252 ROUGH WA VS MADE SMOOTH. 



visions which passed before her mind. They made her 

 waking hours more delightful than those passed in sleep. 

 It is evident that these visions had their origin in the 

 processes of change affecting the substance of the brain as 

 the disease of the body progressed. But it does not follow 

 that the substance of the brain was undergoing changes 

 necessarily tending to its ultimate decay and dissolution. 

 Quite possibly the changes were such as might occur under 

 the influence of suitable medicinal or stimulant substances, 

 and without any subsequent ill effects. Dr. Richardson, in 

 an interesting article on ether-drinking and extra-alcoholic 

 intoxication ( Gentlemaris Magazine for October), makes a 

 remark which suggests that the medical men of our day 

 look forward to the discovery of means for obtaining some 

 such influence over the action of the brain. After describ- 

 ing the action of methylic and ethylic ethers in his own 

 case, he says : ' They who have felt this condition, who 

 have lived as it were in another life, however transitorily, 

 are easily led to declare with Davy that "nothing exists but 

 thoughts ! the universe is composed of impressions, ideas, 

 pleasures, and pains ! " I believe it is so, and that we might 

 by scientific art, and there is such an art, learn to live alto- 

 gether in a new sphere of impressions, ideas, pleasures, and 

 pains.' ' But stay,' he adds, as if he had said too much, 

 * I am anticipating, unconsciously, something else that is in 

 my mind. The rest is silence ; I must return to the world 

 in which we now live, and which all know.' 



Mr. Butterworth mentions the case of the Rev. William 

 Tennent, of Freehold, New Jersey, as illustrative of strange 

 mental faculties possessed during disease. Tennent was 

 supposed to be far gone in consumption. At last, after a 

 protracted illness, he seemingly died, and preparations were 

 made for his funeral. Not only were his friends deceived, 

 but he was deceived himself, for he thought he was dead, 

 and that his spirit had entered Paradise. * His soul, as he 

 thought, was borne aloft to celestial altitudes, and was 

 enraptured by visions of God and all the hosts of Heaven. 



