100 Rev. James Wi ts on accidental Association. 
but, in point of reality, it is easy to ascertain that the change is not in the struc- 
ture of the mind; which, if we could imagine it translated into a different system 
of external existence, would be found as young and fresh, in point of memory, as 
in its earliest years. This may be illustrated by the case of the traveller, whose 
observation is forcibly impressed by new combinations. Thus, then, while in 
ordinary life occurrences lose their distinctive character, and every thing becomes 
less memorable, because it is less peculiar, other and more advanced instrumen- 
talities are substituted. From the same principle it arises, that there are recol- 
lections retained from childhood which survive all others; they contain elements 
which, having no existence in reality, cannot be mixed up in the patchwork of 
common life; they are associations sw? generis, and contain a principle of perma- 
nence, which preserves them until all thoughts and feelings are passed away. 
It has been frequently noticed by physiological writers, that in cases of mental 
derangement, somnambulism, and, I may add, dreaming, the péculiar manifesta- 
tions of the mind appear subject to a very curious law. These manifestations are 
observed to pass away with the state from which they have their rise, so entirely 
as to leave no trace on the memory, and in such a manner as if the person affected - 
had undergone a total change of identity. Now, if this be true, as I think it to 
be (with certain exceptions, unnecessary to notice here), it is easy to perceive 
with what curious accuracy it would follow as a result from the present statement; 
for a very slight consideration will make it appear, that most of the cases here 
referred to, are such as to exclude the very cause on which memory depends. 
First, so far as they are to be ascribed to causes purely physical, of which the 
effect is to induce some intellectual deviation from all the states connected with 
reality, or to operate illusively on the senses or the apprehension. In all such 
cases, however modified, it is evident that it is not likely, when the diseased state 
shall have passed, that any element of the illusion will remain. Cases can be 
indeed supposed, where this rule would not apply very clearly, but even if such 
be supposed, there is still reason to infer that the hallucination in its nature most 
nearly resembling common occurrence, would be forgotten, so far as it has no 
actual comptss of reality to which it can be referred. Whatever may be 
abstractedly possible, in point of fact there will mostly remain no association. 
But if we assume that, after an interval of sanity, the previous state of disease 
should return, it is equally apparent that the same combination of elements may 
arise, and that, in consequence, there will appear an unbroken continuity of exist- 
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