1878.] 
A New Theory of Trance . 
S3 
hypothesis of concentration of cerebral activity ; those 
senses and faculties that belong to the entirely inactive 
regions of the brain must be for the time practically dead, 
as is found to be the case in some forms of trance. Thus 
the sealing of some of the special senses, and general 
anaesthesia, making it possible to perform without causing 
pain certain surgical operations, are accounted for. 
Seventhly, — That this hypothesis explains all the familiar 
physical symptoms of trance, such as flushing of the face, 
fixity of position, sighing respiration, accelerated pulse, 
involuntary convulsive movements, and marvellous and 
numberless hysteroid sensations. 
The effedfs of trance on the pulse and respiration, and on 
the circulation in general, are, according to Dr. Beard, what 
would be expeCted from the known inter-dependence of mind 
and body. The quite recently established faCt of the existence 
of definite centres of muscular motion in the brain, how- 
ever the faCt may be interpreted, is of great significance in 
its bearings on this subject, since it shows clearly why con- 
vulsions so frequently accompany trance. The aphorism 
that when we think we move was based on our knowledge 
of the existence of these centres of muscular motion in 
that portion of the surface of the brain that is regarded as 
the seat of some of the mental faculties, and was first sug- 
gested to him while repeating the experiments of Hitzig 
and Ferrier in the electrical irritation of the brains of 
animals. 
Eighthly, — That this hypothesis accounts for the illusions 
and hallucinations of trance. 
Illusions, delusions, and hallucinations are, as is esta- 
blished, the products of cerebral activity, and are frequently 
the symptoms of some abnormal state of the brain. There 
is no proof that any other part of the body than the brain, 
as the spinal cord or nerves, can originate hallucinations, 
any more than there is proof that any other part of the body 
can originate the higher modes of conscious thought — all 
the faCts and arguments that serve to establish that the 
brain is the organ of the mind in health, also establish that 
it is the organ of the mind in disease. For while automatic 
aCts, as nursing and so forth, maybe manifested by brainless 
infants, and while the spinal cord clearly contains centres 
of reflex aCtion, yet there is no proof that any conscious 
thought, of the higher kind at least, attends the activity of 
these reflex centres, any more than in the familiar automatic 
movements of plants. The hallucinations of trance — the 
visions of heaven and other innumerable fancies — must 
