Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-15
DREAMS GO BY CoNTRARlES.
Experiments Made Up,n a French Physi
OlOcist While Asleep.

experiments Made Upon a French Physt-
OioGist While Asleep.
From time immemorial dreams have been
the wonderland of waking hours Hope and
fear have wrought them into their own fab
ric. Superstition has seized upon them and
worked up a curious ritual of dreams that
60 by contraries," of dreams of the morning
light" of dreams with significances, some of
which seem natural enough, while to few Of
those apparently most arbitrary, science her
self has offered certain amount of explana
tion.
Dreaming is an experience which may be
called common to humanity, though it varies
so widely in different individuals that, in q
few exceptional cases. it is absolutely un-
known. A French Psychologist caused many
curious experiments to be made on himself
during sleep. These experiments took the
form OF trifiing physical sensations, which
produced almost invariably a wonderfully OK.
aggerated effect on the sleeping mind. Thus
feather tickling the lips was converted into
the horrible punishment of a mask of pitch
being applied to the face. A bottle of eau de
cologne held to his nose sent him into dream
of a perfumer's shop in Cairo. A pinch on
the neck recalled the days of his boyhood and
the old family physician applying blister to
that region.
Scientific writers admit that there is type
of dream IN which coming physical disease or
disaster is Swallowed forth--some bodily SEN
sation, perhaps too slight to be noticed by the
subject when awake, yet contriving to inl-
press itself in some symbolic form on the
sleeping mind. The more striking instances
of this sort may serve to explain how il,
some lesser degree, certain symbols are likely
to attach themselves to certain painful sensa
tions or conditions, until at last they are
finally accepted as mysterious presages of
evil
Conrad Gesner, the eminent naturalist
dreamed that he was bitten on the left side
by venomous serpent. In short time q
severe carbuncle appeared on the very spot,
terminating his life i'll the space of three days.
1t is a most singular fact that under certain
combined conditions of fatigue, discomfort
and malaria, whole bodies of men-such as
companies of soldiers--have been seized by
the same terrific dream, and have awakened
simultaneously, shrieking with terror. Such
an instance is related bg Laurent, when after
forced march, 500 French soldiers were
packed in ruined Calabrian monastery
which could i'll accommodate half that
n;:n.ber.
At midnight frightful cries issued from
every corner of the building as frightened
men rushed from It, each declaring that il
was the abode of the evil one-that they had
seen him, in the form OF big black dog, who
threw himself upon their breasts for an in
slant and then disappeared. The men were
persuaded TO return to the same shelter OF
the next night, their officers promising t.
keep watch beside them. Shortly after mid
night the same scene was re-enacted-tht
same cries. the same flight as the soldiers
rushed forth in a body to escape the suffo
eating embrace OF the black dog The wake
fui officers had seen nothing .-Argosy