Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-07-20
WHILE IN moaPHEvs.s ARMS.
Queer Things That May and Do Occur
While Sleeping

a. LoHb UfOoc-DtNfocTu.
In sleep-walking the dreamer may per-
form actions which he is unable to do while
awake. Thus numerous instances are on
record of persons in this condition walking
along dangerous pathways, upon the brink
of precipice, the ridge of house-top, etc.
The fears Of the person in the waking state
would prevent him from any such pretorm-
ances. The somnambuEst performs acts
which he could perform while awake were it
not for the rule of his reason nothing be-
yond his strength or which natural powers
would not permit him to perform.
There IS a condition sometimes classed
with sOmnambulism, but which is rather
allied TO epilepsy, in which the subject APP
pears and acts quite unlike himself, but
conducts himself like some other person
This condition may continue only a few
hours but may last for days or even weeks
After a variable time the individual returns
to what is recognized AS his natural con-
dit;ou, but has not the slightest remem-
brance of what took place in his unnatural
condition When another attack occurs
he does not remember the events Of his
natural life, hut reloiects distinctly what oc-
cured al the former attack or attacks This
double existence has been observed a
sufficient number Of times to place the
reality Of the matter beyond the reach
Of contradiction. Thus dual life differs
essentially from Somnambulism. In the
latter the subject can be aroused and made
10 resume his ordinary waking condition,
and there is no remembrance of former SOM
nambuhstic experiences. In the other there
is no mode known of breaking up the un,
natural condition, and there is recollection
of former states of the same sort. The
subjects generally show evidences OF
epilepsy in its usual forms Of commissions or
vertigo
The socslled mesmeric state is one which
closely resembles somnambuism Of the
caltalcc tic variety. 1t differs from it es-
sentially in its causation, There is no
longer any reason to doubt the reality of
The artificial somnambulism, which has
had unmer;ted obloquy cast upon it by the
sbsured claims of some of its advocates and
the fraudulent practices of many of the self
STYLED meSmerists, animal magnetizers and
professors Of psychology" or anthrOpology,
etc. Braid, in England, Charcat, in France,
and Agassiz, in this country, have done
much TO throw light upon what is still ac-
knowledged to be very obscure subject.
Although not yet satisfactory explained,
it is thought we are we'll advanced toward
solution Of the question.
First and foremost it must ne clcarl V un-
dcrstOod that the meSmerizer does not pos
sess any special power over the person
mesmerized Certain persons are capable
pf going into the so-called mesmeric con
dition. The claim to special peculiar,
miraculous power set up BY the professors
of this art is pure assumption. The entire
phenomena derend upon the susceptibility
Of the person submitting to the process.
This point cannot be too strongly insisted
upon. Elcctro-biology. animal magnetism,
gdic, or LdyliC, or cd force, whatever he the
term chosen to designate an influence pas
ing trom the operator to the subject, has no
existence.