leuret
must
be
necessarily
noticed here ; for,althoughwe have already
pointed
consider that an example
out its principal
we
features,
to

taken from his work

is necessary to make

it thoroughly

understood.
a carpenter,
had
Example 134. A., aged forty-two,
and was
of an impatient
drunk freely
and excitable disposition.
He was
18th June,
broughtto the Bicetre,
from various hallucinations. He was
1839, suffering
of cuppings
treated by the application
totheneck,baths,

and lemonade.
with affusions,
Afterwards
foot-baths,
hewas ordered to work,but this he obstinately
declined

doing. The douche was givento him several times,

and he promisedhe would work, but failed to do so.
On the 12th of September,M. Leuret,who was
in attendance,
now
questionedA. as to whether he
intended
A.

was

This he refused to do.

to work.

conducted
immediately

placedunder

the

douche.

M.

him, and desired him

to him

After

case

the

Leuret

bath,and

then

to relate what

gated
interrohad

pened
hap-

since he had been in the Bicetre.

havinglistened

of A., M.
"

to

Now, A., I

for

Leuret
am

time to all the ments

statespoketo him as follows :
some

"

goingto

Conolly: Opus cit.p. 402.

We

tell you what

witnessed

Esquirol.

in the establishment of M.
E

I think of

similar
precisely

418

TREATMENT

have

all you

OE

told

me

HALLUCINATIONS.

there is not

word

of truth

in

anythingyou have mentioned ; all you have been

is sheer nonsense,
and it is because you are
me
telling
insane you have been placedin the Bicetre."
Here A. replied
Monsieur
not
insane ; I cannot
Leuret, I am
help seeingthe persons who are under my bed and
in the subterranean passages, because they are there.
You maintain that all I have been sayingis nonsense
:
"

"

I wish

it was

After what

so, but

"

what

and

see

of

said,is there,then,no
this place?"

will go out, but on one

I am
goingto tell you.

condition.

You

what

have

you

gettingout

my

I know

You

will

hear.

hope of
Listen to

onlygo

out

you are no longerinsane,and this is what you

You must
do in order to show you are not so.

when
must

longerlook at the sun or the stars ; you must not

imaginethat there are subterranean passages beneath
must
not
none
; you
your bed, because there are

no

believe in the voices which

because

there

neither voices

are

in these passages,

this,you

must

nor

never

refuse to

more

nor

work, whatever

ordered

to do.

you, you must

all that I requireof you is

because
think any

these passages,

persons speaking
do they exist. In addition to

be the kind of labour you are

wish me
to be satisfied with
reasonable.

from

come

Will you promiseme

of your follies?

If you
be obedient,

perfectly

that

you

will not

Will

you

promise

again?'"'
about these things,
If you wish me to speakno more
because you saytheyarefollies,Iwillnot
speakof them."
not

me

to

speak of

may

them

"

"

you will think of them no more."

in deciding
this
on
difficulty
patienthad some

Promise

The

me

but beingstrongly
urged,replied
point,
"

"No, sir,I will not think of them."

"

are

Promise

desired."

me

you will work

every

day,when

you

420

TREATMENT

OF

HALLUCINATIONS.

"

I wish you would come

and thauk me
to-morrow
I promise
for havingrid you of these insane ideas."
"

"

I will

you
me
"

work, and thank

of my ideas."
I wish you would

go

you

for

having relieved

and

work

to-day."

"

"

promiseyou I will go."

On the eveningof the same
day,A. received a
douche for not havinggone to work duringthe day.
September13. This morning,A. weut to M. Leuret
and thanked him for havingfreed him from his insane
ideas.

He

awaited

the hour

of work

Since
allowed to go out.
heard anything.
neither seen
nor

might be

in order that he

he
yesterday,

has

laughsat his previousnotions.

M. Leuret tried to entrap him, but A. alwayseluded
that his ideas
these attempts, remainingconvinced
For several days M. Leuret
had been erroneous.
renewed
these attempts; but alwayswith the same

September14.

A.

result.

September25.
cured.
effectually

There

be

no

doubt

that A. is

previousto the last

thin and melancholy,
he
mode of treatment, was
now
well.
is stout and looks happy. He sleeps
tolerably
had bewith everybody.He
lieved
He is on good terms
Tie saw,

he had

This

can

man,

believed he heard; such

were

the

when questioned
expressedhimself,
A. requeststo be allowed
about his hallucinations.
October 3rd
that
to go out ; this is grantedhim on
is to say, twenty days after the long interview of
September12.
of A.," says M. Leuret,"is undoubtedly
"The cure
next
to the pains
to the douche, and
owing, first,
which I took to make him speakupon all the subjects
to answer
of his delirium,and to compel him
me
It is necessary not to appear satisfieduntil
rationally.
there is,or appears to be,no reservation in what the
patient
says. If I had been content with A.'s evasive
terms

in which

he

"

TREATMENT

the

answers,

probablyI
humour

have

patientwould

should

have

never

421

HALLUCINATIONS.

OF

dissimulated,and

succeeded.

I did not

requiredhirn to pronounce
the name
of madman, in order,if possible,
to render
the idea of insanityinseparable
from that of his
disease,
givingto this its proper name, so that he
it.
might reject
I often laytrapsfor those lunatics who seem
sonable
reaafter the douche ; I return to them, pretend
I had made to them, and the
to regret the objections
pain I had caused them ; if they giveway, I then
that they
so
pointout to them how they have failed,
their guard. Since, however,
on
may be constantly
is not to punish,
my objectin this kind of contest
but to cure, it must
be fullyunderstood that I take
that these stratagems are
care
strictly
proportioned
of the patients
I use
to the intelligence
upon whom
his self-esteem

"

them."*
have giventhe
interesting
case, of which we
to us
most
seems
a
important particulars,
strong
in
the
have
favour of
opinionwe
previously
argument
of applyingindiscriminately
to the difficulty
as
expressed,
This

the treatment

of M. Leuret

to the

cases

which

privateasylums. Educated persons, who

and to
been accustomed
to compare,
to reflect,
their wishes fulfilled,
will not so readily
giveup
in

occur

have
have

the ideas which

possess them.
result from telling
them

Serious consequences

they were mad, especially

if it was
attemptedto compel them to admit
consulted by a
the fact. Three years ago we were
whose mania consisted in believing
he was
clergyman,
under the douche he seemed to recognise
a bishop. While
his error, and was
permittedto leave the
might

These

Bicetre.
I
*

in

his

own

words
there

error, because

Du
Traitement
Paris,1840.

Lenret

in-8.

was

were

Moral

de

la

"

was

was
no

vinced
con-

other

Folic,p. 186, 1

vol.

422

OE

TREATMENT

HALLUCINATIONS.

from the punishmentof the douche,

escaping
useless in a placewhere
were
my protestations
is all-powerful.
medical man
The receiving
of
of

means

and
the

in

the douche
not

was

convinced

way
In

true."

our

that what

me

we
practice

own

and behind
intimidation,

to

recourse

no

our

I said

have

had

backs

the

"

would
We
giveway because there is
patients
say,
nothingelse to be done againstviolence,but we are
fullyconvinced of the truth of our ideas."
"We will onlymake one
which is,
more
observation,
that it is not alwayswithout danger that we can force
his error.
to recognise
a patient
Example 135. A man, named Vincent, imagined
he was
for him to pass
tall that it was
so
impossible
out of the door of his apartment; his medical man
that force should be used.

recommended
was

The

mendation
recom-

attended with a
followed,but it was
for,in passingthrough the doorway,

fatal result ;
Vincent cried out

that

him and
theywere lacerating
breakinghis bones. The impressionwas so strong
that he died some
his attendants
days after,reproaching
with havingbeen his murderers.*
It is,
which is nowadded
a fact,
therefore,
that hallucinations may be treated with
far

opinion is

our

Leuret, but
We

in

accordance

differ

we

as

consider that the treatment

do not

should be confined to the

science,
So

success.

with

its mode

to

to

that

of M.

of execution.
of hallucinations

employmentof

moral

sometimes

it is necessary to have recourse

to
and
agents,sometimes to moral influences,
physical
means

sometimes

the

to

combination

of both these

means.

