REGISTERED IMPRESSIONS. 413 



ties, was almost immediately produced. I felt a sense of tangible exten- 

 sion, highly pleasurable, in every limb. My visible impressions were 

 dazzling and apparently magnified. I heard distinctly every sound in 

 the room, and was perfectly aware of my situation. By degrees, as 

 the pleasurable sensation increased, I lost all connection with external 

 things ; trains of vivid visible images rapidly passed through my mind, 

 and were connected with words in such a manner as to produce sensa- 

 tions perfectly novel. I existed in a world of newly-connected and 

 newly-modified ideas. When I was awakened from this semi-delirious 

 trance by Dr. Kinglake, who took the bag from my mouth, indignation 

 and pride were the first feelings produced by the sight of the persons 

 about me. My emotions were enthusiastic and sublime, and for a mo- 

 ment I walked round the room perfectly regardless of what was said to 

 me. As I recovered my former state of mind, I felt an inclination to 

 communicate the discoveries I had made during the experiment. I en- 

 deavored to recall the ideas ; they were feeble and indistinct. One rec- 

 ollection of terms, however, presented itself, and with the most intense 

 belief and prophetic manner I exclaimed to Dr. Kinglake, ' Nothing ex- 

 ists but thoughts ; the universe is composed of impressions, ideas, pleas- 

 ures, and pains.'" 



In like manner, the intoxication that arises from alcohol has two dis- 

 tinct stages, depending on entirely different phases of its chemical action. 

 At first there is an exaltation of effects, because of the increased function- 

 al activity established ; but this, after a time, is succeeded by a dullness, 

 or even stupefaction, attributable to the impression which the carbonic 

 acid arising from the oxidation of the alcohol is making upon the nerv- 

 ous centres. 



By two different methods, therefore, ancient impressions TWO methods of 

 may be equalized, as respects intensity, with new sensations, equalization of 



r - / ,1 r i T .ii /*> , / old impressions 



The vigor of the former may be increased, or the effect of and existing 

 the latter diminished. sensations. 



Equalized in any way in their force, the mind is ready to confound its 

 own ideas and external forms together. A cause which, perhaps, might 

 seem to be trivial, fastens the attention, and at once a solitary form, or 

 even the machinery of a long drama, emerges. It is no more possible for 

 us to say why the thought runs in one course rather than another, and 

 lays hold of image after image in succession, than we can foretell the 

 way of a spark that moves darkling, on the ashes of a piece of burned pa- 

 per. Yet it too runs in connected lines. 



No better evidence can be given that the images we are speaking of 

 are impressions of past events registered in the brain, and which gain 

 the power of drawing upon themselves the attention of the mind, either 

 by their assuming an unwonted intensity, or by the diminution of the in- 



