In a well disposed subject this will be attained with little difficulty; and in such as are predisposed to somnambulism, a clear development of this remarkable state will be immediately secured. The great art of mesmerism consists in producing somnambulism.

The developments which follow are the legitimate results of this condition. It is not much to be wondered at that men who are imperfectly acquainted with the surprising developments of somnambulism, should view the manipulations of the mesmerizer with superstitious reverence, and attach to them unreal virtues; and in the ignorance which generally prevails respecting the nature and operations of the mind, both in its healthy and morbid conditions, it is not passing strange, that scientific men should be misled in the exposition of these phenomena.

§ 396. Somnambulism has been observed with some care, but its facts have not been extensively generalized, and are thoroughly understood by few. The principle by which all its peculiar facts are resolved is the assumption that the subject is partly awake and partly asleep. As far as he is awake he has the use of his faculties, and may have the perfect use of them; and as far as he is asleep he does not have the use of his faculties. The fact of the possibility of this condition is a matter of observation, and is beyond all doubt. It is an object of our knowledge therefore, in the same way that wakefulness and sleep are.

The mesmeric manipulations are well adapted to produce sleep; and the procedure of these operators in respect to their sleeping subjects, is well adapted to produce a partial disturbance of sleep, and thus to occasion the somnambulistic state. The difference is very slight between perfect sleep and the lowest degrees of somnambulistic sleep; and when the least degree of somnambulism has been produced once, it is easy to produce it again, again more easy still; and in each successive instance it will be produced more perfectly than before; till the subject will become an object of general wonder and admiration by a full development of somnambulistic symptoms.

§ 397. Sleep is a periodical condition; and morbid species of sleep conform to the same laws as paroxysmal diseases, which have a tendency to recur after certain intervals, and in certain conditions. Such diseases are sometimes

produced by extremely slight causes, and when once established, their paroxysms may be made to recur by almost any conceivable association, with which they are connected in the mind of the subject. In this way things which have not the least tendency naturally to produce them, may be made by arbitrary associations, to produce them with the greatest certainty.

This fact is sufficiently obvious, and the instances of it are sufficiently numerous to bring it within the observation of the entire medical faculty, and of nearly all other intelligent and discriminating minds. An application of this fact will explain some of the mysteries of mesmerism; others of its mysteries are resolved in the same manner as the phenomena of ordinary somnambulism; and others still, consist of facts which are distorted and misconceived, and in some cases manufactured, for the purpose of imposing on the public credulity.

When divested of its impositions and false pretensions, mesmerism is the art of producing somnambulistic sleep, and the several associated phenomena attendant on that variety of diseases. Somnambulism is marked by interesting peculiarities, and has been made the occasion of a vast amount of imposition. It is time that scientific men should both inform themselves thoroughly on this subject, and use their endeavors to diffuse just views of it as extensively as possible.

Clairvoyance is a phenomenon of dreaming, in which the subject visits places, and observes things, precisely as other dreamers do, with equal power of revealing realities, and no more. To the clairvoyant all the objects of his ideas appear to be real; but all are rational or imaginary, like other dreams, and conform to the universal laws of thought.

The insensibility to pain attendant on some of the varieties of mesmeric sleep, depends on the soundness of the sleep. This may be of any conceivable degree, and admits of being increased by narcotics and other artificial means.

CHAPTER XXXI.

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PHILOSOPHY OF INSANITY.

$398. There are various kinds and degrees of insanity, which have been classified by medical writers under the following heads: 1. Melancholy; 2. Hypochondriacism; 3. Monomania; 4. Mania.

Melancholy denotes, primarily, a gloomy, dejected state of mind of some continuance. When it arises from adequate causes, and is restrained within reasonable limits, it is not a symptom of derangement. When, however, persons are generally or habitually melancholy without reason, or in a degree disproportionate to the reasons which they may have for indulging in this state of mind, their melancholy is indicative of derangement, and constitutes insanity. This species of insanity may exist in a slight degree, and be only occasionally perceptible. It may also exist in a very great degree, and disqualify its subjects for all reasonable enjoyments and useful pursuits. It may be gloomy and retiring, restless and obtrusive, malevolent and injurious, or selfcomplacent. The last variety is less frequent than the rest.