By

of this mixed

ance
treatment, in accordemployment
with the etiology
and symptomatologyof hallucinations,
we

which

cures,
*

Marcus

shall obtain
may

number

of

permanent

have the brilliantappearance

not

Donatus

Hist.

Med.% Var.

lib. ii. cap. 1.

of

effected

those
"will

to

be

in

modified

under
the

we

which

special

Lastly,
different

there

plan

several
have

not

which

wounding

the

divided

the

evident

that

pointed

now

which

many

are

be

cases

pursued.

will

out

the

with

with

is

It

classes.

hallucinations

diseases

have

we

accordance

the

to

but

Leuret,

of

advantage

examination

iuto

treatment

M.

of

patient.

previous

our

hallucinations
the

the

of

sensibilities
In

the

have

least

at

method

the

by

423

HALLUCINATIONS.

OE

TREATMENT

are

they
which

require

circumstances

developed,
are

will

and

associated.

require

424

CHAPTER

HALLUCINATIONS

XIY.

IN

RELATION

TO

MEDICAL

JURISPRUDENCE.

destinyseems

to pursue the hallucinated

if he escapes the asylums for the insane,
he is thrown
fatal

into

prison. Such

is the nature

he is looked upon either as

How
often have we known
of

theft,of
of

Only a
gave the

short time back the Gazette

of the

followingaccount
detained

the

In

lunatic.

yieldedto the
of insanity.*

hallucination and

unhappy lunatic
"

or

men

had

who

persons

criminal

that
disease,

accused of vagrancy,
crimes,of murder, who were

unnatural

unfortunate

of his

by

the

gestions
sug-

des Tribunauoc

misfortunes

policeas

of

an

vagrant.

of

the last week, a man

about
course
is Auguste Victor
fortyyears of age, whose name
Chevillard,was
brought before the policecourt,
The incoherence of his replies,
charged with vagrancy.
his melancholyappearance, and his vacant look,
induced

the court

to

believe thac he

mind, and Dr. Brierre de

right
by the presidentto ascertain
and report upon

Boismont
the

not

was
was

in his

directed

state of his

mind,

it to the court.

of to-day
Dr. Brierre de Boismont
sitting
made
the following
report: I visited Chevillard in
prison,and had a long conversation with him. I
"

At

the

"

asked

him

what

the

was

cause

of his misfortunes

and

At this question
of his vagrant condition ?
his eyes
became
animated,and his voice trembled,his demea*

We

protestagainsta
There

can

be

with the shield of

too extended
no

of the word monomania.

application
nals
crimitrue
protected

doubt it has often

insanity.

425

JURISPKUDENCE.

MEDICAL

"

and he said, My enemies

abruptand excited,
everywhere; they have ruined me,
pursue me
into prison." Who
thrown
and they have now
me
these enemies of whom
are
you speak?" "I do not
see
them, but I hear them ; they speak to me, they
whisperin my ears, they want to depriveme of what
I
when
I have stillleft ; they shall not have it,even
nour

was

"

"

die,for

I will swallow
I

Emperor

as

am

you

of China

or

it with

last breath.

my

see

me,

am

richer

the

King

of

Mogador

the clue to inexhaustible

treasures

though
Althe

than
;

I possess

enrich

can

pleasewithout beingany the poorer for it."

I pretended,"
says M. de Boismont, "to believe
and asked
the hallucinations of the unhappy man,
these treasures
were."
him where
They are in
I have never
Prussia,"he confidently
replied
; "but
I

whom
"

"

been

there

I have

Calcutta,but
the

to make

enemies

my
"

Do

never

much

been

further
I wanted

in Prussia.

far

as

"

2000

as

francs

the necessary diggings,

but
from gettingthem."
hindered me

journey,and
have

think your enemies can

into
penetrateeven
prison? If it is so, I will inform the governor,

you

your
and he will take

to

means

prevent

them

from

turbing
dis-

"

you." Tt would be useless theywould pass

throughthe walls."
On leavingthe prison,"continues M. de Boismont,
and found that ChevilI went
to the Bicetre,
"

"

"

lard had
1830

been

and

confined

1843.

At

there
one

several times

time

his

between

was
insanity

tended
at-

choly,
greatexcitement,at another with melanhe was
and once
placedthere for attempting
and he still
his life. I visited him again yesterday,
the same
delusions.
After a long
continues under
of treatment, he may perhapsbecome quieter
course
;
be left to his own
but he can never
guidance; the best
thingthat can be done is to send him to the Bicetre."
who pretended
At these words Chevillard,
not to
with

"

426

HALLUCINATIONS

have heard

IN

EELATION

word duringthe
single

said,

I will not go to the Bicetre

it is

secret

'

tribunal

there, then, for

handed
written

the

theyall say

paper
both sides. On

on

"'9th

November,

be entertained

doctor's statement,
it is an

incredulous.'

pieceof

TO

Well

mad.

am

one

"

Sayingwhich, he

to the clerk of the

1844.

of me,

inquisition,

side were

court,

these words:

Whatever

"

opinionmay

promise the person who can

from 4000 to 5000
to
francs,
place at my disposal
in life a pleasant
and
procure him a happy position
agreeableexistence,by securinghim an income of
100 to 200 francs a day.'
"

"

On

"

to

'

the other side

The

"

an

income

Whoever

'

"

of
onlydispose
and without
easily,

can

francs could

3000

have

who

person

of from

800

to 1000

this,let him

sees

"

"

The

Rue

2000

any risk,
francs a month.

believe it ! ! !
"

'

from

'

Chevillard.

la Boucherie
JSTo.14,
Saint-Jacques
"'a Paris (Anranchir).'

acquittedChevillard on the prosecution,

desired him to be placedat the disposal
of

court

and

the administrative authorities."*

How

could

it be

otherwise ?

This

man,

who

is

by enemies,whom
he perceives
before him, and hears threatening
him,
will endeavour
to injurethem, to pursue
them, to
strike them, and to kill them ; and should he through
that

convinced

an

he

illusion convert

is surrounded

of the assistants into

the persons

pretendedenemies, the most disastrous

from this error.
results might ensue
the most frightful
These waking dreams may cause
those of his

calamities.

Example
*

136.

Madame

X.,

Gazette des Tribunaux.

Frenchwoman, aged

Decembre, 1844.

428

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

destroythemselves

RELATION

in order

which

them
pursues
tells them
that the

escape the vision

rob because a voice

to

others

TO

thing they steal is their own.

