of these may be clearly traced to this source, it is not unfair to infer, that certain others, which have usually been ascribed to spiritual agency, may properly be ascribed to a similar disease of structure.

The slightest congestion in the vessels of the brain, may occasion an alteration in the manifestations of mind.

The perversion of the latter is increased in proportion to the deepening shades of the former.

Hence, certain other morbid states, besides that of congestion, may occasion other deviations from healthy manifestation, and may perhaps account for visions, spectral illusions, apparitions, &c.

Cerebral disorder is marked by feebleness, or perversion, or suspension of the correct information afforded by the organs of sense.

Cerebral disorder is sometimes accompanied by the excessive susceptibility, and morbid creations of these sentinels of the body: hence, the frequency of sensorial illusion.

In this state of disturbance, originates mental hallucination: the perverted image is brooded over, and recalled, and associated in various ways, till its reality seems undeniable, and till the patient is carried away by its impulse.

At other times, similar hallucinations are found, as the result of antecedent impressions, and their associated groupes; and these also are invested with all the air of truth and reality.

In this state, actual feelings are disregarded; while the morbid images supply their place, and really seem to be the positive results of sensation; and they thus gain the supremacy over the reasoning

brain is peculiarly favourable to the production of morbid sensorial and intellectual impressions, and easily glides into a more formidable state of disease.

Cerebral disorder is accompanied by certain deviations from the usual manners and habits of the individual: he is not the same creature, but is commonly absorbed by one dominant idea.

Moral causes, especially powerful mental emotion, will often produce cerebral disorder; and this being originated, there will follow deepening and more multiplied morbid`manifestations, till the patient, becoming decidedly insane, ceases to be an accountable agent.

Yet moral treatment, and all the high sanctions of religious motive, will be insufficient to remove cerebral disorder, unless other remedies be directed likewise to the brain, with all its associated sympathies.

This state of cerebral disorder, however originating in moral causes, and however impressed with a sacredness of character, from the high value and importance of religious motive and management, is yet accompanied with certain other bodily effects, which cannot with any semblance of truth be referred to any other than a bodily cause; such, for instance, as feebleness of the function of volition, palsy, various muscular irritations, and, above all, the expression of the countenance.

If these bodily effects can be easily traced to primary irritation of the brain, it must be remembered, that they will also operate a reflective influence upon that organ, and will place it in a situation peculiarly favourable to erroneous and perverted mental manifestations; and peculiarly liable to the development of all its morbid sympathies.

The intermittent, and remittent character of several of the maladies of the brain, cannot attach to the influence of a spiritual immaterial principle; and therefore they more clearly connect the morbid mani

festations of mind, with their organic medium.

Hence, cerebral disorder may be allowed to be capable of producing the perversion of mental manifestation, and of giving rise to those unreal images which have been termed apparitions.

Various causes produce diseased manifestations of mind; and first original malconformation will occasion idiotcy, in which there is an apparent obliteration of mental power; yet it cannot be believed for a moment, that the idiot has no soul.

So, in old age, the brain undergoes a change, which unfits it for mental operation; but surely the light of the spiritual principle is not extinguished; nor has its power become limited and diseased, just as it is approaching its transition from the veil of materiality, to the infinite brightness of unfading glory.

A similar obliteration of healthy cerebral function is produced by water on the brain.

Wounds of the brain will produce morbid symptoms of different, and even opposite characters, according to the precise portion of brainular structure which may have become the subject of injury; according as the brain shall be subjected to, or free from, the pressure of surrounding bone; according to the general shock which the brain may have received from the accident; according to the greater or less loss of blood at the moment, and the greater or less degree of congestion in its vessels; and according to the intensity of the subsequent reaction, and febrile constitutional irritation.

Concussion of the brain simply, is generally attended by a complete loss of power and of recollection, together with the abolition of all the energy and integrity of mental manifestation: carried to a certain length, death will ensue; but more frequently reaction takes place, and is attended by delirium, or insanity, the traces of which are com

monly to be found in the existence of perverted action, long after the first effects have ceased.

Compression of the brain will be attended with more or less alteration, and even abolition, of mental manifestation; but commonly dif fering in kind from the usual effects of concussion.

These symptoms of spiritual disturbance are sometimes instantly relieved by taking off the pressure; but at others, especially if inflammation shall have taken place, the return to perfect health is only through a lengthened series of perverted manifestations.

Fever will occasion large deviations from healthy brainular function; and this, too, differing according to the peculiar agency of the febrile morbific cause, in every instance attended by perverted mental manifestation.

Supposed visions are the frequent consequence of this state; persons and situations appearing either as they would do in reality, or associated with some erroneous attribute.

Hence, apparitions are traced under certain circumstances, to a bodily morbid cause.

But if this be granted, it can scarcely be denied, that other supernatural appearances may equally be referred to similar, or at least analogous, causes.

Local inflammation of a slow disorganizing character, attacking the brain, or its membranes, perverts or destroys the power of intellectual operation.

The whole class of nervous disorders contribute to impair, and, under extreme circumstances, to destroy the manifestations of mind.

Many of these may be effectually resisted by a powerful effort of the will, thus shewing the submission of the brain to the presiding spirit or mind.

The same consequence is deduced from the good effect of certain remedies upon the mental manifestations, and especially by the simple

action of cold; so totally inconsistent with all our ideas of spiritual

essence.

