The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-03-08
GHOSTS.

Whenever a nerve, at any point in its
course, comes in contact with a foreign
substance, the brain Immediately tele-
graphs the sensation to its outer extrem.
ity; for instance, if we irritate nerve
connected with tue eye, We "see stars,
as the phrase goes; if we strike our
'crazy-bone," We not only experience
pain at the point of contact, but at the
ends of our fourth and fifth fingers, be-
cause the nerve which leads to those
members was bruised.
This fact is best illustrated in Grip
piles, who, as we all know, frequently ex-
perience pain in the limbs which have
long since been amputated. 1t may,
therefore, be easily understood how SEN
sations, experienced in the brain, the
central extremity of the nerves, may be
transferred to some outer or peripheral
extremity. We can picture things to
ourselves so clearly that we imagine We
see them with our eyes, especially if it
be our desire to go to such lengths. We
sing in Imagination and hear ourselves
at the same time; we think of some
delicious morsel, and our mouths wa
ter, etc.
Delirium is condition very similar to
dreaming. The things which exist only
IN the Imagination of the patient are
seen, heard and felt by him, in conse-
quence of similar confounding of inner
for outer impressions. But it is posi-
bic to make similar mistakes when in q
perfectly wide-awake and healthy condi-
ton. 1t is only necessary to be in an
excited or nervously expectant frame of
mind. We imagine we hear the foot
steps of an expected visitor; we believe
we recognize his form and features in
every approaching person.
The most powerful agent in such cases
is fear, especially the fear of ghosts.
Many see ghosts because they mo-
mentarily expect to see them; for in
stance, a timid person finds himself, at
an unusual hour, in o suspicious spot,
and trembles for fear that he may see
some expected or unexpected object.
The more anxiously he attempts to dis
pei his fears the more they cling to him;
darkness surrounds him; there is no
sound to break the spell. The strained
eye perceives bright object in the dis
lance; the pupils enlarge to admit every
ray of light, which process, at the same
time, makes distinct vision impossible.
Now the excited imagination gives what
shape it pleases to the aforesaid object,
and the victim ever after believes he has
seen ghost.
That ghosts are conventionally draped
in white is easily accounted for By the
fact that only light colored objects can
be discerned in the darkness. When the
imagination is vivid enough to dispense
with any assistance from other sources,
illusion becomes Authorization. THIS
condition is observable in artists. A com
poser or painter must not only possess
the talent to imagine subjects. but TO
bring them before his minds eye in
manner sufficiently vivid and forcible to
enable him to reproduce them on his in
s.rument or canvas. Now, while the
artist is struggling TO place himself in a
proper frame of mind he is frequently
brought up TO higher pitch than he at
first intended. The object of his dreams
stands life like before him.
Many occurrences of this kind have
been reported, and they are perfectly re-
liable. The sculptor, Praxiteles,
declared that the Goddess of Beauty
appeared to him in person; the old
painter. Theon Of Samos, was especially
rich in such phautasies, and John of