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THE REFLECTOR
MILLEDGEV1LLE, G. TUESDAY, SEl'TEMHERl, 1818.
NO. 43.
FOB Till-’. HEFLKCTUB.
EAT;SE on dreams.
fs,—-I take the liberty of forward
speculative treatise on Dreams,
yon please, you ran reflect from
ns. It consists of new, ami pen
ny appear to some, of wild and
eorv : but there will be no doubt
iologists, that the doctrines enn-
truly physiological and pathologi-
eing made public, they may cx-
y on the subject, and cause some
mind to retrace my stejts, and
e numerous errors necessarily con-
rein. A treatise on a new subject
voted to be so chaste in every re-
thosc written by way of improvc-
cn the subject has become familiar.
ypniolnt'ia, 1 mean a discourse or
m dreams. Numerous have been
Ions, catch-penny productions on
the sole objects of which have been
i pockets of the ignorant and super-
arts of society, and to perpetuate
I superstition, the too long contina-
hicli, is now to he much lamented :
he false and ungrounded theories
by them less numerous. Inasmuch
duction is intended (however shoe
d it may deserve to fall, judge can-
) as development of causes and
lunging strictly to philosophy, but
more particularly to that brunch
thology—Inasmuch as I hope in
nsurc to shew, that those sensual
(called dreams, are as much asotlnu
the effects of certain causes, which
re as certainly due from tlie ajiplica-
continuance of certain stimuli, an I
te. of excitability.—Inasmuch as !
II confidence in this fact, that a re-
t on. and pursuance of my plan into
utest observations on nature’s move-
anil the laws of the animal economy,
develope in full, the plan of prevent
using, and curing almost every kind
ms—and, inasmuch as a knowledge of
is the grand object of all srientifi-
lies, I teel that I have some grounds
n to calculate for it to find a better
tan oblivion. Should this, however,
nal doom the Fates hold in readiness
will at least afford some amusement
speculative, if it is only ephemeral.
TUB AUTHOR.
Silo, August, 1S18.
treatise on dreams, I shall make)
ral class comprehend the whole ;
ill he divided and subdivided, as na-
ears to afford ground, into onlines
fra, and these last may by the imagi
ne reader, as by that of the author,
vided into species entirely too numrr-
treated of in this short essay.—
bs, I shall call Somnia.
essay. I shall use this term foe a
class, embracing all those ideas,
, or sensorial motions, which take
ring sleep, and which indicate an
t state thereof.
ass Somnia, I shall divide into the
ordities, viz.
Via a reiteraiionc dirccta.
= a reiteratinne revcr.ni vel a t ;ci !V>.
»extrao dinavia, vcl sine ixemjdo.
ch Ordo I. is divided iiuo4 genera, viz.
ia iirruvna.
- illepida.
r.flmistn.
iiuiiHcrc»’.c:a.
doll, is divided into " genera, viz. :
iaamccna a rederatione reversa, vel a txdio.
lllcp da reversa.
= admi^ta reversa.
rdo III. »s divided into o genera,
iavoluptar.a prater naturern.
U turbulenla.
OKDO I.
a reileratione dirccta. Under this
ish to comprise all those dreams,
the direct representations ofideas,
e, during the waking hours exist-
brain, whether through the modi-
senses, be. or from imagination,
are the direct reiterations of opc-
tlie power of imagination, or of
motions of the immediate organs
c.
—Somniu. amrena veljucunila, im-
ose dreams which partake of the
general characteristic of Ordo I.
c direct reiteration of some pre-
ession made by the senses or ima-
nd at the same time, produce in
um, that kind or degree of excite-
h is calculated for the production
able sensations.
Somnia illcpidu, by which I
dreams partaking of the cliarac-
the order to which the genus be
at the same, time, producing such
nd kind of excitement, as to give
f pain, or displeasure.
—Somnia admista. This genus
ds all those dreams which partake
acteristic of its order, and the
tics of the 1st and 2d genera, to
t. In other words, dreams of
re such usitions of imagination,
I' •• of the organs of sense, during sleep as
i give pleasure and pain from their Similitude
to the impressions made in the waking hours,
and of which they are the direct reiterations,
Gen. 4.—Somnia indifferenda, whereby 1
mean those dreams which consist of direct re
iterations, (the characteristic of the order)
whilst in their nature they are merely pas
sive, producing no sense of pleasure or pain
worthy of attention.
