Observations on trance, or, Human hybernation [sic] / by James Braid.

Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on trance, or, Human hybernation [sic] / by James Braid. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    tlic subject in which they are for the time interested, wliich vvouhl he inappreciable to them in their ordi- nary waking condition, together with the amazing quickness with which they catch suggestions from questions asked, or observations made within the range of their quickened hearing at the proper stage of the sleep, and the acuteness of the reasoning power, quickened memory, and vivid imagination in that state of mental concentration, excitement, and self- confidence, we can easily perceive why they may be enabled intellectually to arrive at striking results occasionally, far beyond the waking capabi- lities of the same individuals; just as extraordinary feats are accomplished occasionally in dreams (even without many of the above recited aids), of which we have many interesting and undoubted examples re- corded. Nor should we overlook the tendency of the human mind in those with a. great love of the marvellous, to interpret the slightest approach to a correspondence in their replies into a literal descrip- tion of their own mental impressions (as many do in interpreting ordinary dreams), and even, uninten- tionally, to give slight aids to the sleeper, who is very quick to drink in and profitably to digest the slightest suggestion, such as even from the tone of voice of parties around; as is every day done to a consi- derable extent, and with wonderful success in many cases by those wide-awake clairvoyants ca\]edfortune- tellers. In the one case as in the other, questions put suggest corresponding answers, and these again suggest fresh questions, and the tone of voice, looks and gestures of parties engaged in this sort of Canning's game, (at which he undertook to tell, at twenty guesses, anything which any one should think of), form wonderful assistance in ultimately ariiving at an apparently satisfactory result. That an exaltation of functions or faculties which we all possess in a minor degree when awake, may take place during this sleep in the manner explained.
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