Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-04-19

SOmnambulist Is tho common term
applied to q person who walks while
asleep. Somnambulists are OF three
kinds, those who are in ordinary
health, those who are sick, and those
in whom the somnambulatory acts
are produced by artificial means.
The latter is q branch OF animal
magnetism or mesmerism.
But walking while asleep is by no
means the only form that somnambu-
lism takes. Persons have been
known to do tho strangest things
while asleep. The queerest part of
it all is that, as q rule, on awakening
they have no recollection OF what
they did while asleep.
Talking when asleep is q mild
form of it. Somnambulism is nothing
but an acted dream. Every one knows
how vague their recollections Of
their dreams usually are except at
the moment of waking up, at which
time the person sometimes has some
difficulty in disentangling himself
from his dream and realizing who
and whore he really is.
The following Is concise descrip-
tion OF what a somnambulist may do.
1t was quoted by q well-known doc
tor from work by tho celebrated
DR.. Herbert Mayo:
1.-The person walks, rides, climbs,
with the eyes shut or insensible; his
leading him into positions OF diff
Guilty and peril, which. il perfectly
alive to their real nature, or il act
ing under ordinary motives. he would
avoid; and yet there appears to be
partial consciousness of surrounding
objects and an adaptation to circum-
stances.
"Individuals have. while In this
state, performed long journeys on
foot or horseback. paying tolls.
avoiding obstacles; they have sue
cessfully descended into coal mines;
they have assembled in safety to the
roofs of houses, have climbed rocky
cliffs, and successfully robbed eagles
nests during tho night. Millers,
saddlers. grooms, seamstresses. have
all performed their customary work
with perfect exactitude, but without
any recollection of their exertions or
industry.
notwithstanding the accuracy
with which many acts are performed,
that particular senses may be DOR
mant is proved by insensibility to
loud noises, and by cook eating
cabbage which had been substituted
for salad which he had carefully
and artistically prepared. The senses,
in relation to the idea or train OF
ideas present to the mind, appear to
be awake, and are pre- reGernaturalIy
acute. This fact has suggested the
hypothesis that certain faculties arc
wakeful, open to impressions, and
actuated by volition. while others.
and the mind in general. are plunged
in profound sleep and unconscious
ness.
"This may be true, and is iii har-
mony with the opinion that the phe-
nomena are an acted dream or delu.
sion. and that what is seen, heard or
done is the mere embodiment or rep.
etition OF former impressions Or i'm
pulses at the time before the mind"
A celebrated case is that told by
the arch bishop OF Bordeaux: He
watched a student compose q sermon
and write out piece of music while
asleep, read them over, make correc-
tions, scratch out lines, substitute
others, and put in its place word
that had been omitted.
The archbishop interposed sheet
of white cardboard between the stu
dents eyes and the paper upon
which he was writing. This made
no difference; he went right on with
his work, thus showing that he was
copying mental images. and not
those of the eve.
A story Is told by many doctors of
a case that was once famous, says !
the New York Journal A girl aged /
fourteen, of no more than ordinary |
intelligence, and with only poor
became languid, listless
and pale, and complained OF pains in '
her sides and forehead. One day !
while in this state she fell asleep in |
. chair.
After sleeping a half hour or SO
she rose and preached a sermon,
brilliant in symbolism. elegant in
liction, fluent, eloquent and pictur-
esque. Her friends were amazed. |
She resumed her seat, and presently !
awoke in her natural state, with no I