This genus includes all those dreams of
the 1. Ord. which are excited by the action
of objects, which are least interesting, and
whose impressions are hut faintly made, from
their possessing in their nature nothing ca
pable of exciting desire or aversion. Thus
when after 1 stand in the court lobby, and
see and hear fur some hours, or until I am
a little wearied, the uniform routine of fo
rensic procedure, in which there shall be no
display of elocution remarkable or intcrcst-
ing, I return to my couch and seek refresh
ment and sleep ; I have reiterated in mr
senses all the transactions of juries, clients,
ittornics, sheriff’s, and probably many his-
fories of evidence concerning slander, as
sault, be. This case carries along with it a
•- icw of the cause and effect, precisely ac
cording to iny idea of the order in gen ral.
Aut, perhaps, my reader will gain some clu-
' idation ol the theory of those direct reitera
tions which constitute dreams of the 1. order,
‘>.v niysaying, as in ocular spectra, the re
iteration w direct when the exhaustion of the
excitability in the organ lias not been com
plete nor nearly so. In experiments on or-
ilar spertra, we find them reiterate at snort
intervals, whirl) reiteration is owing to tin
changes that go on in the sensorial p nver of
lie part which is the immediate cause of the
i ts in of the fibres of the organ of our sense,
which constitutes our visual ideas. This re
iteration, too, returns the more distinct and
often, the more powerful the impressions of
i he visible object has been made. So also of
impressions on our senses him! our dreams
Cor lurtlicr ideas on the powers and action-
if the organs of sense see a paper on (), ulur
Spectra, written by Dr. R. W. Darwin, of
Shrewsbury, found in the 70 vol. Philos.
Trans, and Zonnonila : Reflections, as well
as imaginary impressions, are reiterated.—
I'o prevent dreams of this order, we inns’
avdid fatigue, in every respect keep o n
minds healthy, and regularly excited by a
well timid and moderate exercise, and keep
free from strong passions, be.
ORDO II.
Somnia a rcl'erutione reversa, rtl a Indio.
i be characteristic which distinguishes this
from the first order, is that tiie reiterations
which constitute the sensual motions we call
dreams, arc the reverse of tlio primitive mo
tions of the waking hours by which they
have been produced. Reiterations ar
reverse only hen the exhaustion has been
• ari'ied to a great or fatiguing extent. They
appear to he constituted by the exertion (it
fibres antagonist to those first excited, whose
exertion is intended to relieve a kind of en
nui, or irksomeness, which is dependant on
action of one kind being carried so far as to
produce fatigue or exhaustion in the fibres
excited. This order will be divide , into
three genera.
Gen. 1 ,~Snmnia am ten a a reileratiai'c re
versa-. vel a twain. Jly this genus, I would
he understood to mean those sensual motions
which occur during sleep, and are the re
verse of some unplersant impression, that
has hern made upon the organs of sense du-
ringthc waking hours. These are the dreams
which we experience after being unhappy
during our waking hours, our only respite
from unhappiness being that which we ex
perience during those reverse reiterations in
our sleeping hours. We then dream of our
situation being favorable and desirable in
every respect—wc feel entire restoration
from our troubles to a state of felicity which
renders life inestimably desirable. Those
are dreamed by unfortunate lovers, who
imagine themselves entirely restored to the
warmest and most heart binding affections
of the. beloved object, that in these embraces
they are enjoying every thing desirable.
They are dreamed by debtors, who ima
gine themselves in prosperity, all their debts
having been paid by some fortunate means,
which they are surprised they did not before
find out. 15y merchants who have lately
heard of great losses by sea, or the fall of
some article of which they have an immense
stock on hand. They imagine at this time
they are making a great speculation, and
arc peculiar fortunate in having this large
stock on hand, or that they have shipped a
large stock of produce at a certain time which
was fortunate in escaping a storm, and ar
riving safe in foreign port, at a time when
prices were favorable. See some unfortu
nate ringleader of a faction, after having
greatly to his mortification miscarried in his
designs and become deserted by his satellites.
He dreams of his prosperity or success.—
The impostor who has been electioneering
for interest, having discovered cither by the
expressions of mouh or countenance, that
those lie has been willing and endeavoring to
dupe, have had penetration enough to ex
plore his depth anil spy out his ignorance and
the intended imposition, dreams lie is ah
to make a fortune by those characters, Ac.