Some
set fire to places
will insult,
; a great many
provoke,strike,or even kill people.
A corpse is found in an obscure place,
bearingthe
marks

of

violent

death.

into the mind

comes

first idea

The

is,that

crime

has

which

been

mitted
com-

and the
but it may be the result of suicide,
man's miserable end may have been caused by a false
sensation.
A clerk perpetually
imaginedthat he saw
;

ready to seize him and

him to the scaffold. Wishing to save
conduct
his
he remained
wife from disgrace,
a whole
night,while
with a razor
she slept,
her neck.
over
Fortunately
and he threw away
his ideas took another direction,
The
of death.
the instrument
next
mented
morning, torand unable
by the sightof his persecutors,
he drowned
himself in a waterto bear it any longer,

the

him

gendarmes around

butt.
If in this

and afterwards

might have

cut

his wife's

often

Suicide

and in the acute

attributed to

very different

placein

takes

cause

their

maniacal

delirium,

fevers.
accompanies
these catastrophes
trace
found to have
constantly

delirium which

it is

When

possibleto
source, they are

been

the result of hallucinations and

have

producedgreat alarm,and

to

throat,

himself,the fearful tragedy

drowned

been

had

man

the real motive.

from

to

the

case

the motives,less acts

are

illusions which

then,with respect

of suicide than

attempts
"

to
in the feelingof self-preservation
originating
from
a
imaginarydangers. I remember
escape
patient,"says Marc, attacked with typhus,who
"

"

"

would
had

have

not been

thrown

himself out of the window

if he

remembered, when
prevented.He fully

his delirium had

ceased,that

he fancied he

was

pur-

MEDICAL

429

JUKISPRTJDENCE.

by a horrible phantom, from which he was

endeavouringto escape."*
Hallucinations
giverise to attacks on
frequently
and fear,
Sorrowful ideas,melancholy,
other persons.
of these acts.
contribute to the production
especially
than to be consulted for
common
Nothing is more
and that
lunatics who believe they are
persecuted,
there are
persons who wish to poisonor assassinate
sued

some
escape from these annoyances,
solitude,others are continually
moving about

them.

and
placeto place,

conceal

to

their movements
and
fight,

in every

endeavour

from

possible
way

to

mined
deterothers,of a more
their pretended
enemies,provoke

face
character,

them

seek

To

there

be

can

no

doubt

that unfortunate

the swords
of
persons have fallen beneath
these hallucinated individuals duringtheir paroxysms.
Example 137. " In 1831," says M. Gauthier," I was
There
four of
were
goingto Lyon a Saint- Amour,
in the carriage
us
; a clergymanand myselfoccupied

the coupe, an officer and another person in the interior.

This officer had been expelledhis regiment,

Strasbourg.He was perfectly

quietwhen
he entered the carriage
had hardly gone
we
; but
he uttered the most
half a league when
frightful
and wished to
cries.
He
declared he was
insulted,
know
of it. He hastily
the reason
mounted
to the
roof of the diligence,
where he thoughthe heard the

and

sent

voice of

to

he had
Pouzet, with whom
person named
in the regiment.He soughtfor this person
quarrelled
a

everywhere. Not being

in
the diligence
He

insulted

who

cashiered.
*

continued

Marc

De

him,

He

to

the

same

to hear

and

became

able

who

state

enraged,and

la Folie consideree

him,

he

entered
re-

of excitement.

the voice of the person

told him he had been

dans

vol. ii.p.
QuestionsMedico-judiciaires,
1840.

find

Us

156.

determined
Rapports

to

avec

2 vols. iu-8.

les

Paris,

430

HALLUCINATIONS

fight him.

IN

When

RELATION

arrived

TO

Meximieux, and
while the horses were
beingchanged,the unfortunate
man
and, drawinghis sword,
got out of the carriage,
cried out, Pouzet, come
of your hiding-place
out
;
and fight;
these gentlemenwill be our witnesses.
come
we

at

'

If you don't show

will be the result

and
yourself,

I assassinate
you, it
cowardice.'
The same

of your
continued

of excitement

kiud

when
Lous-le-Saulnier,
illusion is

An

and

he

until

was

taken

combined
frequently

the lunatic

arrived

we

to

with

the

at

pital."*
hos-

the hallucination

in every
enemy
To escape from his torments, sometimes
person he meets.
he destroyshimself;but at other times he
sees

an

laysplansof

the
vengeance, and will kill or wound
he may chance to meet, and who, according

first person
his

to

he conceives

it

others.

an

as

times
Some-

hatred for the person he is most

in this case
his conduct is liable

with, and
thinker,who
impose upon the superficial

intimate
to

for the

expression,
pays

regards

act of vengeance.

examples prove that these hallucinated

of
lunatics are
generallyvery dangerous. A case
this kind which attracted considerable attention,
was
Numerous

of the

fiat

Bourbon.

crew

An

of the Severe,which was

tried at
additional source
of interest arose

that, after the vessel had

M. L., exhibited
arrived in the colony,the captain,
evident symptoms of insanity
able
; without
any reasonknown
or
motives,he had twice fired a pistol
citizen. The reportof three medical
at a peaceable
the

from

had

men

cidu
The

circumstance

pronouncedhim

to

be attacked with homi-

monomania.
the facts
are
following
for the prosecution.
*

Bottex

as

ment
stated in the indict-

Opus cit.

MEDICAL

431

JURISPRUDENCE.

tain
Example 138. During his residence at Cette,CapL. imagined he heard
insults and threats used
towards him, which led him
to keep watch
during
the nighton the deck of his vessel,carbine in hand.
The vessel put to sea for the purpose
of going to
Bourbon.

In the

disturbances

course

occurred

on

of the voyage
On
board.

great many

several

sions
occa-

beat some
of the crew.
captainseverely
In their evidence
the accused brought many
charges
againstthe captain. They stated that the captain

the

looked at them
talked

and

that he often
very sinister manner,
to himself, and declared that he heard taunts
in

which
insults,

had

reallyoffered,and that
to the throat of the cabin-boy.
one
dayhe held a pistol
The captainon
his side complainedhe was
stantly
conthe
He
said that
objectof annoyances.
during his confinement he had been dailyinsulted
and his feelings
without however specifying
outraged,
instance.
any particular
The court naturally
asked the captainsome
tions
quesconnected with other subjects.When
called
to
upon to state what had induced him only lately
fire his pistol
twice at a person he scarcely
knew, he
in the most
serious manner,
that for some
stated,
time past he had distinctly
heard the voice of his
wife
the prosecution
took placeat Bourbon, and his
wife was in France
to him from the bottom of
calling
his cabin for assistance ; that when he had spoken to
the policeto aid him in his search,they Mould not
no

one

"

"

listen to him

that he had threatened

neglectingtheir
who

duties

after

he

had

these

men

for

fired at the

had

provoked him, and he was taken to

the hospital,
they had endeavoured to poisonhim.
The court by itsverdict unanimouslyacquitted
the
person

crew.#
*

Le

1844.
Droit, bulletin des Tribunaux, 21 Fevrier,

d' Assises de l'lleBourbon.

Cour

432

HALLUCINATIONS

Much

has been

IN

said

RELATION

TO

the serious blow

on

this

dict
ver-

to give to the question

of discipline,
likely
but every man
acquaintedwith such matters must
be aware
that the safetyof the crew
of this vessel
and of every other was
in dangerfrom such a
equally
was

monomaniac*

Example
his wife

on

had

an

had

139.

