Account of a singular Connsuhive Affection. 95 



silent exercises, they know every thing that is passing 

 about them. They also say, that their mental facul- 

 ties, during the paroxysms, are preternaturally active 

 and strong, particularly the judgment and the memo- 

 ry : that the latter is so much so, that almost every 

 transaction of their past lives crowds in review in the 

 mind, especially the transactions of a vicious kind. 

 But it is probable, that the agency of the luill, during 

 these periods, is much weakened, and, perhaps, in some 

 cases, entirely suspended. This conjecture is strength- 

 ened by the fact, that when a person is in the silent 

 exercise, if a pin or a needle be introduced through 

 the skin, it will cause no emotion or complaint, but 

 will produce the sensation of pain. Is it possible that 

 this can arise from a temporary disunion of some un- 

 known animal fluid ? If so, there must (regularly) be 

 a stronger connection between mind and matter than 

 is generally supposed. However, this point must be 

 left to be decided between the metaphysician and the 

 materialist. 



I do not know, that any applications have been made 

 for medical assistance, in these affections. Yet I know 

 one young man who lost blood for it, and the exercise 

 left him. But whether the discontinuance took place 

 from the bleeding, or from the circumstance of his 

 non-attendance on religious societies, is uncertain. 



I am, Sir, your's, &.c. 



John Wilkinson. 

 Maryoille fTenesseeJ, April I8tb, 1805. 



To Mr. William Maclin. 



