100 DREAMS AND DELUSIONS. 



in the waking as in the sleeping state, with, and by the use 

 of, the senses and consciousness, as in their absence. This 

 subject reopens in the first place the difference between 

 sane and insane, sen serial and other delusions. 



Just as in man, then, all delusions in the lower animals 

 are not to be regarded as necessarily insane, the result of, or 

 connected with, disease, mental or cerebral. On the contrary, 

 there are in both cases sane, as well as insane ones, the for- 

 mer distinguished as a rule by 



1 . Their temporary, or transient character. 



2. Their corrigibility, or dissipation, by the use of the 

 senses and judgment ; and 



3. Their not leading to insanity of action or behaviour. 



4. The absence of other indications of mental dis- 

 turbance. 



5. Their coexistence with, practically, perfect bodily 

 health. 



The difference between the two kinds of delusion sane 

 and insane, temporary and permanent, corrigible and in- 

 corrigible may be illustrated by the following very common 

 incident, familiar to all riders on horseback. A nervous, 

 high-bred and high-spirited horse, while trotting quietly 

 along some familiar enough turnpike in the twilight, or 

 about dusk, all at once becomes restive, pricks his ears, stops 

 and looks forward with a gaze and manner that indicate to 

 his rider, if intelligent and experienced, the near presence 

 of something, or some person or animal, that inspires in 

 his horse suspicion, or dread, causing it to become startled. 

 The dreaded object proves, perhaps, to be simply a bit of 

 white paper, moving fitfully, and with a slight rustling 

 sound, before a gentle breeze. 



If the rider is sympathetic, humane and judicious, as 

 well as intelligent and experienced, he will soothe the 

 frightened timid animal, encourage it, give it due time to 

 realise its true position, and to distinguish between real and 

 apparent danger. He will probably as I myself have done 

 under such circumstances at once dismount, pat the horse, 

 talk to it, and lead it gently and slowly up to the fluttering 

 piece of paper, on which he will place his foot and rub it there- 



