Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-09-22
S0MNAABULISM.
THEORIES DEVISED TO Exp, IN
SLEEP WALKING PHENOMENA

!, | fffLfNOMENA~
feffions Adventures Of sompamhaIi.s.
no"bie conseIonsn~ss--sfesn,e s,s.u
ciairvoyanee and Other Abnormal Con,
o''on7--taases Of sleep Walking.
What form the movements az tba .,,,,,ro,v,
puiisb may take Is governed 10 a great degree
~ impressions received by the SUBJECT IN,
Oa greater degree, perhaps, BY some govern.
ing idea which has been awakened by what.
ever SET the centers for movements in orera.
.lon. sleep walkers differ markedly among
themselves as to the effect upon them OF these
sro SETS OF conditions. Some can be inau.
clced IN any desired direction by suggestion,
conveyed by words, movements or sensa.
1ohs communicated by impressions made
upon the sense OF touch Others disregard
| SUCH impressions--the avenues of which
seem 70 De ciosed-and are governed exclu-
nVeiy ny some fixed idea. The previo,,s
ahowiedge OF sonnambulists as to localities
mas much TO do with the remarkable feats
1ney are known to have performed. In a
strange locality the walking on the ridge
poie Oh house or along the brink of a preci-
pice Is not, ny any means, as safe as some
uave Deiieved. The occurrence. within tho
past year, OF several fatal accidents to s,,cb
sieepers proves that they have no magical
power OF nndlng safety where others en-
counter danger. This idea Of the marvellous
salety OF sleep walkers must be be aban-
ooned. II this is thoroughly understood Il
" Akeiy mat better care will be taken To
guard the safety OF those known to be sub-
Jects 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
tne foregoing considerations that thew ara
70 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 somnambulisrn there ara
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 "a.
sponsible for an act of the imagination. .
homicide dreamed to have been perpetrated
for example The real action of the SOM
nambulist is of the same nature, so far as re-
sponsibility is concerned, as the peculiar
freaks OF the imagination which take plaza
in an ordinary dream.
DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.
Some authors, especially those of an early
GATE, have evidently classed together az
cases OF somnambulism number of distinctly
different conditions. Some instances II
masked epilepsy, for instance. have been TINS
improperly classified. The SO called sdoubls
CONSCIOUSNESS Is of this variety. ssThis con-
sists in the individual recollecting during thu
paroxysms circumstances which occurred in
a former attack, though there was no remem-
brance OF them during the interval
number OF such cases have been placed on
record, and their close relationship to emf
lepsy is now beyond question. In true SOM
nambulism there is no recollection of what
has taken place during an attack, either in
the walking condition or in subsequent at
tacks.
In the SO called ''mesmeric sleep,n or
hypnotism, the condition of the brain is
doubtless very similar to that which is pres-
emit in natural somnambulism. The intellee-
tual departments seem, however to be in A
condition more nearly approaching that pres
emit when the whole brain is awake. Ii 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
OF the organ of mind
To explain the meslneric phenomena it has
been thought that some one or several marta
of the brain are thrown out of their ordinary
relations with other parts by the passes and
other manipulations of the mesmerizer. It
is, perhaps, by gradually but very completely
exhausuing the irritability of some parts that
this is brought about. Then, it is supposed.
those parts first affected exert an inbibiting
influence over other parts, until only 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 lessenins, or prevent
ing pain.
REAL CLAIRvoYANCE.
The testimony in favor of subjects in this
somnambulism being able-some of
them-to see what is going or at distance, |
to read sealed letters and to hear a converse
ton taking place several miles away, seems |
to be SO conclusive that MANY distinguished |
scholars, physicians and philosophers are firm
believers in clairvoyance and clairaudience, |
1t is certain, at all events, that in mai, ral as
well as in artificial somnambulism the seases
become much more acute than in the norma, |
condition. As all the special senses are |
simply notifications and higher develop
ments 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 exalted -hyperesthetic-
to such degree as to enable it to take the
place of sight or hearing. In the Lind, 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 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 blini.
The causes of s,eep walking are to be found
in disturbances Of health, indigestion, levers,
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
by excess in work, study or in vice
are also subject to similar disturbances.
Some families show a marked tendency tow
ard sonnambulism, many members becom-
ing affected. The treatment is simple
enough when the cause is known, and can bs
In chronic, inveterate sleep walk
ing it may become necessary to attend Gre
fully to the securing of doors and windc VIZ
at night in order to prevent accidents, whic
are more frequently serious to sleep walkers
than is usually supposed. Democrat
They Acted Like 1t.
ado you know remarked the professor,
that dogs have been known to act strangely