another fit of somnolency invaded her. On rousing from it, she found herself restored to the state she was in before the first paroxysm, but was wholly ignorant of every event and occurrence that had befallen her afterwards. The former condition of existence she now calls the Old state, and the latter the New state; and she is as unconscious of her double character as two distinct persons are of their respective natures. For example: in her old state, she possesses all the original knowledge; in her new state, only what she acquired since. If a lady or gentleman be introduced to her in the old state, and vice versa (and so of all other matters), to know them satisfactorily, she must learn them in both states. In the old state, she possesses fine powers of penmanship; while, in the new, she writes a poor awkward hand, having not had time or means to become expert.

During four years and upwards, she has had periodical transitions from one of these states to the other. The alterations are always consequent upon a long and sound sleep. Both the lady and her family are now capable of conducting the affair without embarrassment. By simply knowing whether she is in the old or new state, they regulate the intercourse, and govern themselves accordingly."-(" Philosophy of Sleep," note, p. 187.)

All the phenomena occurring in such cases as those already related, appear to be compatible with, at least apparently perfect health. But sleep-walking and sleep-talking occasionally form a part of, or are engrafted upon, hysterical and cataleptic affections -and then we see the proteiform symptoms of hysteria, and the muscular and sensitive derangements of catalepsy added to the sufficiently singular conditions before enumerated. In catalepsy so complicated (and hysteria strongly simulates it frequently), it is usual to see the patient commence and end the paroxysm with the insensible symptoms proper to the disease; whilst the middle part (called the "live fit," in contradistinction to the beginning and end, which are called the "dead fit," in common phrase) is characterized by talking and various actions, evincing a peculiar kind of consciousness and sensibility to certain real or imaginary beings or objects; whilst there is the most profound insensibility to all influences from without. Thus a conversation may be carried on with some imaginary interlocutor, with proper pauses for reply and rejoinder; and with one fundamental error, that conversation may be coherent-yet the sufferer may be pricked or cut without evincing any consciousness; or the most pungent stimuli may be applied to the mouth, nose, or conjunctiva, with the same absence of result. The pages of medical history abound with records of such cases, but we forbear to quote, as we are at present more concerned with

somnambulism in its physiological and psychical, rather than its pathological relations.

It will be useful to review briefly the various forms of sleepvigil found in the foregoing cases, so as to present an analysis of the phenomena. We have met with

1. Profound sleep.-Unconsciousness.

2. Dreaming. Consciousness, memory, fancy, imagination— more rarely judgment and comparison.

3. Acted dreams. All the former faculties enjoying a sort of wakefulness, and at the same time, volition. This class is only intended to include gestures, &c.

4. True somnambulism.-Rising from bed, visiting accustomed or unaccustomed scenes, and performing various mechanical acts. Under this head we have seen the individual performing the most dangerous feats, and the command of the muscular system brought to the greatest perfection.

5. True sleep-vigil. Here, in addition to the foregoing phenomena, many acts of the mind are performed, as judgment, synthesis, analysis, &c.; and the senses, though closed to ordinary influences, seem to be brought into some kind of activity. Here begins also double consciousness, as yet extending only to the sleeping state,- that is, the patient knows nothing of the sleeping acts when awake, though he acts when asleep as if upon a consciousness of what has passed when awake, repeating or completing the acts of that condition. But the various paroxysms of sleepvigil are attended by a continuity of consciousness,—that is, the acts of one are remembered in the next.

6. Complete double consciousness, or double life.-A new life, commencing and ending with deep sleep; utter oblivion of everything before passed; this condition alternating with the old life at uncertain intervals, and the paroxysms of indefinite length. This can scarcely be termed somnambulism, but is noticed as being so closely allied by many of its phenomena to that condition.

It will be evident from a careful consideration of these successive conditions, that somnambulism is not, as M. Willermay and many others consider it, an intermediate state between sleep and waking, (un état intermediaire entre la veille et le sommeil.)* That in the slighter forms of the affection many of the faculties enjoy a sort of activity, is clear; that in the higher forms of somno-vigil all, or nearly all, are in such a state that it is diffi

* "Dict. des Sciences Médicales." Art. Somnambulism,

cult to distinguish between these and their waking manifestations, is also evident; but inasmuch as the sleep appears to be more sound than ordinary; as the somnambulist never passes naturally from that condition to one of waking; as there is some danger attendant upon the interruption of that state; and as the mental and bodily activity for the most part is directed only to one class of subjects; it is plain from all this, that this can be no transition stage to the natural waking activity of the functions; in its higher forms also, we are compelled to consider it as something more than the enacting of a dream, however vivid. What is the condition of the various functions in the somnovigil?

