398 Analogy between Dreaming and Idiotism 



co-operateil in the labours of llie IVJeri- 

 dian, WHS the nejihevv and pupil of the 

 first Cassiui, whom he esteemed as a 

 second paient, and for wiiom heevuicpd 

 his sense of gratitude by directing tlic 

 first studies of Cassini de Tliury. 



"The Cassinis (sajs M. Merlin, in 

 his conclusion,) are the creators of maps 

 on a grand and extensive scale. As 

 such, they should be considered as be- 

 ing for matiiematical geography what 

 D'Anville was for historical and critical 

 geograpiiy, Vaubnn lor military engi- 

 neers, BuQon for natural history, La- 

 voisier for chemistry, and Gaspard 

 Mongc for descriptive geometry." 



For the Monthly Magazine. 



NOTES on the ANALOGY between DKEAM- 



ING and IDIOTISM.* 



I. 



THE analogy between dreaming and 

 idiotistn may appear, at first sight, 

 to be one of those vague and visionary 

 tlieories which em|)Ioy the mind of an 

 idle man, and which can only be sup- 

 ported by ambiguous arguments and 

 unmeaning sophistry ; but, on a more 

 deliberate examination of the properties 

 of each, vve shall find, I think, that there 

 is a striking similarity between them 

 both. 



II. 



To discover this, it will be necessary, 

 1st. To consider and point out the attri- 

 butes of the mind in its sound and 

 beallhy state ; and 2dly. To describe 

 ils condition when influenced by idiotism 

 and sleep. This I shall do as concisely 

 as possible; first premising, that by the 

 word idiotism I mean that state of the 

 mind only which a])proaches to insanity, 

 or, in other words, a mere imbecility of 

 the mental faculties. 

 III. 



Tiie great leading faculties of the 

 mind may be thus simply pourtrayed : 

 — Reason, by which we distinguish be- 

 tween good and evil, calculate future 

 consequences, and discern the fitness of 

 things. 



Perception, — By wliirh ideas and the 



* These Notes are to be considered 

 merely as hints for a more elaborate work, 

 (on the same subject,) which the author 

 lias in contemplation. The subject was 

 suggested by some very interesting con- 

 versation which he had with a gentleman 

 of uo mean repute in the scientific world, 

 but whose name he is not at liberty to 

 mention : he may observe, however, that 

 he has frequently contributed to the pages 

 of the Monthly Magazine. 



[June If 



knowledge of things, or of separate 

 existences, are received through the 

 medium of the senses. 



Memory, — By which impressions 

 already received are retained in the 

 mind. 



Association, — By which the impres- 

 sions and images received are connected 

 together, and called into action. 



Judgment, — Ry which we compare, 

 weigh, and determine, between contra- 

 rieties. 



Imagination, — By which we conceive 

 and create new combinations of images. 



Volition or will, — The presiding, di- 

 recting, and governing, power of the 

 mind, which, though not able actually 

 to prevent the admission of ideas and 

 impressions, can determine and regu- 

 late the attention towards them when 

 received; suppressing it towards those 

 that are painful, and continuing it to- 

 wards those that are agreeable. 



IV. 



To enjoy a perfect mastery over our 

 thoughts, we must possess these facul- 

 ties in a greater or less degree ; but it is 

 a deprivation or a suspension of the fa- 

 culty of volition or will, which more 

 immediately induces insanity; and it is 

 precisely the absence of this regulating 

 power, which occasions that peculiar 

 state of mind denominated dreaming. 

 A sound and healthy sleeper cannot 

 govern his mind while sleeping ; the 

 most absurd and incongruous ideas are 

 admitted, and followed up, without the 

 power, and fieqnently without the will, 

 of preventing their admission or subse- 

 quent concatenation. It is precisely 

 the same with him whose mind is unset- 

 tled by old age, by bodily infirmity, and 

 perhaps by care aufl niuiancholy. An 

 idea, having no relation to immediately 

 existing circumstances, enters his mind, 

 is retained there, harped upon, and fol- 

 lowed up, till it becomes completely 

 exhausted, or till the individual has 

 become conscious of his absurd wan- 

 dering. 



V. 



If there be any particular state of 

 mental imbecility, which bears the 

 greatest affinity to dreaming, it is that 

 which characterizes extreme old age, or 

 that period of life which has been termed 

 superannuation, or second childhood. 

 The mind appears to have lost all its 

 vigor and elasticity ; entertaining, — just 

 as it docs in dreams, — the most erro- 

 neous and ridiculous ideas of time and 

 place, and passing events. It has, in- 

 deed; its lucid intervals, and so has the 

 dreamer ; 