T. D.

the

of
.night

uncle

on

accused

was

the 3rd of

his mother's

deranged. His mind was

he had profited
by the
given him. His conduct
He

had

been

happilywith
The

mayor

feteof

St.
to

married

of

having killed

May,

side who

182S.

had been

but
feeblydeveloped,
education
had
for

which

He

had

still
been

always been regular.

some

years, and

lived

his wife.

of his district,
on

the occasion of the

Charles,1827, havinggiven an

the firemen

of the

his

town, D.

ment
entertain-

joked by
probablyexcited by
was

companions,and being also

wine, he drew his sword,and attacked the drummer
of the firemen,causinga greatdisturbance.
After
this event, D., who had been previously
of a social
became melancholy.
disposition,
lowing,
folOne night,
towards the end of the December
D. started up from his sleep,
and complained
of being ill. The medical man
who
called in
was
found him suffering
from gastric
derangement and
he stated that
delirium ; in his subsequent
deposition,
declared he was
his services,
and frequently
D. rejected
in leaguewith his father and his wife to kill him.
From

that time D.'s character and conduct

went
under-

table,
irrichange; he became sombre,suspicious,
and passionate
; he ceased to attend his church,
and took to drinking
neglectedhis work in the fields,
to him ;
his wife of beinguntrue
; he suspected
a

Brierre

Monomanes

les
ales sur
cle Boismont : Observations Medico -leg
hallucines.
Gazette des Hopitaux Civils et
tristes,

10 Octobre,1843.
Militaires,

"

MEDICAL

went but little

acquaintances,
home, and often expressedhis apprehensions
there were
persons who soughthis life. D. was

he avoided
from
that

433

JURISPRUDENCE.

his former

Kobert,whom he had often

at
named before and after the 3rd of May, 1828, was
formed
the head of the plotswhich were
against
his father,
his friends,
him.
His former companions,
his wife,were
each in turn regardedby him as enemies
D. reasoned correctly.
; on
every other subject
of the paroxysms
of his disease,
In one
duringwhich
he attemptedsuicide by
his delirium was
increased,
acid,in order,as he said,
sulphuric
swallowingsome
convinced

that

certain

and his enemies.

to escape from his torments
attempt at suicide occurred in the springof
The

pronouncedD.
which they termed
insanity,

medical

with

men

be

to

This

1827.

attacked

melancholia

with

delirium.
On

the 3rd of

May, 1828, D. passedthe evening

up to nine o'clock with his wife and a third person.

lessness
Nothing occurred to indicate the disturbance or restof
double

an

crime
his

unhappy being
his wife

"

wife,whom

was

about

with

to

child.

he invited to sup

commit
He
and

a
braced
em-

sleep

with him.

day D.'s wife was found dead in her

laid over
the body,and a
bed ; a table-napkin
was
cross
placedupon it. Her husband had disappeared,
taking with him his father's horse. The clothes
The

next

he

which
found

had

hid in

after he

was

worn

before

stained
cellar,
when
arrested,

he

went

to

with blood.
the

bed
Nine

facts
following

were

days
were

learned from himself and other witnesses.

After D. had killed his wife,while she was
asleep,
courtwith a mallet,which he had taken out of the yard,

spreadit over
napkin out of a closet,
the
the body,and placeda cross, which was
on
the top of it. He then washed
on
chimney-piece,
he

got

434

HALLUCINATIONS

IN

RELATION

TO

his

which
hands, changed and concealed his clothes,
covered with blood,providedhimself with some
were
and taking his father's horse, closed the
money,
door of the house, hid the key, and fled into the
country,takingcare to avoid those roads which were
most
frequented.He stopped at an inn,where he
and drank two bottles of wine ; he then
largely
departed,
leavingbehind him such things as would
lead to his being recognised,
and did not return.
For nine days he succeeded
in concealing
himself,
and was
arrested until the 11th of May, after
not
saying and doing things which served to betray
ate

him.
"When
him

D.

which

these

he

letters
intended

were

he gave

found on
taken,several letters were
had written duringhis flight.Two of
addressed
to the king. Others
were
for two of his former friends,
to whom

was

of the murder

account

an

requestedthem to
passportunder a feignedname.
and

his examination

At

the murder, the

but he
arrested,
had induced
he

that he
him

him

money

procure

he had
him

in

; at

Sometimes

because
passion,
other times

he declared

which
he pretended

sometimes

he

was

raged
en-

had been

his

accused Robert.
particularly
in prisonD. wrote
Whilst
to
father,to the magistrates,

Richard, and
in

be

was
a good
wife,who, in other respects,
his enemies who
he declared it was
; lastly,
urged him on to it,in order to ruin him. He

givento
had

to

his wife had refused

and irritated at the bad advice which

woman

details of

he had taken not

precautions
to the motives
as
prevaricated
to kill his wife.

mitted,
com-

foreign

related all the

under the influence of wine

was

was

D.

which

the

others.

incoherence
of the

same

All

of the

ideas,and

several times
his medical

his letters

to

man,

were

his
M.

alike

thoughts,in the repetition

in what theycontained.

436

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

legalposition.He

KELATION

engaged in

manual

TO

occupations,

thread purses.
served
obchange was
April !Uth, 1829, a marked
restless and disturbed.*
in D. ; he seemed more

and had learnt to make

On

thoughthe had hallucinations of hearing.He

said disagreeable
that the inmates of the hospital
complained
thingsto him in passing; he expressed
of the lunatics,
with
himself discontented with some
but never
he had had discussions,
whom
any disputes
or
quarrels.
to be placedin close
On April 16th, he requested
It

was

confinement, and of his

a

man

needle,with which

own

accord

he made

gave the medical

the purses, saying,

injureany one"''
to bed, the attendants not
On April18th D. went
disturbed than
havingnoticed that he had been more
of the nighthe
the previous
days. In the course
on
in which he
to leave the dormitory
made
excuse
an
slept; he then went and obtained a broomstick,with
sleepingin the
which he struck the lunatic who was
The man
who was
sleeping
sixth bed from his own.
awoke
he had struck was
the person
by the
next
satisfiedwith
noise,and called out for help. D. was
him retreat beneath
the latter so as to make
striking
I will not

"

and then continued his attack on the

his bed-clothes,
struck first. The attendants hastened
person he had
him from D., who allowed them to put him on
to save

wept, and repentedof what he had

strait-jacket,
done, accusingother persons of havingcompelledhim
which
that liehad heard voices,
to the act,and declaring

told him

to

nate
himself;he added,it was forturestrained him, for he had intended to

avenge

they had
serve

two

or

three

others in the

same

way.

portance.
A sudden change in the habits of the lunatic is of great imin our
have observed this in the persons
we
Whenever
commit
establishment, the individual has afterwards attempted to
*

to
suicide,

escape,

"c.

MEDICAL

437

JUEISPKUDEtfCE.

After this second

appearedquiet,
slept
ate well,made
no
tolerably,
attempt to free himself
from the strait-waistcoat,
but often cried,especially
when

reminded

murder,

of his conduct.

after this outbreak

punishedas
Such

are

the facts of the

to

he

D.

murdered

he
flight

was

the other seemed

he killed his
no

series

two

believe that

when

seemed

he

It

was

observed

afraid he would

that

be

criminal.

arrangedinto
to

D.

the

his

one

possessionof his reason

wife,and that when he took

conscious

he had committed

to prove

distinct idea of the

facts may be
would induce us

These

in

was

wife,and

case.

that

that he
even

in
position

was

when
which

crime

insane when
he fled he had

the event

had

placedhim.
First

of Facts." On May 3rd, 1828, D. had

shown no
of irritation ; he
or
symptoms of insanity
went
stances
quietlyto bed with his'wife. These circumnoticed by the witness who passedthe
were
eveningof May 3rd with him and his victim. After
the murder, D. took precautions
to avoid the pursuit
of justice.These precautions
such as implied
were
that he was
conscious of the crime he had committed,
and was
of the penalties
to which it had exaware
posed
him.
During the different examinations to
which he was
he appearedto be in the
subjected,
of his reason
the same
after his
possession
; it was
admission into the hospital
of the Bicetre
at least
Order

"

his conversation

of the insane
he

was

wrote

not

and

his actions

were

His numerous
generally.
altogether
wanting in

not

like those

letters showed
intellect when

he

them.

