The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-31
A DANGEROUS NIGHTMARE.
Il STRANGE CHRISTMAS EVE OCCUR
RENEE UP TOWN.
what Conspicuous Doctors Say About That
md Kindred Iliusions-Dr. Mammond's
Fund OF Stories or Gases OF Similar
Nature--,rke Experience or DIR. Taylor.

Nature--,rhe Experience or DIR. Taylor.
In one Of the uptown houses Of this city
tho night before Christmas there was peculiar
occurrence. the result OF which caused doctor
to hasten there. The head of the house had re-
tired to rest with his spouse. and. after hours
OF siumber. had vivid dream OF tho nature Of a
nightmare He dreamed that he had been ut
tackled by highwaymen. who held his hands be-
hind his back while ono of them was about to
plunge a knife into his heart He struggled
Hercely In his dream against his supposed as
sailants. tore himself from their grasp and
laid about him right and left. till he was awak-
enod by the screams Of his wife Mt his side.
who had. ANONYMOUSLY to him. been the vic
tim OF his assault and who had been flung to
the floor. terrified to distraction and severely
injured. Ho was Mortified to find what hc had
done. and the results Of it. surgeon was In
stantly summoned. and it was found that his
WINS in great distress through the day. but she
has since then been in a fair way of recovery.
need not be said that the drsnmi linz gentle
firing for the night. or that he has been
plunged into grief over an event which might
A SUN reporter started out to learn from some
doctors whether they were accustomed to com
ing across such extraordinary episodes Of do
nestle existence, and had any good way OF ac-
counting for them. DR.. l.. A. Sayre was the
first nGys'G saa called he wGG snar of disgust
Tn not the man you want for that. Go SEQ
BSard Or CyGST Theg amen
know anything about. and that gives them 3
vide Of gpsi n mnSy tell 9t on e
know something about. It's as much rs can
DO to talk about things l understand; and
haynt time TO bother myself with anything
that is not practical" .n,
nnrrate belongs to the we'll understood and de-
fined arrangement Of sleep known as sonno-
tentia. or slecpldrunkenness The first IS. TO div
mental faculties and senses are fully awakened.
main MS they are in profound sleep, 1t may be
said therefore. to be an imperfect sleep and is
a person from sound sleep. In children 1t is
very freuuent. and many persons are liable to
the AZ ssf v S ave
treated of it at length and have devoted con.
M 9 it y % he
cases on record is that Of a sentry. who. on be-
ing suddenly awakened from sleep by an OIL
't swprd. and '' Would lave Killed him but
for the Interference of Others. There was
awakening fnncied himself attacked by enemies
and, fighting for his life. and that he was per
Germany a day laborer killed his wife by
blow with wagon tire. He had been sound
a asS her the a this
collateral evidence that he fancied II woman in
whit, had seized his wife and was carrying in;
imaginary separation was so great that his
whole body was bathed in ,perspirattbi92n. An
tleman, his wife, and their we're living in q
retired place. where they were much afraid
firearms in their. bedrooms for protec-
ton On the night hn,or in question they
about their supposed danger. In the middle of
the night the lady awoke her husband im in,
~ III n md Slpppitv hin iprpi npninSt his
sons door; The young man leaped from his
bed; seized his his gun and thr?TTng 3 Wen. the he
S S09 want wt here ired and killed his father
Then. in an instant; fully ,,, awakened ,. BY
had done and threw himself upon the body of
his father with the cry on! Jesus! ! have
case it was developed that the whole family
were much afflicted by restlessness in sleep.
and were ere, addicted to s9m M! 81 ror
from sleep At midnight, in the same moment
Inn: + Sesmed Z hl% PhaRio saa is%5
ss$ Ms h%is%st wPis$ SSs S.s1, Ss% :;
the supposed phantom. which sank to the
earth. Awakened by this time, he saw that it
died tho next day Of tho blow. Wharton and
Stilley recount an interesting case that oc,
Esther GrgGs was arragned in the Maryebone
Police Court charged with throwing her infant
ed 81 that s their Attention S' Was called by
womans screams Of Oh. my children save
my children Issuing from ,,o an upper room ,S
house. and after much delay, during which the
screams continued. the prismner opened the
all in darkness. When u light was brought the
apartment was seen TO be in great confusion.
an infant. was missing, and the woman. in
great agony OF mind. exclaimed that she must
Just what She had done The baby was found
on the sidewalk, very seriously injured, but;
a eG Ea 66s Sd her hs the the
moment thinking only to save her children.
the window. The officers said that her screams
had continued for tive minutes, and they be-
when they did. she would have thrown out tho
other two children, and possibly herself; The
man for trial for an alleged attcmpt upon her
childs life: for he said it would he most dan
Should not be- held responsible for an act com
mitted during sleep. under the influence OF a
bands threats: with IMMUNITY on the plea that
tn"y dreGm I'D, s9mTthiniGI The woman was
In my own practice continued DIR. Ham
mond. Il have had several such cases, A gen
heard the strc"t door bell ring, sprang out of
bod snatched the sheets. tore them into strips.
ana began knNtlnE lltill together. ana IL WIS
with considerable difficulty that his wife could
get him sufficiently awakened to comprehend
what he was doing. He sa Il that he had the
idea that the house was on fire and he was pro-
ylding means for the escape OF his wife and
| himself from the window. Another gentleman
suddenly partly awakened 10y the slamming OF
| n window shutter. sprnng up, and, sciaing n
| chair. hurled it with all his might through the
| window, and was only fully awnkcred by the
crash of the breaking glass and sash. He said
I that he fancied lie saw Il man clambcring in at
[ the window and had thrown the chair atthc in
t.Idcr L. stop lin. In mother case that came
within my cngniHancr. Il lady partly aroused by
/ the calIin. of her name by hnr child in another
/ part of IN" houS" jumped up from beside
! her husband, seized his pistol that lay near the
/ head Of the bed. cooked it, and WIS goiu. ont
/ OF the room. Siir was awakened to what she
D. was DOING only when her husband stuppcd her "
Several ly-i"iNnS said that they had heard
/ OF numerous instances OF persons doing funny
| and absurd things in tho moment ut awaken
/ ing from sleep, when the mind was but hall
aroused. but they did not roclIl amy SERIOUS
! cnscS. or any worthy OF particular mention
/ without one were To make an especial feature
4 OF that particular class OF mental actions in
/ QWr- about thom and note them. they would
/ stand little chance Of being heard Of except in
/ nm occasional and incidental way in tho courSt
| of conVrrsation. unless they should lead tc
/ such serious developments rs that Of the gen.
/ tlcnlnn VINO lnnuc"nty assaulted his wife on
| Christmas morning. SOmnolentin ii was re,
marked, should not be COMPOUNDED with som.