The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-21
nrEAsas OF .DEFECTrvEs."



The notable Russian psychologist, M. de
Manaceine, has recently published a most
interesting and instructive book on the
dreams or the deaf and dumb the abnor-
nally formed people, cr.pples, and infants.
He has noticed that In the case OF the Gear
and dumb, II deafness occurs before they
are Ave years old, they forget what they
words never being remembered in their
dreams. II the intelligence Of the anlict-
Cd with deafness only Is highly developed,
thew easily retain the knowledge OF spok-
en- words, although deafness may have
supervened at an early age. On the otncr
hand, II their mental faculties are weak,
the deafness, even at the early age OF SIX
az seven. entails the loss Of speech, and
the afflicted become both deaf and dumb.
with regard to the abnormally formed
M de Manaceine mentions the case OF q
person born without arms or feet VINO al
ways dreamed that he had been mutilated.
Now II should be- borne IN mind, ne says,
that the majority Of persons born without
arms or feet always dream that they pos
sesN these extfemities. It is evident, ne
maintains, that this difference results, IN
the first instance, from weak impressions
hereditarily transmitted and in the sec
ond instance from the strength and pre-
cfeion Of these impressions. Persons
whose limbs have been amputated are
They never dream that they are walking
on crutches; quite the contrary they in
yariably dream that they are walking
with their feet with this difference only,
that as time passes their extramities APP
pear to become shorter and shorter.
NJ. de Manaceine mentions as a curious
fact that this Authorization is very pro-
nounced when the wound has healed rap7
idly without complications; while on the
other hand there Is no Authorization when
the process of cicatrization has been pain
ful. Moreover. we find the reason OF this
difference in the greater or lesser inten-
sity Of the sensations experienced. Still
II the dreams of abnormally formed per-
sons are characterized by certain pecu-
liarities they are none the less subjected
as are other dreams to the mysterious
conditions Of the human organism. and like
other dreams, their repercussion on tho
wakeful state IS identical.
The idea has long been entertained that
babies do not dream; but 1t seems that
this is a mistake. A few weeks after they
are born and while asleep. signs of sue
ton, smiles and laughter have been seen.
No doubt but that the remembrance of
dreams only occurs when child begins
to talk and understands what Is said to 1t;
and that is the reason why our reeoiiec-
tions do not go much further back than
the time when we were five or six years
old, but that we dream long before that
age, there is no doubt, although the range
of our dreams is naturally. circumscribed
by the elementary sensations We exper-
fence. And that is why in rearing chill
dren, normally or abnormally formed. 1t
is most essential to watch over them while
they sleep and to try and gauge the sig
MITIGATION OF their dreams.
1t is fact, medically admitted, says the
eminent psychologist who supplies us
with this information, that the heavy,
troubled dreams of infants indicate ap-
preaching illness. If they awake with a
start, begin to cry, and are not easily
sootbed. then recourse should be made to
medical advice, for it is a sign that their
normal equilibrium Is affected.
Novolis, the savant, declares that If we
did not dream we should age very much
sooner than we do. Dreams, he says, are
a shield against the monotony of life. In
proof of his assertion he mentions the
case of lady sixty years old. who dwelt
en- the remembrance of a dream as the
happiest event Iii her life. In her mem
orable dream this unsophisticated old soul
had visited the Gear In his palace, and che
infinitely described in glowing terms the
and 1t must DO admitted that this dream
lated and. monotonous existence. We Of
ten hear Of people being advised before
deciding on an important matter ito sleep
on 1t. That appears to imply that in case
We should dream we would arrive at
Just appreciation of what we should do.
1t Is but another authentic instance per-
tinent to this strange phenomenon-the re-
lation of dreams to our spiritual being
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