Seven lectures on somnambulism, tr., with a preface, intr. [&c.] by J.C. Colquhoun1845 |
Common terms and phrases
acquire affected animal magnetism appear ARNOLD WIENHOLT attention awake become blind persons body brain capable catalepsy cerebral circumstances clairvoyant closed colours completely consider continued deprived diseases Doctor Dr FORBES eminent entirely epigastrium exercise existence experiments explain external objects extraordinary eye-lids eyes facts faculty farther feeling fingers frequently functions ganglionic hearing hitherto hypothesis ideas imagination impressions individuals influence instances investigation Isis Revelata ject knowledge learned lecture light Magnetismus magnetists manifested manner matter means merely MERISM Mesmerism mind motions nambulists nature nerves nervous system nomena observed operations opinion optic nerve ordinary organic ether patient peculiar perceive performed pheno phenomenon philosophical phrenology physician physiology possess present principle produced pupil racter reality reason recognised regard remarkable retina scepticism sensations sense sensibility sensitive organs sight sleep somnambulism somnambulist soul stimulus theory thing tion tism truth usual vision visual perceptions waking whole WIENHOLT
Popular passages
Page 17 - We have reason to believe, that the Supreme Being perceives every thing in a much more perfect manner than we do, without bodily organs. We have reason to believe, that there are other created beings endowed with powers of perception more perfect and more extensive than ours, without any such organs as we find necessary.
Page 48 - ... to be engaged at the commencement of the paroxysm, and finished his business with as great ease and success as when awake. When the fit overtook him in travelling, he proceeded on his journey with the same facility, and almost faster than when awake, without missing the road or stumbling over any thing.
Page 48 - He passed over it regularly without injury ; and with equal dexterity he avoided the horses and carriages that came in his way. At another time, he was overtaken by sleep just as he was about to set out for Weimar on horseback. He rode through the river lime, allowed his horse to drink, and drew up his legs to prevent them...
Page 51 - In reading over the passage, he changed the word 'divin' into ' adorable.' Observing however that the pronoun 'ce' could not stand before the word 'adorable,' he added to it the letter t. In order to ascertain whether the somnambulist made any use of his eyes, the archbishop held a piece of pasteboard under his chin, to prevent him from seeing the paper upon which he was writing; but he continued to write on, without being apparently incommoded in the slightest degree.
Page 95 - Spallanzani, and repeated by eminent philosophic naturalists, demonstrate that the bat, when blinded, regulates its motions in the same manner as when it has full possession of its eyes. " Completely blinded bats were not in the slightest degree obstructed in their motions. They flew about by night or by day with their wonted ease and rapidity, avoiding all obstacles which lay, or were intentionally placed in their way, as dextrously as if in full possession of their sight.
Page 50 - Medea, laid the sheet in a proper situation, before him, and having found the appropriate key, he played the whole piece, with his usual skill, upon the harpsichord. In the same manner he also played one of Bach's Sonatas, and gave the most expressive passages with surprising effect. One of the persons present turned the notes upside down : This he immediately perceived, and when he recommenced playing, he replaced the sheet in its proper position.
Page 95 - ... as if in full possession of their sight. They turned round at the right time when they approached a wall, rested in a convenient situation when fatigued, and struck against nothing.
Page 49 - ... he very dexterously contrived to evade it. He gathered together all the clothes he could find in the room, mixed them together, then separated them carefully, and hung them up, each article...
Page 150 - Gassendi's somnambulists used to rise and dress himself in his sleep, go down to the cellar and draw wine from a cask. He appeared to see in the dark as well as in a clear day ; but when he awoke, either in the street or cellar, he was obliged to grope and feel his way back to his bed. He always answered his wife as if awake, but in the morning recollected nothing of what had passed.
Page 17 - We have reason to believe, that when we put off these bodies, and all the organs belonging to them, our perceptive powers shall rather be improved than destroyed or impaired.