Second Order

of Facts. D.has had a maternal uncle

who was
insane,and he was consequently
predisposed
had never
shown
to insanity.He
nations
any evil incli; his conduct had been regularup to the end of
became
1826, when his habits and conduct suddenly
"

438

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

EELATION

TO

tions
changed. After that time lie frequently
gave indicaThe disorder of his mind is proved
of insanity.
tended
by certificates from three medical men who had atnomaniac
him, and also by publicopinion.D. was a mosurrounded by enemies,
; he believed he was
He was
and destroyhim.
who wished to injure
vinced
conhis father,
and his wife plotted
that his friends,
diminished and increased
againsthim. His insanity
from

time to time.

in
springof 1827, he attemptedsuicide,
order to escape the plotsof his pretendedenemies.
his wife
In the springof 1828, after havingembraced
with him, without any provocaand taken her home
tion,
ing
distresswithout anger, but waking up from some
fears and let it be
dream, harassed by imaginary
In the

"

borne

that

mind

in

the

at

of his

commencement

illness D. also started up from his sleep his reason

from whom
in his wife an enemy
D. saw
wandered.
and he struck the tunate
unfordeliver himself,
he must
"

not with any instrument

sleep,
close at hand, but with a mallet which he
which was
Far from imto look for.
mediately
into the court-yard
went
D. deliberately
betakinghimself to flight,
with which he
goes to a closet,takes out a cloth,
the body,and placesa cross
covers
upon it. This
and the sightof
done, his furyhas expended itself,
makes
the
a strong impression
the dead body now
on
has ceased,his reason
his insanity
has remurderer
turned,

in her

woman

"

and

the

miserable

man

awakens

to

the

of the horrible act he has committed

sciousness
con-

he

and endeavours to
the consequences, he flies,
perceives
avoid the pursuitof justice.
The
same
thing happened to D. which has been
other

lunatics,
who, after a
moral impression,
or who, after acor
complishing
strong physical
some
designwhich had been engendered
the
seem
suddenlyto recover
during their delirium,

noticed in

great many

use
never

439

JURISPRUDENCE.

MEDICAL

of their reason, and act almost as if they had

of it. We
have sometimes
been deprived
seen

suddenlycured by a strongmoral impression.

for his flight,
Although D. took great precautions
left traces behind him by which he
he, nevertheless,
would
not have
a thingwhich
might be recognised,
been done by a person who was
in his sound mind,
it was
or
by a criminal. Thus, if he hid his clothes,
lunatics

in his
horse.
him

house

own

He
he

it
if he fled,

left at the inn

with

his father's

thingswhich might betray

his person which

he is arrested,
he makes
no

retained

him

was

letters

when

on

demned
concealment
con-

of the

of the murder ; he gives

particulars
false. The
several reasons
for it,which are evidently
letters which he writes in the prisonand in the hospital
bear the impressof a disordered intellect. In
of the year following
the spring
(1829)D. is restless,
and seems
to have hallucinations ; four days later,
he
to bed, and
during the night kills a
goes quietly
which are at hand and
not with instruments
lunatic,
in the dormitory,
but with a stick which he goes in
search
fit of
or
a
a
of,not after a quarrel,
scuffle,
anger, but while his victim is asleep.
The identity
of the periodof the year, and of the
hour at which the two murders were
committed,the
selection of the instruments of death,the absence of
of all provocation,
the sleeping
all passion,
condition
of his victims,the quietstate of the murderer on the
eveningsof the 3rd of May, 1828, and of the 18th of
this identity
in all the circumstances,
we
April,1829
the two
led to commit
say, is a proof that D. was
murders by the insanity
to which he had been a prey
"

since the

end

of the

these
perpetrated

two

of his moral
AVe

therefore

year

1826, and

acts

he

was

that

not

when

he

in the possession

liberty.

consider

the conduct

that

of D.

the

hereditarypredispositio
duringhis residence at

440

the
to
men

HALLUCINATIONS

EELATION

IN

TO

Bicetre,his being treated as a lunatic previous

of the medical
the 3rd of May, 1826, the opinion
who have attended him since that time,the circumstances
which

accompaniedthe

act

laid to his

insane when
he committed
prove that D. was
the murder of which he is accused ; that the

charge,all

taken by him on the nightof the 3rd of

precautions
May, 1828, and afterwards,to escape from justice,
in possession
of his
not
show that the accused was
consistent with a state
rightmind, and are perfectly
of insanity,
takingthe legalmeaning of the word,
and not the specialinterpretation
given to it by
this state by the term of
medical men, who designate

monomania.
Given

The

Paris,6th July,1829.
Ferrus.
(Signed)Esquirol,

at

court therefore

murder, on

the

to be confined

This
because

D. of the chargeof
acquitted
but ordered him
groundof insanity,

as

criminal lunatic.

example,which
we

consider

have

we

it

in

given

excellent model

an

detail,
to

be

additional
in all similar cases, affords an
nations
instance of the dangerswhich arise from the hallucifollowed

and

illusions of monomaniacs

melancholy.
Example 140.

On

the

25th

attacked

by

of

November, 1840,
Mr. Pearce,the author of several clever medical works,
tried at the Central Criminal Court for shooting
at
was
the
his wife with intent to murder, and acquitted
on
afterwards taken
He was
shortly
ground of insanity.
where
he has remained
to Bethlem
ever
Hospital,
notion that his
since. He entertained the peculiar
wife wished to destroyhim, and that she had bribed
persons

to

effect

of which
principal
damped or wetted.

his death
was

in

various

that his bed

This idea

seems

was

ways,

the

constantly

to have

haunted

MEDICAL

441

JURISPRUDENCE.

time he refused to leave

For some
continually.
and go into
'the gallery
in which his cell was
situated,
that he
it appeared,
the airing-ground
; in order,as
might watch his cell door to prevent anything villanous" being done.
hini

"

In

letter addressed

Pearce
hospital,
and connected

the

governors
the
pointin a very
argued
"

manner.

of the

who
witnesses,
they felt his bedding and
one's hand
act of placing
some

to

If,"said he, in

the

of

serious

allusion to

at various times had stated

found

it

"

dry, the simple

a
damp bed, or even
upon
he
man's body when
the immediate impression
on
a
how
could it occur
so
infallible,
gets into it,was
that travellers at times are
with
crippled
frequently
rheumatism, or lose their lives by remainingall night
If the thing was
discoverable,
in damp bedding?
so
easily
of common
no
man
understandingcould
be injured
by such a proceedingor accident at inns.
of which
I
speaking,the matter
Technically
complainis not a delusion ; it is an allegationa
dence
of proof,if proper evicharge,susceptible
positive
could be brought to bear upon
the fact,not
in whose
men
or
warped or suborned by the man
It would be a sad delusion for
power I hourlyam.
to declare my bed was
me
composed of straw instead
that I was
of flocks,
the Pope, or
a
or
or
prophet,
Sir AstleyCooper. I grant I have no such crotchets.
sound, calm,and reflective; and
My mind is perfectly
I implore
you to consider well the distinction between
in nature
the thingswhich cannot
be and
physically
the thingswhich can physically
be.
It is a vital one
"

"

in my sad
"
It may

case.

be told you I have chargedpersons where

elsewith this atrocity
of damping my bed. I have

of
was

At

the

privatemadhouse
kept by persons
of Stillwell,
the name
near
Uxbridge,whence I
brought here,my bed was kept almost wet for

done

so.