The error of melancholics is that of being sad and depressed without reason, or to a degree disproportionate to the reasons they may have for sadness. It is connected with visionary and erroneous conceptions of various kinds.

Melancholy generally arises from moral causes; and is in that respect the opposite of hypochondriasis.

Hypochondriacism arises from a diseased condition of one or more of the digestive organs, and is attended with the various symptoms of indigestion, such as flatulence, costiveness, head-ache, giddiness, and inability to fix the attention. It embraces three varieties; low spirits, weariness of life, and misanthropy.

The leading characteristic of hypochondriacism is the exaggerated idea which the hypochondriac entertains of his ailments. This exaggeration belongs primarily to his sensations and real or supposed diseases, but is often transferred to various other objects, and gives a melancholy and gloomy tinge to his whole character. Hypochondriacs sometimes take the suggestions of their morbid imaginations for reali

ties, and suppose themselves to be afflicted with various imaginary diseases, and to be changed into various objects, such as dogs, cats, trees, and plants.

§ 399. Monomania signifies mental derangement on one subject. It often forms a transition state, from the perfect exercise of reason to universal derangement. It may exist, however, for an indefinite period without extending its influence beyond the subject to which it is at first restricted. Persons who have fallen into the belief that they were superior beings, such as the Saviour of the world, or that they were favored with some absurd distinction, are instances of this species of derangement.

Monomania accounts for instances of otherwise inexplicable absurdity in the habitual faith and practice of multitudes who are generally rational. Monomaniacs sometimes mistake their character and condition for that of superior beings, magistrates, or other distinguished personages. Home sickness is an inferior species of monomania.

§ 400. Mania denotes the general derangement of the intellectual faculties. When it arises from febrile excitement, or from the use of intoxicating or poisonous drugs, it is denominated delirium. It differs from the other forms of insanity chiefly in the degree and extent to which it prevails.

Melancholy and hypochondriacism are comparatively slight. They leave reason still in the possession of an ample field of knowledge, and still invested with high authority.

Monomania relates to single subjects, and however absurd may be the conclusions to which it leads in respect to them, it leaves the mind capable of rational exercises in respect to all other subjects. But maniacs suffer a general derangement of their intellectual faculties, and are incapable of reasoning correctly for any considerable time on any subfects. Their capacities of attention, abstraction, and memory, are all impaired to such a degree as to incapacitate them for those complex exercises which in other circumstances would be perfectly easy, and which are necessary to the due transaction of business, and the management of human affairs. Maniacs, therefore, are incompetent to discharge the duties of any of the social relations, either domestic or civil. This is not the case with Melancholics, Hypochondriacs, or Monomaniacs.

Mania may be furious and violent, gay and elevated, gloomy and desponding, or of a mixed character. It is generally characterized, however, by a rapid succession of incoherent ideas, and by great agitation, vociferation, singing, or occasional fury.

The entire loss of reason constitutes idiocy.

§ 401. In every species of insanity there is a preponderance of imagination over reason. The faculties of the insane are not exercised in a harmonious and consistent manner, and are not capable of being so exercised. Reason especially becomes incapable of distinguishing truth from error, and realities from imaginations, in many cases where discrimination is perfectly easy to those of a sane mind, and when it is highly necessary. This incapacity to distinguish truth, is the peculiar mark of insanity.

Persons may fall into the same errors and absurdities as the insane, accidentally or carelessly, and yet not be incapable of rational exercises. Such are foolish, careless, or deluded, but not insane. It requires incapacity to constitute insanity.

There is great deal of irrational conduct which is not the consequence of insanity. Persons may indulge in eccentricity, enthusiasm, and extravagance in their pursuits, to an extent which is entirely absurd and irrational, while they are fully capable of perceiving the folly of such conduct, and of acting differently. The same is true of various passions, such as love, hatred, envy, jealousy, covetousness, and ambition.

Persons may indulge these passions in an excessive degree, and under their influence be more irrational in their mental exercises and in their conduct, than many melancholics and maniacs. But at the same time, they may have been fully competent to reason and act with propriety and wisdom. In cases of this kind, mental exercises and external conduct may be as irrational as in several of the different varieties and degrees of insanity, without any derangement of the mental faculties.

The emotions of the insane correspond to their perceptions, and to the ideas which occupy their minds; and are violent or calm, pleasurable or painful, and good or evil, according to the nature of the ideas by which they are produced.