Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-17
SOMNAMBULISM.
THEORIES DEVISED TO EXPLAIN
SLEEP WALKING PHENOMENA.

THEORIES DEVISED TO EXPLAIN
SLEEP WALKING PHENOMENA.
Perilous Adventures OF somnambulists.
| Double observation-disclosures Sleep.
Clairvoyance and Other Abnormal Con-
ditions-Causes of Sleep Walking.
! What form the movements of the somnam-
! bulist may take is governed to great degree
/ by impressions received by the subject, but
! to a greater degree, perhaps, by some govern
! ing idea which has been awakened by what
ever set the centers for movements in opera
! ton Sleep walkers differ markedly among
! themselves as to the effect upon them of these
/ two sets of conditions. Some can be influ-
enced in any desired direction by suggestions
/ conveyed by words, movements or sensa-
/ tons communicated by impressions made
/ upon the sense of touch Others disregard
! such impressions-the avenues of which
seem to be closed-and are governed e1clu-
/ sively by some fixed idea. The previous
| knowledge of sonnambulists as to localities
/ has much to do with the remarkable feats
| they are known to have performed. In a
! strange locality the walking on the ridge
pole of house or along the brink of preci-
! pice is not, by any means as safe as some
| have believed The occurrence, within the
| past year, of several fatal accidents to such
sleepers proves that they have no magical
power of finding safety where others en-
counter danger This idea Of the marvellous
safety of sleep walkers must be be aban-
doned If this is thoroughly understood it
| is likely that better care will be taken to
| guard the safety of those known to be sub
| iects Of what must be considered a disease
! Although the actions of the sleep walker
seem to be to some degree at least under the
control of the will: it is very apparent from
the foregoing considerations that they are
! to be considered as almost entirely auto
| matte. In ordinary dreams the will is without
| power to control even the imaginary acts Of
| the dreamer In soulnambulism there are
real muscular actions added to the ordinary
| dream. Hence it is that thefts or other
unlawful acts may result from the abnormal
condition, and the sleep walker should not
be held morally or criminally responsible for
| such occurances. No one should be held re-
sponsible for an act of the imagination, a
| homicide dreamed to have been perpetrated
| for example The real action of the SOM
nambulist is of the same nature, so far as re-
sponsbility is concerned, as the peculiar
| freaks Of the imagination which take place
| in an ordinary dream.
DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.
Some authors, especially those of an early
date, have evidently classed together as
cases of somnambulism number OF distinctly
different conditions. Some instances of
| masked epilepsy, for instance, have been thus
no IoI
consciousness" is of this variety. This con-
sists in the individual recollecting during tho
paro1ysms circumstances which occurred in
q former attack, though there was no rernem-
brencs Of them during the interval A
number of such cases have been placed on
record, and their close relationship to cpl
lcpsy is now beyond question. In true SOM
nambuiisn there is no recollection Of what
has taken place during an attack, either in
the walking condition or in subsequent at
tacss.
In the SO called ''mesmeric Sleep" or
hypnotism, the condition of the brain is
doubtless very similar to that which is pres
ent in natural sonnanbulism. The intellec-
tual departments seem, however, to be in q
condition more nearly approaching that pres
eat when the whole brain is awake. 1t is
impossible to state what the real condition Of
the brain is in somnambulism. 1t is most
likely that there is some kind Of disturbance
in the amount Of blood sent to different parts
CT the organ OF mind.
To explain the meslneric phenomena it has
been thought that some one or several parts
Of the brain are thrown out Of their ordinary
relations with other parts by the passes" aud
,Jther Inanipulations Of the mesTnerizer. 1t
IS, perhaps, by gradually but very completely
e1hausring tho irritsbility of some parts that
this is brought about Then, it is supposed
those parts first affected exert an inhibiting
influence over other parts, until only a small
part of the nervous centers is capable Of re-
spending to any kind Of an impression. Hence
it has been possible for complete anasthesia
to be produced in this way-so complete that
limbs have been amputated and other grave
surgical operations have been performed
without other means of lessening or prevent
ing pain.
REAL CLAIRvOYANCE.
The testimony in favor of subjects In this
artificial somnambulism being able-some of
Chem-to see what is going on at distance,
to read sealed letters, and to hear q converse
ton taking place several miles away, seems
10 be SO conclusive that many distlns uished
scholars, physicians and philosophers are firm
believers in clairvoyance and clairaudience.
1t is certain, at all events, that in natural as
well as in artificial somnambulisIn the senses
become much more acute than in the normal
condition. As all the special senses are
simply notifications and higher develop
nents of the sense of touch, it may not be so
very unreasonable to think that, under GER
tain abnormal conditions, this fundamental
sense may become e1alted-hypera<h etic-
to such degree as to enable it to take the
place Of sight or hearing. In the blind, as is
well known, this sense and that Of hearing
both become greatly exalted They can not
take the place of the lost vision, but they
make a nearer approach to doing so than
could have been expected by any one who
has not witnessed the phenomena of reading,
sewing and the carrying on of mechanical
trades by the blind.
The causes Of sleep walking are to be found
in disturbances of health, indigestion, fevers,
and over excitement rather than TO any dia-
bolical agency. Those who have inherited
an over sensitive nervous organization are
most liable to become somnambulic Those
exhausted by excess in work, stady or in vice
are also subject to similar disturbances.
Some families show marked tendency tow
ard somnambulism, many members becom-
ing affected The treatment is simple
enough when the cause is known, and can be
removed. In chronic, inveterate sleep walk
ing it may become necessary to attend care
fully to the securing Of doors and windows
at night in order TO prevent accidents, whic
are more frequently serious 10 sleep walkers
than is usually supposed. -Globe-Democrat
A Valuable Fifty Cent Piece.