32 



JOUENAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 



hours usually allotted to sleep, and when there is a direct transition 

 from the one condition to the other without an intermediate sleep, 

 two separate existences appear to alternate, and this is spoken of 

 as double consciousness. The term is, however, misapplied, inas- 

 much as only one of these existences is a natural one, the other 

 being due to a morbid condition capable of removal. 



The passage from the consideration of natural somnambulism to 

 artificial somnambulism or mesmerism was shown to be a natural 

 one, seeing that the chief distinction between the two lies in the 

 mode of their production. Mesmerism had been known during 

 many centuries, but was first scientifically studied during the 

 latter part of the last century, and the early part of this. Any 

 means by which the attention could he strongly attracted was 

 proved to be capable of producing the mesmeric condition, various 

 manipulations, known as passes, being those most commonly and 

 most easily applied. Those who possess high nervous suscepti- 

 bilities were shown to be most readily mesmerized, whilst it was 

 impossible to reduce many of strong will and character to that 

 condition. The various phenomena produced by mesmerism were 

 divided into three stages ; first, the soothing stage, in which gentle 

 sleep is produced ; secondly, the noisy or talkative stage ; thirdly, 

 that of complete insensibility. The close accordance between 

 these results and those produced by chloroform was noticed. The 

 second or talkative stage presented certain peculiarities worthy of 

 consideration; namely, the extraordinary exaltation of some of 

 the senses, and particularly the muscular sense. This latter was 

 so highly exalted in many cases, that mere arrangement of the 

 muscles would excite corresponding emotions. The emotion of 

 pride, for instance, by straightening the muscles of the back and 

 raising the head; the emotion of humility, by curving the body 

 forwards. During the third stage the insensibility was so profound 

 as to permit severe surgical operations to be performed without 

 any evidence of pain being produced. 



The effect of directing the attention to any portion of the body, 

 or to any particular organ, was then discussed, and it was found 

 that not only was it capable of producing peculiar sensations of 

 temperature and tingling, but, if long continued, actual structural 

 changes. The numerous instances in every- day life of involuntary 

 imitation were referred to, and the extreme difiiculty in controlling 

 or preventing them even by an exercise of the will. The principle 