Noticing first the most obvious, we see the muscular system perfectly under the command of the will,-often more powerful and accurate in its movements than at other times. The condition of the senses is subject to great variety. 1st. The sight. The eyes are sometimes closed, sometimes widely staring and fixed, sometimes agitated by a convulsive movement, the pupils widely dilated or extremely contracted, but in all conditions evidently unfit for ordinary vision, and almost always insensible to any light experimentally thrown upon them. Yet there are often unmistakeable evidences of the recognition of objects—they are often sought for, and found; sometimes with a light, sometimes without; generally the somnambulist finds his way perfectly in the dark, though some will be at great pains to get a light; he will continue to write with the same accuracy as before when an opaque object is held between his eyes and the paper. Dr. Carpenter states that he has seen this in the artificial somnambulism produced by Mr. Braid's hypnotic process. What is the nature of this vision? Can the general sensibility of the surface be in such manner modified as to serve the purposes of sight? It is very improbable, yet such is said to be the case by many of those who practise the various forms of artificial hypnotism. The solitary instance with which we have met, of any somnambulist remembering and relating the phenomena of vision, is to be found in the "Dict. des Sciences Médicales," sub voce. The writer, M. Willermay, speaks thus:-"J'ai moimême, étant très jeune, eprouvé quelques accés légers de somnambulisme, et il me semble que je voyais en dedans de ma tête ce que je voulais écrire sans le secours des yeux.'

2. The sense of hearing is also found in very different conditions. Signor Farari heard the slightest noise near him, but apparently misinterpreted it; others are insensible to the loudest noises, but will hold conversations on subjects immediately connected with their specific train of thought.

3 and 4. The smell and the taste present similar contrarieties,

sometimes being more sensitive than natural, sometimes less so, and sometimes perverted.

5. The touch is the most active of all the senses, being as much increased in sensibility and accuracy as is the energy of the muscular system; probably much of the information usually obtained by the special senses is acquired through the increased energy of this, or some modification of it.

But what is the proximate cause of all these phenomena, of all this mimicry of waking life? What is the condition of the brain and mind during this state? We have but little knowledge of the physical differences between the brain active and the brain at rest; but we know that a difference does potentially exist, and that whilst the brain at rest is in a state of indifference to stimuli, the brain active is in a condition which may not unaptly be called polarity. By polarity in general is understood a state of preparedness to respond to special and specific stimuli, and one of indifference to all objects not coming under this category; thus the magnet is polar and responds to steel, at the same time being indifferent to other substances; the charged conductor of an electric machine is polar, and responds to the class of bodies called electric conductors, being indifferent to all others; in all these cases, when the elements of this polarity are brought into relation, the specific phenomena are evolved, and the polarity resolved for the moment. Very analogous are the phenomena of the nervous system, each department of which, when active, is in a state of polarity, evincing certain definite and specific acts or feelings when exposed to certain influences. The optic nerve is polar with regard to light, but takes no cognizance of any other agent, and so in great measure with the ear, the taste, and the smell. The sense of touch is polar with regard to objects with which it comes in contact, but takes no impression (or only those of the most obscure character) from those influences which are so powerful upon the other senses. This, then, is a true polarity of the nervous system; and when we consider how analogous the nervous influence is to the electric, in its mode of propagation, and in many of its manifestations (muscular contraction to wit), we cannot be surprised to meet with further analogies in some of the irregularities of polar tension. For instance, an electric jar may be discharged perfectly by the appropriate apparatus, and brought into a state of equilibrium or indifference; yet very shortly, without any recharge, it will be found to be in a partly charged state, and it requires repeated processes ere it is brought finally into a state of rest. The brain, when active, is in a state of tension or polarity; when at rest, as in sound sleep, it is in a state of entire indifference; but in this case, we have the organic processes perpetually continued; and what

wonder that the tension of the brain should thereby be often renewed, so as to awake it to some amount of activity; hence all the phenomena of dreaming.

But why is the dream acted?

In the perfectly waking state, any emotion of the mind produces generally some corresponding action of the body, though perhaps slight; in individuals of irritable fibre this is invariable, except it be modified by education. But in a powerfully abstracted state of the mind, when all external influences, except those upon which the mind is employed, are cut off, the body acts the thought of the mind with a certainty and precision which frequently enables the bystander to read the train of ideas accurately. In dreaming, where the mind is absorbed utterly in one train of thought, it is but what we might expect, to find the limbs dramatising the pictures presented to the mind; hence the state described in our fourth division, true somnambulism.

But again, why in the higher forms of somno-vigil are the senses in such a peculiar condition?-why so acute with regard to some objects, so dead to others?

We have seen how, in abstraction, the mind gradually excludes all impressions, save those connected with one special train of thought; the student is absorbed in his problem, and hears nothing of the thunder, sees none of the lightning which plays round him,-the most familiar voice or the most unearthly sounds fall alike dead upon his ear. No doubt these sights and sounds produce their proper physical impression upon the organs of sense, but the brain is no longer in a condition to receive them; it is not in a state of polarity to ordinary influences; all its tension has been withdrawn from without, and fixed upon one class of ideas; impressions therefore fall as ineffectively upon it as light might upon the ear, or sound upon the eye. But in sleep and dreaming, there is no necessity to withdraw the attention from one class of ideas to fix them on another; the tension or polarity of the brain is instituted only with reference to that particular class which forms the subject of the dream; the senses may be physically impressed by, but the mind does not recognise, any other object, and hence it is not difficult to understand all the apparently anomalous instances of contradictory perception and unconsciousness; the individual is abstracted, but still more completely, for obvious reasons, than in his waking moments.

That the mind should, in certain aspects, be even more acute and vigorous than when awake-that tasks should be completed of the most abstruse character, which had baffled the waking energies-all this, received in the light above suggested, will not appear miraculous; all distracting thoughts, all extraneous sources of error, are withdrawn; and the mind, fully awake to