176 SPECTRES OCCASIONED BY DISEASE. 



Narrative and jefls which had not the leafl: refemblance with thofe that ap- 

 remarks on peared before. Thefe piftures prefented themfelves without 



fpectres pro- : . , 



ducedbynervous interruption, as long as the cold fit of the fever lafted. They 

 indifpofition. became fainter as foon as I began to grow warm, and when 

 I was perfe6lly fo, all were gone. When the cold fit of the 

 fever was entirely paft, no more pictures appeared ; but if 

 on the next day I could again fee pictures when my eyes were 

 fhut, it was a certain fign that the cold lit was coming on. 

 I muft further obferve, that when I either think deeply on 

 a fubje6t, or write attentively, particularly when I have exert- 

 ed myfelf for fome time, a thought frequently offers itfel* 

 which has no connexion with the work before me, and this 

 at times in a manner fo very lively, that it feems as if ex- 

 preffed in a6tual words. 



This natural vivacity of imagination renders it lefs wonder- 

 ful, that after a violent commotion of mind, a number of 

 delufive pidures fliould appear for feveral weeks in fucccflion. 

 Their leaving me on the application of leeches, Ihews clearly 

 that fome anomaly in the circulation of the blood was con- 

 neded with the appearance of thofe phanlafms; though it 

 may perhaps be too hafty a conclufion to feek for their ca,ufe 

 in that alone. It feems likewife remarkable, that the be- 

 ginning of the apparitions, after the difturbance in my mind 

 was fettled, as well as the alteration which took place when 

 they finally left me, happened exadly at the time when 

 digeftion commenced. It is no lefs remarkable, that the ap- 

 paritions before they entirely ceafed, loft their intenfity of 

 colours ; and that they did not vanifti or change as formerly, 

 but feemed gradually to diflblve into air. 



Had I not been able to diftinguifli phantafms from pheno- 

 mena, I muft have been infane. Had I been fanatic or fu- 

 perftitious, I ftiould have been terrified at my own phantafms, 

 and probably might have been feized with fome alarming 

 diforder. Had I been attached to the marvellous, I fhould 

 have fought to magnify my own importance, by alTerting that 

 I had feen fpirits ; and who could have difputed the fafts with 

 me? The year 1791 would perhaps have been the time to 

 have given importance to thefe apparitions. In this cafe 

 however, the advantage of found philofophy, and der«berate 

 obfervation may be feen. Both prevented me from becoming 

 either a lunatic or anenthnfiaftj with nerves fo ftrongly ex- 

 cited 



