SOME RELATIONS OP MIND AND BODY. 17S 



sleep." The Will says that all the structures of the body shall be 

 placed under conditions of rest. The heart's pulsations are 

 reduced in frequency, the output of blood from the heart is 

 lessened, and the arteries, especially in certain regions, eon- 

 tract by the active agency of the nerves (vaso-motor) which are 

 distributed to their muscular walls. It is proved that in sleep 

 the brain becomes paler than the normal. The nutrient supply 

 to the cerebral hemispheres is almost cut off, but a sufficient 

 circulation is maintained in the medulla oblongata and its 

 neighbouring parts, where are the roots of origin of the vagus 

 nerve which regulates the automatic rhythmical processes of 

 respiration and circulation. In dreamless sleep the cerebral 

 cortex and the higher centres are at rest, whilst in the apparatus 

 of mere animal life the activities are maintained by a sufficient 

 circulation therein. In dreams there are intermittent relaxations 

 of the arterioles in certain areas, so that the nerve-cells in these 

 are incited to activity. In mesmerism and hypnotism these 

 activities are invoked by the impressions made through the sense 

 of vision by the hypnotiser : there is a condition of artificial 

 insanity which should be condemned as an outrage on mental 

 health. 



Dr. Schofield in his paper has given many instances of the 

 influence of predominant ideas on the condition of sub-conscious- 

 ness ; whilst the greater part of the cerebral hemisphere is 

 f unctionless from imperfect blood supply ; the nutrition in 

 certain areas is sufficient for the production of thought and 

 action. In trance the circulation in the cerebral hemispheres 

 is practically at a standstill, life being maintained by a sufficient 

 blood supply to the medulla oblongata. The human being is in* 

 the condition of a hybernating animal. The state of trance may 

 be induced by the hypnotist, but it is one of danger, and an 

 emphatic protest ought to be entered against tlie senseless 

 exhibitions of trance which have lately been perpetrated. How 

 dangerous they may be is shown by the well known example of 

 Colonel Townsend, who, by his own will, could put himself into 

 such a condition that the pulse and heart-beats were rendered 

 imperceptible. He performed the experiments too successfully — 

 he died in one of them. It will be inferred from what I have 

 said that I regard the physical causes of the phenomena of 

 unconsciousness (within the limits I have mentioned, for I have 

 said nothing- about the effects of diseased states and the results of 