442

HALLUCINATIONS

IIS" BELATION

TO

three

months, and I onlysaved my life by sleeping

in the store-room
of this
on
a
large trunk, now
with my daily
articles of dress to cover
me.
hospital,
Some portion
of this time the cold was, byFahrenheit's
scale,
eightand ten degreesbelow freezing
point."
He then solicited that a lock might be put on his
cell door to protect him from this annoyance,
and
concluded his letter with the following
appeal:
"

"

I beseech

have had

some

and have been

in

you to commiserate
my hard lot. I
littleclaim to the title of gentleman,
estimated

society.I

in
circumstances,

by

persons

of

ration
conside-

some

by a wretched chain of
dragged
great prison-hospital,

am

now,

from

my children and my home and the

social life,
and doomed
to herd with

comforts

of

desperadoes

and the mad."

againstthe state,the destitute,
Mr. Pearce was afterwards introduced,
and answered
the questions
put to him in a very collected manner.
After which he went
to state that, since his
on
to
marriagetripto Boulogne,he had been subjected
the greatest
abuse from his presentwife,and on one
occasion had been struck by her,and insulted by the
vilest epithets. He
complainedthat, when first
had been "chummed"
broughtto Bethlem Hospital,he
with Oxford,and objected,
but had been compelled
had taughtOxford
to associate with that ruffian. He
and tried to improvehis mind.
the French language,
portance
of great imOxford
had conveyedto him matter
been

relative to the great crime of which he had

and which he (Mr. Pearce)thoughtof
guilty,

to the
importanceto be communicated
of State,and accordingly
he had written a
Secretary
letter in Latin,communicatingall the circumstances.
It had,however,been taken from him, and he did not
it had ever
been sent to Downingknow
whether

sufficient

street.

He

wished

Sir
havingcajoled

to show

how

A. Morrison

Oxford

boasted

and Dr. Monro

into

of
a

444

HALLUCINATIONS

EELATION

IX

TO

M.

Bazin,in liisHistoire de la Fronde,relates that

in his examinations,
stated that,some
Havaillae,
days
before the commission
of his crime,his feet exhaled
the odour of sulphurand of burning,which proved
to him that heretics were
of purgatory.On
deserving
another occasion he felt some
objectleap upon him.
Several daysbefore his crime he saw
figuresin the
air.
the

he
Lastly,
head

of

head

conclude

Moor

that in
on

certain town

statue, and

in

that

give it to him, he
the artist's studio,which
Henry IV. was as black as

that he could not

that he would

be

cleanse himself from

he

saw

that,having

artist to

requestedan
same

added

found

this

made

him

devil,
sins,and

the

his

damned.
eternally

Historical documents
must
"

prove that JacquesClement

also be classed amongst the hallucinated insane.

One

angelto

night,when
in

him

the midst of

a
'

sword,said,

he

was

his

sent

vision ; he came
to this fanatic in
and showing him a naked
greatlight,
a

Brother

Jacques,I

of the

Almighty,and have
through you the tyrant of
death.

bed, God

in

Think, then, and

come

France

prepare

the messenger
to tell you
that

am

must

be

put

for
yourself,

to

the

martyrdomawaits you.' This said,the vision

and left him dreamingof these prophetic
disappeared,
In the morning brother Jacquesrecalled^the
words.
doubtful as to what
and, feeling
apparition,
preceding
himself to an intimate
he ought to do, addressed
of his convent,
the prior
friend
the father Bourgoing,
and one well versed in the Scriptures.
a scientificman,
related his vision,
and demanded
To this person he freely
of him if to kill a king who had neither faith
to Grod."#
a thingthat was
nor
was
agreeable
religion
of

crown

"

See Discours Veritable,

fait par un Jacobin sur la Mort du
Roy Henry III. This piece was printedat Troyesin 1589 : it is
de Henri III. vol. iii. p. 455.
Par
to be found in La Journal
Pierre de l'Estoile. La Haye, in-12.
*

MEDICAL

It is sad to think

that many
victims to similar fanatics.
The

who

German

young

445

JUEISPKUDE^CE.

persons

intended

to

fallen

have

assassinate

also had visions. He

saw
Napoleonat Schonbrunn
the guardiangenius of Germany, who
commanded
him

to deliver his

The

and

resolutions

actions

to

which

the individuals

occur
by the hallucinations sometimes
and particularly
Obscurity,
night-time,
this instanto have favoured
taneous
frequently

led

are

all at

country.

once.

seem
sleep,

action.

In

some

circumstances

delirium

no

has

precededthe criminal act.

Example 141. On January 1st,1843, a young man
for the-night
to be accommodated
at an inn
requested
who waited at supper,
near
Lyons. The innkeeper,
wards
accepteda glassof wine from his guest,and afterconducted

nothing in

the

him

to

manner

his bedroom.
of the

which indicated any

or
attention,

There

was

traveller to attract
evil intention.

after,about ten o'clock at night,the

where
the
innkeeper,hearing a noise in the room
hastened with a lightto inquire
strangerwas sleeping,
of it. He
had hardlyentered
into the cause
the
when
the traveller threw himself upon
room
him,
and struck him with a pairof tailor's scissors. At
the cries of the innkeeperpersons hastened to his
and with difficulty
disarmed the murderer.
assistance,
he had not inflicted any serious wounds.
Fortunately
When
to the motive of his crime,he
as
questioned
I was
that a plan had been laid in
aware
:
replied
Two

hours

"

the house

to assassinate

me,

and I determined

to sell

life as

dearlyas possible."
This man's name
was
AlphonseTerry,a working
in search of work
he was
tailor travelling
twenty
eight years of age. During his imprisonment he
was
calm, and his conversations with his
perfectly
keepersand his companionsevinced no indications

my

448

HALLUCINATIONS

Of

KELATION

TO

of

The following
the answers
he gave to
are
insanity.
the questions
which were
put to him at his trial :
Q. Why did you ill-use the master of the inn at
Bully?
A. While
I was
at supper the innkeeper
took a
in the room,
and
largeknife,and entered a recess
out
for one
of them."
came
saying, So much
"

"

Another

entered

man

the staircase and

accepted;
whom
then

there

he gave
in my

similar

killed

offered

then

me

white

of

second

The innkeeper
person.
glassof red wine,which I

a
a

also

were

at the bottom

recess

women

some

wine.