Thus in all eases where'unpleasant matters
have weighed heavily on the mind, so as to
fiaiguc the fibres which constitute the" sen
sual motions of which the ideas of those mat
ters consist.
I will take this opportunity of observing
that in all the genera of this order, the caus
es whose reverse the dream is, have gene
rally dwelt heavily on the mind, and mono
polized almost the whole of the attention du
ring the waking hours.
Gen. 2.—Somnia illcpida reversa. These
are dreams whereof the parent excitement,
during the waking hours, lias been very plea
sant, so much so as to monopolize the at
tention greatly and fatigue the configurating
fibres of the senses, which receive the ideas
which give us pleasure ; when this excite
ment is relaxed, as when we drop asleep,
the fibres are thrown into a reverse motion,
or configuration which consequently gives
the idea as nearly the contrary of the- for
mer as possible. A similar motion takes
place when on a clear day we look through a
window till (lie ritiua is fatigued, then throw
our eyes immediately on the white wall
within the house, and we immediately see
the shape of the sash (which was dark, or
which obscured the view of the brightness of
day through the window) described on the
wall by luminous lines crossing at right an
gles, and the lights of the windows are seen
dark on the wail. If then we close our eyes
"losefy and put our bands over them so as to
prevent an; admission of light, we find the
spectrum of the sash black or dark—if we
:lien elevate the- brow, and thin the upper
ye lid as much as we can without opening
ilie eye. the sash will then assume a red co
lor. All these changes or reiterated confi
gurations of the. organs of sense, are like
dreams dependant on the state and changes
d excitability, mid the quantity of stimulus
applied. The dreamers of ihi-c genus are those
a ho are enjoying the blessings which good
i-trtune bestows, and this to a sensible de
gree ; for where is this only what is habitual
to the receiver, and is attended with no par
ticular pleasure, the fibrous exertion not
having gone so lar as to produce a lively
sensation of pleasure, no sad reverse is ex
perienced in sleep, but the repose is calm and
inintcrriiptcd. Thus we find the ignorant,
unreflecting, siipeesti'ious man of little sen
sibility', and other traits of character usual
ly concomitant with those who live retired
and contented, who has even temper, and
•••engaged mind, who thinks not further
than the familiar and perpetual impressions
-if every day , who labors moderately, and
uniformly trusting (as he may have been in
structed to do} to Divine l’rovidenee for the
next day’s support, or the reward of his la-
oor. whose wife, in good health, greets with
joy his rioning, and whose ruddy cheeked
| uud coral lipped pratlers, miniatures of their
kind parents, hail him win* he arrives at
the door of his humble cot at the close of the
day from the toil.? of the field with the en
dearing epithet papa, romp about the house
and fondle at his knees, till their fatigued
limbs seek refreshment on the hard floor and
their chattering tongues, iii the peaceful
slumbers of the night. This man is happy,
inasmuch as he has hot few miseries, not
irom any actual enjoyments he experiences.
His want of the fine sensibilities, the pride
of flic well-timed part of the human race,
forbids any sensible excitement being pro
duced by those causes most dear to these.—
This man whose condition in life is—shall I
not say enviable ? (Ave, if a desirable por
tion of happiness is found in any condition
in life, permit me to say it is here.) ile ro-
i lines’early on his scanty matrass, and en
joys the blessings of sleep in its most com
posed, uninterrupted anil perfect state. The
senses as well as all other parts of the sys
tem, appear dead with the exception of
those parts wliirii derive nerves from that
astonishing and extraordinary nervous struc
ture, called the great sympathetic—a key to
a rich treasure of physiological and patha-
logieal facts hut I must return to the genus
in point. This genus is, in some measure,
the reverse of the former; for in this the
primarily exciting impressions are pleasant,
and the reiterations unpleasant—as when a
lover has received every thing flattering
from his mistress, and has been highly ex-
liiliTated thereby during the waking hours,
he dreams of disappointment aVid perplcxit;
in every shape imaginable—and so of other
species of this genus.
Gen. 3.—Somnia admistu reversa. This
genus partakes both of the nature of the 1st
and 2(1 genus of this order, inasmuch as
they liayc both pleasurable and painful parts
—and like the 3d genus of the 1st ord. inas
much as they partake both of the 1st and 2d.
There is no 4th genus of this order, because
those impressions which produce this order
must necessarily be active enough to fatigue
the fibres of the. organs of sense before the
reiteration can he of the reverse order.
