as a disordered state of the mind; but the disorder does not appear to result from the unnatural and disordered position and influence of other parts of the mind, nor from anything peculiar, so far as we can perceive, in the sensorial organization. The violation of nature is to be found in the mental trait itself. The disease (if we may be allowed to apply the term to mental existences) is connatural, not in the body, but the mind itself, and in that particular part of the mind.

We introduce this statement, it will be noticed, in illustration of the general doctrine that a disorder of the mind may be connatural; that is to say, may really have its foundation in the constitution and facts of the mental, in distinction from the physical nature. And if the susceptibility of belief or any other mental attribute may be disordered in itself, why may not the conceptive power be disordered in itself also? We suppose it, at least, to be possible.

§ 68. Instance Illustrative of this Subject.

We bring the remarks of this chapter to a close by introducing an instance where the Conceptive power seems to have been inordinately excited; and where, also, the results appear to have been more marked than they would otherwise have been, in consequence of the sympathetic influence of the very vivid conceptions on the disordered physical system. "In March, 1829" (says Dr. Macnish, in his Philosophy of Sleep, chap. xv.), "during an attack of fever, accompanied with violent action in the brain, I experienced illusions of a very peculiar kind

They did not appear except when the eyes were shut or the room perfectly dark. And this was one of the most distressing things connected with my illness; for it obliged me either to keep my eyes open, or to admit more light into my chamber than they could well tolerate. I had the consciousness of shining and hideous faces grinning at me in the midst of profound darkness, from which they glared forth in horrid and diabolical relief. They were never stationary, but kept moving in the gloomy background. Sometimes they approached within an inch or two of my face; at other times they receded several feet or yards from it. They would frequently break into fragments, which, after floating about, would unite; portions of one face coalescing with those of another, and thus forming still more uncouth and abominable images. The only way I could get rid of those phantoms was by admitting more light into the chamber and opening the eyes, when they instantly vanished; but only to reappear when the room was darkened or the eyes closed.

"One night, when the fever was at its height, I had a splendid vision of a theatre, in the arena of which Ducrow, the celebrated equestrian, was performing. On this occasion I had no consciousness of a dark background, like to that on which the monstrous images floated; but everything was gay, bright, and beautiful. I was broad awake; my eyes were closed, and yet I saw, with perfect distinctness, the whole scene going on in the theatre: Ducrow performing his wonders of horsemanship; and the assembled multitude, among whom I recognised

several intimate friends; in short, the whole process of the entertainment, as clearly as if I were present at it. When I opened my eyes, the whole scene vanished like the enchanted palace of the necromancer; when I closed them, it as instantly returned.

"But, though I could thus dissipate the spectacle, I found it impossible to get rid of the accompanying music. This was the grand march in the Opera of Aladdin, and was performed by the orchestra with more superb and imposing effect, and with greater loudness, than I ever heard it before. It was executed, indeed, with tremendous energy. This air I tried every effort to dissipate, by forcibly erdeavouring to call other tunes to mind, but it was in vain. However completely the vision might be dispelled, the music remained in spite of every effort to banish it. During the whole of this singular state I was perfectly aware of the illusiveness of ings, and, though labouring under violent headache, could not help speculating upon them and endeavouring to trace them to their proper cause. This theatrical vision continued for about five hours; the previous delusions for a couple of days."

my

feel

CHAPTER VII.

SPECTRAL ILLUSIONS OR APPARITIONS.

§ 69. Of the General Nature of Spectral Illusions or Apparitions.

THE doctrines, which have been advanced in connexion with our examination of disordered Sensations and Perceptions, and of disordered Conceptive States of the Mind, appear to furnish all the requisite elements for a satisfactory explanation of Spectral Illusions or Apparitions.

Spectral illusions or apparitions are appearances which seem to be real and external, but which, in truth, have merely an internal or subjective existence; occasioned sometimes by the disordered state of the outward organ of sense; sometimes by the unnatural or disordered state of the portion of the brain particularly related to the outward organ; sometimes by an unnatural or abnormal position of the conceptive power; and probably, for the most part, by the combined action of all these causes.

Apparitions are very various in their character; as much so as the various objects and combinations of objects, which from time to time come under the notice of the visual organ. Accordingly, there may be apparitions, not only of angels and departed spirits, which appear to figure more largely in the his

tory of apparitions than other objects of sight, but of landscapes, mountains, rivers, precipices, festivals, armies, funeral processions, temples; in a word, of all visual perceptions which we are capable of recalling.

There are unreal and visionary intimations, which have their origin in other senses, and which mingle with, and sometimes give a marked character to, the illusive scenes which are visually enacted; but apparitions, in the proper sense of the term, have especial reference to those things, and those only, which can be visibly represented. It is in this sense of the term, in particular, that we propose to illustrate them; although the subject, as in the conclusion of the last chapter, has already been, to some extent, anticipated. Furthermore, as there are some states of the body in connexion with which apparitions develope themselves more than at other times, we shall find an advantage in examining the subject in reference to these more marked occasions.

§ 70. First Cause of the States of Mind termed Apparitions.-Neglect of Periodical Bloodlet

ting.

One of those more marked occasions on which those states of mind which are called Apparitions will be likely to develope themselves, is the neglect of periodical bloodletting. There may be the elements of these states of mind previously existing in the mental or bodily constitution, or in both, such as an unnatural tendency to excitement in the sensorial organ or in the conceptive power; and yet this ten