I went

chamber, which

was

to

above

present,to
bed.
Being
the

common

of the mil, I heard them lay a plan to assassinate

to sell my life dearly.I
me, and I determined
placedmyselfnear the door with the scissors in my
room

hand,

and

when

he

entered

the

room,

I defended

myself.
did

What

Q.

think it

was

They

A.

hear which
induced
you
you to
intended to assassinate you ?
I had seen
them
knew
assassinate the

and I heard them deliberating

travellers,
said, He saw them assassinated ;" the
together
; one
other replied,He saw
nothing,you must leave him
alone ;" the firstrepeated, I tell you he did see it ;
it is safer."
after all,
he must be assassinated,
One
said, Go up ;" the other replied,Do you go up."
other two

"

"

"

"

"

In

the

evinced

course

excellent

of all his examinations

and

this

man

He
peated
reintelligence.
again all he had seen, heard,and feltin the
inn at Bully. His statement
was
alwaysthat of a
who was
man
convinced,and was
thoroughly
glad
imminent
to think he had escaped
so
a danger.
One cannot
help tremblingat the perilous
position
of exculof the accused,and the impossibility
pating
if it had so haphim in a court of justice,
pened
of hatred against
he had had any cause
the
sense

MEDICAL

447

JTJEISPETTDEXCE.

had disputed
with him about
or if he
innkeeper,
if there had been any reason
or, lastly,
reckoning,
suppose he intended to commit a robbery.*
The
occur

suddenness

his
to

with which

the hallucinations may

is sufficiently
provedby the case we have just

quoted,while

the records of science could

others.

numerous

So

furnish

the hallucinations

longas

only

giverise to extravagantconduct theyare not noticed,

the person is placedin an asylum. When
or
they
the cause
of crime theyshould not be
have become
judgedof hastily
; on the contrary,
every circumstance
which can throw a lightupon
them
should be carefully
collected together.There are some
tions
hallucinaof this kind, such as homicidal monomania,
which

manifest

themselves

all at

and

once,

out
with-

beingprecededby any mental derangement.A

knowledge of the person'santecedents will often
Peculiarities
provideus with the clue to his insanity.
and eccentricitiesaugur badily
for the integrity
of the reason
these
will
become
;
presumptions
if
accountable
unstrengthened,onlya singleinstance of some
conduct can
be provedto have occurred
An
into hereditary
previously.
inquiry
tion
predisposiunder such circumstances is exceedingly
useful.
The motives for the act,and the replies
of the individual
be
considered.
When
he
carefully
ought to
states that he has acted in obedience to

he has been

the

"

voice,that

irritated by insults,
and

that he sought
his persecutors if his victim

to revenge himself on
unknown
to him, or
was

with him

if we

can

motive
alleged

"

had been

discover
and

the

on

terms
friendly

connexion

no

act,

between

the

presumption
becomes stillstronger. The correspondence
should
not be overlooked,
as it sometimes
an
action
explains
would
otherwise appear incomprehensible.
which
*

Bulletin des

"

Tribunaux,20 Janvier,1843.

448

HALLUCINATIONS

TO

EELATION

IN

must
If there is any doubt in the case, the patient
after a longer
be placedunder control ; and generally,
undoubted
or shorter detention,
symptoms of insanity

themselves,and

will show

hallucinations

The

and

are

murder, theymay

all uncertainty.

remove

not

onlythe

of suicide

cause

to theft

also excite the person

incendiarism.

or

Martin, who burnt the

in answer
to the judge,
cathedral at York, declared,
"
Your
charge of theft is not in accordance with

Example

Jonathan

142.

do better to
you would
about it ; I had never
more
any intention of
anything; but an angel having commanded
common

and

sense,

the will of

better

God

to

set

fire to

one

no

you preferit,may
Martin was
Jonathan
in Bedlam, where

Example

143.

committed

declared

and
lunatic,

young

employers.

she had

time

confined

he stillremains.

girl,named

Grabowska,
with nostalgia,

attacked
fifteen years of age, was
acts of incendiarism
and twice committed
her

the

else may have the honour, or, if

receive the punishment of it."

not

leave

stealing
me
by

church, you had

alone

produce proofsthat

act, so that

the

no

say

entered

She

declared

their service she

that
was

in order to

from

the

constantly

things. It seemed to
her as if a shadow
was
constantlybefore her, and
This girlhad
urged her on to acts of incendiarism.
long suffered from violent headaches,and her courses
had not appeared.*

beset with the desire to burn

that very often the hallucinations

in
with illusions : the latter may
are
complicated
of a serious
their turn giverise to sudden impulses
the
A. knowledge of the facts,where
character.
We

have

mental

Des

Marc

shown

derangement is undoubted, will

:

Memoire

Monomanes

"

sur

Annates

la

Pyromanie,vol.

serve

ii.p. 326.

Judiciaires,vol. ix.

as

Klein

449

JTJEISPRTTDENCE.

MEDICAL

guidein analogouscases where, not having been

itself suddenly,
or
manifesting
recognised,
previously
both the medical man
and the
it might embarrass
legaltribunal.
the critical
B.,when near
Example 144. Madame
became
to a very singular
subject
periodof her life,
derangement. She imaginedthat her husband had
Her
views were
sold her.
religious
very exalted :
in communication
with heavenly
she imagined she was
she heard divine voices,
and God himself
beings,
At

revelations to her.

made

husband,and complainedof

to dislike her

Her

treatment.

this time she began

sister remonstrated

with

her

his illon

the

day,when she was most earnest,

her by the throat,
Madame
endeavoured to
B.,seizing
her and throw her out of the window.
strangle
and
subject,

She

one

removed

was

on

of this violence to

account

an

asylum,where she remained for a month ; when she

her religious
left she was quite
state
rational,
although
very exalted. After her return home she seemed
tranquil
; blither husband,who mistrusted her,always
was

fastened

the

door of his bedroom.

One

night he
got up,

gentleknockingat the door. He

and asked who
was
there,but obtained no answer.
Half an hour after he heard the same
knocking,and
Madame
this time the person spoke.It was
B.,Who
ant I
I am
said, in a plaintive
voice, My friend,
ill,
to ask you to give me
am
come
something." !N"o

heard

"

sooner

did her husband

entered,and
head
forced

with
her

an

imopen his door than she mediately

struck him five times on the

iron bar.

By

out, closed the

desperateeflWt he
door, and fell on the
a

groundcovered with blood.

B. was
sent back to the
The next day Madame
when she had become quieter,
asylum.Some daysafter,
she said she could not explainthe act, except by a
I imaginedmy husband
derangementof her mind.
"

450

transformed

was

IN

HALLUCINATIONS

into the

RELATION

and
devil,

TO

I had

the greatesthorror of him."

One
day,as I was questioningthis

conceived

lady on

the

insane

attempt she had made upon her sister's life,

she replied,What
I threw
would you have ? When
her figureseemed
to me
to be
myselfon my sister,
"

that of
while
This

dead

We

resembled

hideous

look at,
that of the devil.

sightfilled me with horror, and

to rid myself of it at all cost."
which

made

insist too

cannot

ttis kind, for

they may

comments,

directly
opposed to
sometimes
The

and

body,green

its countenance

motive

same

so

the

mined
deter-

was

It

was

the

her strike her husband.

stronglyupon examplesof
founded
give rise to the most unto

inferences

truth,the

which

are

appearances

are

deceitful.

illusions of

continue

and

to

the

sleepmay,

hallucinations,

waking up, and even

during the state of completewakefulness,and may
give rise to extravagant,criminal,and dangerous
acts.
Soon, however, the images of the night are
diminished in intensity
and disappear,
and the person
is amongst the first to be astonished at the language
he has held, althoughhe declares that at the time
his sensations seemed to him to be perfectly
natural.
In the Journal de Belfort,
for August 23rd, 1843,
is related,
which had hapa curious nocturnal
scene
pened
in that town.
a short time previously
A
Example 145.
quartermasterof an African
regimentwas lodgingat an inn in which the diningornamented
with a pieceof tapestryrewas
room
presenting
the feats of the French
army in Algeria.
The subaltern had regardedwith pleasure
this representation
of engagements in which he had taken a
of his eyes, the haughtiness
part. From the sparkling
of his bearing,
of his muscles,
and the agitation
it was
evident the picture
had revived in him the
at

moment

"

of

like the

452

HALLUCINATIONS

Example

IN

EELATION

TO

Two

countrymen, advanced in year;

who
had been friends from their youth, and ha
became
the vi"
always lived on terms of intimacy,
tims of this superstition.
They had been at work
the country when nightcame
on, and they prepar
to return
home.
Fatiguedwith work, and wanti.
something to drink,they seated themselves at t
foot of
of

