Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-14
lh.A iharo nnr ba tbe tornor OF one Of

that there may BIO the torpor OF one OF
the senses attended with the activity OF
the other. The following story illustrates
this: Calvin and another friend were
once travelling through Germany. one
evening they arrived at country Inn
tired aud faded. After refreshments
they resolved to employ their time IN
reading and listening to book on The
ology. Calyin's friend was elected TO
read. This he did for about hall an
hour Now and then Calvin put IN
word OF criticism but he was surprised
that his friend made no reply, but al
WAYS continued reading. at length
Calvin came to the conclusion that his
friend was asleep and yet rea1ing. The
inference was correct, for when Calvin
awoke him, tho man, although he had
been reading aloud most carefully, did
not know one single fact the book con-
tanned
The somnambulist's mind 10 sleep is
only open to one prevailing train OF
thought Sounds relating to that are
noticed. but any other sounds occurring
are as if they had not been. Thus.
young lady when at school frequently
began to talk after having been asleep
an hour or two 4; her ideas almost always
running upon the events OF the previous
day. II encouraged by leading qnes-
tons being addressed to her she would
give q very distinct and coherent ac-
count of them, frequently disclosing her
own peccadillos and those of Der school
fellows, and expressing great penitence
for the former while she seemed TO hesl-
tate about making known the latter. 10
all ordinary sounds, however, she seemed
insensible.
The curious fact regarding somnam-
bulism is that the person subject 70 1t
cannot remember anything he did while
in that state. This diderentiates it from
dreaming. And again, it often occurs
that the mind of the somnambulist can
DO gradually diverted, by careful
scheming, into any channel the expert
menter desires. The case Of the officer
who served in the expedition to lonls-
burg may be taken as an example OF TINS
kind of somnambulism. The narrator OF
the story says sat one time they his
companions conducted him through the
whole progress Of quarrel, which
ended in duel /; and when the
parties were supposed to be met
pistol was put IN his hand,
which lie fred, and was awakened by tine
report. On another occasion they found
him asleep on the top of locker or
bunker in the cabin, when they made
him believe be had fallen overheard, and
exhOrted him 10 save himself by swim
ming. He Immediately inflated all the
motions Of swimming. They then told
him that q shark was pursuing him, and
entreated him to dive for his life. lie
instantly did so with such force "a to
throw himself entirely from the locker
upon the cabin floor, by which he was
much bruised, and awakened Of course.
There is also q peculiar case OF SOM
nambulism called induced somnam-
bulism." The method was first discoy-
cred by Mr.. Braid. 1t consists in the
maintenance of fixed gaze, for several
minutes consecutiyely, on bright OBJ
iect placed somewhat above and IN front
of the eyes, at 80 short distance that
the conveyance of their axes upon 1t is
accompanied with a sense OF effort even
amounting to pain. When the state of
somnambuhsm is thus obtained. just rs
in the natural, there is no remembrance
of what the mind or body was engaged
with. There is, however. less agility
shown by the person in this state. In
natural somnambulism every part OF the
muscular system seems to be active and
capable Of doing almost miracles, but
when in the induced somnambulistic
state the persons movements are slow,
and the minds activity is very heavy and
difficult to rouse.