PERCEPTIONAL INSANITIES. 763 



4 



sion of the " unpardonable sin," and contracted the idea that she has 

 no bowels. 



As hallucinations of sight often exist while the eyes are closed, or 

 in persons who are totally blind, so hallucinations of hearing continue 

 though the ears be stopped, or originate in persons who are entirely 

 deaf. A deaf-mute who came to my clinique at the University Medi- 

 cal College was constantly subject to hallucinations of hearing. It is 

 said that in the last years of his life Beethoven became completely 

 deaf, but that he heard his compositions as distinctly as when he actu- 

 ally listened to them when performed by an orchestra. 



Hallucinations of hearing, like those of sight, are sometimes uni- 

 lateral that is, heard by only one ear. Baillarger cites several exam- 

 ples of the kind. 



Calmet gives some interesting details relative to hallucinations. 



In one case a M. de S entered his study one afternoon, and, turning 



toward the door to go to his bedroom again, was much surprised to 

 see it shut and barricade itself with the two bolts that belonged to it. 

 At the same time the doors of a large press opened behind him and 

 rather darkened his study, because the window which was open was 



behind these doors. " At this sight the fright of M. de S is more 



easy to imagine than to describe ; however, he had sufficient calmness 

 left to hear, in his left ear, a distinct voice, which spoke to him in very 

 good terms, and ordered him to do some one particular thing which he 

 was commanded to keep secret." 



Hallucinations of smell, though not so common as those of sight 

 and hearing, are yet often met with. A gentleman of my acquaint- 

 ance was almost constantly subject to the hallucination of smelling 

 paint or turpentine; another had the odor of coffee ever present in his 

 nostrils; and another, a physician, was always annoyed with the smell 

 of the dissecting-room. It is well known that some epileptic seizures 

 are preceded by the sensation of a horrible stench. 



Hallucinations of taste are not common. Indeed, it is sometimes 

 difficult to say whether they exist or not, as various visceral irregular- 

 ities may cause the production of tastes by modifications impressed 

 upon the saliva. Mental excitement will cause a like effect in some 

 persons. I am acquainted with a gentleman who can not participate in 

 any engrossing conversation without having a bitter taste developed in 

 his mouth. 



Hallucinations of the sense of touch are, on the other hand, very 

 frequently met with. Sensations apparently not based on any real 

 impression are experienced in various parts of the body. It is diffi- 

 cult, however, to discriminate between illusions and hallucinations of 

 touch. 



Occasionally persons have the power of voluntarily producing hal- 

 lucinations. A practice fraught with danger, for the time is apt to 

 come at which they can not get rid of their false perceptions. As an 