The causes may. perhaps, be all summed
under this general head, viz.—fatiguing the
organs of sense with one, kind of Action un
til it becomes irksome. The prevention de
pends upon avoiding all exciting causes, or
their application to the above extent, as well
also, ideas of reflection as those formed by
impart of external objects, on the organs
of sense. -.-
onno iii.
Somnia txlraordinaria vel sine exemplo, I
consider as being peculiar to itself, on ac
count of tlie configuration therein being en
tirely new and unlike any other impression,
whether direct or reverse, only inasmuch as
they produce as an effect delight or.-distress.
They are unnatural representations of ma
terial beings, shewing them, in all respects,
entirely inconsistent with any known quali
ty, or circumstance by which they arc natu
rally characterized. The 2d ord. consisted
of, representations, tlie reverse of the first
configuration, which reverses are dissimilar
to many of the well known circumstances of
life ; but dreams of this order are novel, and
stand related to no other motions of the or
gans of sense as effects ; but are themselves
the primary. motions, and are dependant
on internal stimulating causes which exert
their irritating power during sleep. The
most frequent causes of these arc a slight fe
ver, or a hearty meal of onions, sausages or
strong meats before sleep. Tins is the same
kind of operation on the organs of sense as
some deliria in fever. The cause operating
as before observed, produces a febrile action
in the fibres of tire system generally, but op
erating only in a small degree, is not capa
ble of producing its wanted hallucination du
ring the presence of volition ; hut as soon
as this faculty is lost in sleep, the irritation
lias tlie power of producing hallucinations of
this order. Let us now increase the degree
of fever three or four fold, and we find the
cause then sufficient to overcome, the power
of volition, and produce the same kind of
hallucination during the waking state.
Every one knows flic incongruity, and e.
ven distress of delirium in fever. Every
•me knows the distress of those dreams
which occur during the sleep of fevers, and
are nothing short of febrile delirium. The
trivial causes which produce them, having
been rendered competent thereto only in con,
sequence of. the power of volition not being
placed in opposition, but last in sleep. A few
also experience the effects of a preternatu
ral delight, and even ecstacy enjoyed in the
dreams qf some fevers and some of peculiar
constitutions after taking laudanum ; hut of
these I shall treat in their proper place.—
This order I shall divide into two genera.
Gen. l.—Somnia voluptari.it prater vatu,
rem. Utider this head I compriso all those
de ams which arc very delightful; but the
configurations c onstituting which are not the
direct nor reverse reiterations of any idea
before received ; but such as arc induced by
internal excitement, which takes the advan
tage of the absence of volition to produce
its effects. , ,
f recognize a case directly in point.—Mr.
15. S. of Petersburg, Ga. a gentleman about
40 years of age, of brilliant genius, hut with,
out tire advantages of a classical education,
had a small pleasant family consisting of a
w ife and two daughters, lie was attacked
with Rush’s synochoid state of fever. lie
conversed with unusual ratiocination during
the waking hours, which were only about
six or seven in twenty four. He was so de
lighted with bis dreams that in consequence
thereof he could not, be offended when awake
—but begged to be indulged in his reveries,
and embraced every opportunity of enjoying
them. Ilis dreams were.uniform as if at thq
time of going to sleep he actually entered
such an apartment as was indicated by those
dreams, lie imagined himself to be in a
most magnificent and splendid palace* a ce
lestial abode, his wife and daughters wero
angels, and all about him displayed to bis
senses in a must, exquisite and indiscribable
manner, the highest possible perfection of
felicity.
So moved were his features hy the ecstacy
he enjoyed that the bystanders could, by the
elevation of bis brow and the corrugation of
bis forehead, readily distinguish the engage
ment of his mind the exquisite grandeur of
the scenes it was contemplating, and its ex
ertion to comprehend- their excellence. So
exquisite were his enjoyments, and so pecu
liar in their nature, that lie complained du
ring the waking hours, that he knew
be should never enjoy in any other
state or condition so perfect .a degree of feli
city, and on this ground importuned against
tlie removal of tiis fever, not hut that he-
was sensible he could not survive many
weeks under the action thereof; but that lie
preferred a short life of exquisite bliss to a
long one irritated and rendered unhappy hy
the causes of tlie common state of mental
excitement He recovered and was till his
late decease sensible of the delight he expo-