98 DREAMS AND DELUSIONS. 



ness, perhaps of objects that in the normal state of waking 

 would inspire dread; firmness; and composure or coolness in 

 emergency perhaps from non-realisation of the presence or 

 nature of danger. The somnambulistic watch-dog prowls 

 in search of imaginary strangers or foes, and exhibits 

 towards them a whole series of pantomimic actions, in- 

 cluding some of those which it displays in its dreams 

 such as barking (Guer). 



Pierquin regards, and with perfect propriety, the dis- 

 tinction between dreaming and somnambulism as artificial. 

 They are to be distinguished, perhaps, simply by the different 

 forms or degrees of the accompanying bodily activity ; for 

 we have already seen that in ordinary dreaming, certain 

 forms or degrees of bodily movement occur. Both are 

 conditions, or results, of disordered sleep. 



According to Pierquin, nightmare, too, occurs among the 

 lower animals. As in other disorders of sleep, there may 

 here be murmurs, cries, gestures or actions, tremor or other 

 forms of motor or muscular disturbance. 



Nor are the psychical phenomena of the half-waking, 

 half-sleeping state of the condition in which such an animal 

 as the dog is placed when suddenly aroused or awakened 

 from thorough, or disturbed sleep, unworthy of consideration 

 here. The phenomena in question are in all respects 

 peculiar, though they vary in character with the character 

 of the animal, the degree of soundness of its repose, the 

 nature of its dreams, the suddenness of its awakening, the 

 nature of its surroundings on being aroused, or other cir- 

 cumstances. Usually there is more or less mental bewilder- 

 ment, with a tendency to morbid fear and irascibility. The 

 animal is apt to be 'roused' in more senses than one : it is 

 liable, or likely, to confound friend and foe, and to attack, or 

 flee from both, according to its natural disposition. 



In exceptional cases, there is developed on the moment 

 a kind or degree of excitement, of the nature of delirium 

 or mania, or amounting to ferocity or furiosity, all more or 

 less dangerous to man as well as to other animals. And it is 

 probable that some sort of conviction that such dangers are 

 always liable to arise from the violent, sudden awakening 



