408 SPECTRES ORIGINATE IN PAST EVENTS. 



perhaps occur that it is very doubtful if, among the awful solemnities of 

 the other world, the fashions ever vary. Let us pause before we carry 

 the vanities of life beyond the grave. 



From such reflections as the preceding, I think it may therefore be 

 concluded that there are two sources from which spectral appearances are 

 derived : 1st. Disturbance of the retina, which presents masses of light 

 and shade or colors to the mind, and these are worked by the fancy into 

 definite forms on the same principle that we figure to ourselves pictures 

 of faces among glowing embers. This constitutes retinal insanity. 2d. 

 Gradual emergence from the registering ganglia of the brain of old im- 

 pressions, which are rendered as intense and distinct as contemporaneous 

 sensations. The two forms may, however, coexist. Of the latter, I may 

 observe that the views of Dr. Hibbert, in his work on Apparitions, appear 

 to me to approach nearer to the truth than those of any other author. It 

 will be perceived, however, after perusing his interesting book, that I. have 

 not laid the stress he has done on the mechanical influence of the circu- 

 lation of the blood, but view the effect as of a more purely nervous kind. 



As the emergence of old images which have been registered in the op- 

 tic thalami is not only connected with the physiological explanations we 

 have given of the functions of the brain, but also occurs under circum- 

 stances of such singularity as to border upon the supernatural, we may 

 pursue the consideration of it a little farther. It may, I think, be broad- 

 Alls ectrala ^ asser ^ e( l that all spectral appearances refer to things that 

 pearances refer are past, persons who are dead, events which have taken 

 place, scenes that we have visited ; or, if we have not seen 

 the actual reality, then pictures, statues, or other such representations 

 thereof. It has never yet occurred that any one has seen a phantom the 

 indications of the bodily presence or representation of which, until that 

 moment, he had never known. Thus, in the Middle Ages, the spectres 

 of African negroes were common enough, but no man ever witnessed one 

 of an American Indian, yet these, in their turn, prevailed after the voy- 

 age of Columbus. They were no strangers to the early colonial settlers. 

 The same may be said of all kinds of inanimate objects. 



As illustrating the manner in which impressions of the past may 

 . emerge from the registering ganglia, I shall here famish an 

 the emergence instance which borders closely upon the supernatural, and 

 lions i a.*' ^ a ^7 represents the most marvelous of these psychological 

 etition of phenomena. It occurred to a physician, who related it in 

 my hearing to a circle whose conversation had turned on the 

 subject of personal fear. " What you are saying," he remarked, " may 

 be very true, but I can assure you that the sentiment of fear, in its ut- 

 most degree, is much less common than you suppose ; and, though you 

 may be surprised to hear me say it, I know from personal experience that 