146.

tree.

which

One

of them

had

they partook until they

cated and

lost their

bottle of wii
became

In this state

senses.

into

they I

and th
thought them of the Swedish cavaliers,
imaginations,
alreadyexcited by drink,led them
believe theywere
surrounded
by the phantoms,t
could only escape by fighting
their way
throi
them.
of the countrypeop
Each, afcer the manner
carried a stick,and with these theybegan to kno
each other about, thinkingthey were
t
striking
until one
of the two suddenly
Swedish cavaliers,
di
appeared. The other,whose stick was broken,ha
penedto layhold of his friend's hat,which was on t:
ground,and, imagininghe had obtained a complet
mistook it for on
victoryover the Swedish spectres,
of their head coverings.Provided with this trophy
he returned to tlu
and armed with his broken stick,
whose
and hastened to the house of his friend,
village
wife and children awaited him with impatience. As
had entered,he cried out in triumph,
as the man
soon
"

devils wanted

The

given one of them

that theywill not
the
soon
explained
The

old

sons
men

to

such

away, but I havt

dressingwith my stick,

take
a

again."

come

misfortune

of his victim hastened

had

sat down

me

to

The

which

hat,however,
had

happened.

to the tree where

refresh

themselves

the

there

theyfound their aged father stretched out dead,with

the back of his head.
on
a largewound
The
next
day the unfortunate homicide,having
the most
recovered his reason, wept, and expressed

453

JURISPRUDENCE.

MEDICAL

poignantregrets. During his examination all he

could say was
that,having continued to drink with
surrounded
]his friend,
it seemed to them
they were
spectreson horseback,in their blue and red
about to
and being convinced that evil was
a niforms,
aiappen to them, they resolved to defend themselves
th ith their sticks ; that, consequently,
they both
shttacked the spectres,
havingheard that when fearh; sslyconfronted they would
to
betake themselves
si ight. He
added, that in the midst of the struggle
fi e missed
his companion,and the spectresseemed
ta" have disappeared.Findinga hat on the ground,
be* brought it away, and, thinkingthat his friend
fe d alreadyreturned,he hastened to his house to
y the

how

now

he

was.

of Helmstadt,
of the University
legalfaculty
ti avingbeen consulted,
Drunkenas follows :
replied
The

"

atess

r.ny
1

is itselfa vice which

becomes

one

bate commits

for the

should avoid.

If

and in this
intoxicated,
voluntarily
for it ;
crime,he must be responsible

los3 of his

Jurists have

one

every

is due

reason

his

to

own

act.

rule,that when a crime

has been committed
in a state of complete intoxication,
this condition exempts the criminal from the
usual
turned
having repenalty,except where his reason
to him, he expresses no regretfor what he has
done

adoptedas

since such conduct

that he approves of
impliesthat he would

shows

the act he has committed, and

when
he
) capableof it even
fluence

of

itted that
"m

was

not

under

the

drink.

It is true, it must
also be adcannot
complete drunkenness
exempt

ordinarypunishment

"islature does

the

case

where

the

regard should be
I to it in the application
of the penalcode.
On
other hand, drunkenness
be chargedwith
cannot
Time when it has been brought about againstthe
illof the person implicated
when
; as, for instance,
not

choose

in

that

454*

HALLUCINATIONS

he lias been

made

IN

take

to

EELATION

TO

drink which

he did

n"

capableof intoxicating
him, and
drug had been added to produce tl
effect. These are the principles
which must guide
in determining
the amount
of punishment
the accus
was
suppose
which some

has incurred."
.

The

man

was

condemned

to ten

years'hard labo""
the catastrophe

of
having been the cause
the laws of his country, which expres
transgressing
forbid the people,under
to i
severe
penalties,
as

drunk
in

and

which

direct that

homicide

committ

of

unless this has not be

intoxication,
should be severely
punished,and that
voluntary,
should even
be regardedas less excusable than wis
a

state

it has been

the result of rashness.*

If at the

time,and in the countrywhere this eve

took place,
the doctrine of hallucinations and illusic
had been better understood,and the power of the
which accompany
drunkenness
more
appreciate
fully
have been less sevei
punishmentwould probably
observer finds it difficultto accoun
The superficial
of apparentlyincomprehensible
for a number
acts
diminished for the philosopher
This circle is much
but it is especially
the medica" mai
and the moralist;

the

penetratethe mystery beneath which

so
fancythey hide themselves ; he is able
many men
their vices
their passions,
their defects,
to perceive
and to obtain fror""
their moral and physical
diseases,
of the person'scondu
them a natural explanation
Thus, for example,to keep to our present subj(
who

is able to

since hallucinations

understood,we

and

have

illusions have

been

able

to

been

accoun'

acts, which would otl

inexplicable
and wickedm
have been attributed to depravity
Amongst the cases of this kind we have espe
number

of

Eisenhart : Relation de Proces Remarquables,vol. i.

Muller : Medecine
Legale,vol. ii. p. 281.
*

"

".

MEDICAL

455

PRUDENCE.

of melancholy monova^coy
hav"
complicatedwith hallucinations. We

illed attention
mia

to

and of
observations,
that
aich the evidence has satisfied the magistrates,
and
any individuals who are regardedas quarrelsome
and even
as murderers,
as mischief-makers,
ssionate,
long to this series.*
Having alreadyconsidered the questionof confine;nt when
speakingof the treatment, we shall merely
d that hallucinated persons who have a tendency
i commit
suicide,to thieve,to burn, or to murder,
V, ought to be placedunder restraint. The same
oved

by

should

ecaution

who

aniacs

conclusive

numerous

taken

be

believe

with

hallucinated

mono-

surrounded

themselves

by
only

has
for experience
they threaten,
that at any moment
d
clearlyshown
they may
mmit
acts of violence.
Separationshould not
there is nothing serious in the
enforced when
3
whom

emies

allucinatious.

The

interdiction may
of such
are

be demanded
a

nature

as

when
to

the hallucinatio

involve

the

ruin of the person and his family

; but this deprivatior'Sf civil rightsshould not be grantedfor a mere
for singular
vagant
conduct,extraliving,
for believing
in imaginary
or
expressions,
which do not compromise the fortune of the
matters
individual or
render
him
the dupe of designing
eccentric mode

of

ersons.t

'

be
*
"
.

See

article in Le

Droit, 29 Janvier,1850, and entitled

V Influence
tiesHallucinations
clans certain A ctcs en Apjparence
an

"

tnets.

Irierrede Boismont : De V Interdiction cles Alienes et de

Matiere
de Testaments
dans V Ime la Jurisprudence en
1
fe
des notes
de M. Isainbert,
Conseiller
n de Demence, avec
had
de
Cassation.
Annal
d? Hygiene et de
,our
Paris, 1852.
1852.
cine
Janvier,
Legale,
the
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THE

EXD.

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