In hypochondriasis, in some instances, a primary effect is produced upon the brain, and, in others, that which is secondary, through the medium of the stomach; but the ultimate effect in both cases is purely cerebral. Mental causes will also produce the same disturbing effects. Here again, mental and bodily causes are found to produce the same consequences; they are originally of a distinct nature, and how can they produce identical effects, but by acting upon one intermediate organ, common to both, and capable alike of receiving impressions from body and mind. No other organ than the brain can occupy such a relative situation.

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The hypochondriac loses the power of the will over his mental manifestations: they are perverted, and present to the mind, images of the most unreal character:

Yet hypochondriasis is produced by primary or secondary irritation of the brain:

Therefore, irritation of the brain is the common accompaniment of these unreal images.

It is reasonable to infer, that irritation of the brain, which we know exists, is the cause of these unreal images, rather than to assume that it is some peculiar state of the spiritual principle, concerning the mode of whose real existence we can know nothing.

The hypochondriac hears voices, sees visions, is assailed by unearthly visitants, and receives admonitions; and, moreover, all these voices, visions, and revelations, are capable of being superseded, and swept away by medical treatment; a clear proof of their origin and tendency.

Hence, a certain state of the brain always occasions disordered manifestations of mind; and again, these have been traced back to functional diseases of the brain..

In both states, unreal and perverted images, even veritable appa

ritions, the offspring of brainular disturbance, are presented to the mind, with a degree of impressiveness, which is superior to that of reason, and which therefore supersedes its power, and annihilates the influence of judgment.

This view of the subject is confirmed by attending to the phenomena of sleep, and especially of its morbid states.

Sleep is not a state of absolute quiescence, of the negation, or even the suspension, of action: indeed, some organs appear to possess a greater degree of activity than usual, because, the intellectual function being less employed, a greater supply of nervous energy can be afforded without destroying the balance of constitutional power.

Thus is shewn the unwearied action of the brain during sleep, inasmuch as it gives off such an amount of nervous energy as shall be sufficient to maintain the activity and integrity of those functions.

But many of its intellectual manifestations are absolutely laid aside; and hence it should seem, that, as an intellectual organ, it is more liable to exhaustion than as a corporeal agent; and this is confirmed, day by day, by the greater fatigue, and the more rapid failure of power, which attaches to mental exertion, than to bodily labour.

Therefore, sleep seems to have been provided for the intellectual brain; and, in consequence of this state, it ceases to be the servant of the spiritual principle, and is no longer obedient to the will.

This repose of the brain is often incomplete; and then it continues a certain kind of action, without the guidance of the judgment, or the government of the will.

Whenever the brain is in a state of irritation, quiet sleep is impossible; and a state of morbid wakefulness is not unfrequently the result.

The brain may be roused to a state of excitation by various sti

But if so, some other analogous, though unknown, process may be the result; and this unknown action may be the creation of spectral forms: at least, there is nothing irrational in this supposition.

This view is supported by the phenomena of nightmare, which are purely cerebral, and always disappear upon perfect wakening. It is most frequent and severe in that peculiar condition of the brain which has arisen from intellectual over-action, namely, the irritability which is the consequence of specific exhaustion.

During this state, the distress of the patient is occasioned by his being placed in some situation of danger, and by his inability to escape from it; and he wakens in violent agitation, palpitation of the heart, and perspiration, which point out the really intense agony he has suffered from this visionary impression, produced by a physical condition of the organ of mind.

Nightmare is generally preceded by unwonted drowsiness, and brainular oppression, which enables those who are acquainted with its history, to predict its arrival.

CHRIST. OBserv. No. 335.

Nightmare may be sometimes dependent upon the irritation of a distant organ: but where this is the case, still, it can only be accomplished through the intervention of the brain; for the patient must be asleep, or he does not suffer from the attack.

Any powerfully exciting cause applied to the brain late at night will almost unerringly bring on the attack in those who are so predis posed, and its intensity will be regulated by the greater or less morbid susceptibility of the cerebral organ, becoming aggravated in its maladies, and receding in its convalescence.

The illusions which accompany nightmare are so complete, that the patient verily believes in their actual existence; and it is only by the influence of the judgment, reason, and experience, that he can be disenchanted of their fallacious impression, or can be convinced of the contrary truth.

These illusions involve the appearance of different individuals; their speaking and acting according to certain supposed circumstances, and all the consequences of such words and actions.

But if so, there is nothing unreasonable in supposing that similar illusions may attend other morbid conditions of the brain, during the continuance of which it is even more completely abstracted from the salutary influence of judgment, reason, and experience.

I proceed to the phenomena of dreaming.

There is great activity of the brain during sleep: and this is not a consequence of the increased energy of the immaterial principle; because, if it were so, we should have to record perfect ideas, refined images, and correct notices, resulting from the agency of the spiritual principle disencumbered of its material shackles; instead of the common result, imperfect ideas, confused images, and incorrect impressions.

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Here again, therefore, we trace dreaming to a peculiar action of the material brain, not of the immaterial principle.

The immaterial spirit is not necessarily engaged in the phenomena of dreaming: in sleep, the brain is not its servant, because, during that state, it is unfitted for intellectual operations. When it does act, it is without the controul of the presiding mind; and therefore the pathological state of dreaming, instead of the healthy process of correct thinking, is produced.

The modes of association, and the habits of brainular action, are shewn by the phenomena of dreaming, especially by that kind of dream which occurs upon being first wakened in the morning.

Dreams result from some uncontrouled or morbid action of the brain; either primary, from its own disorders, or secondary and sympathetic, arising from irritation of a distant organ, in close communion with itself.

This position is confirmed by the dreams of animals, surely not arising from spiritual agency; and yet they will in consequence bark, and utter various automatic expressions of joy

or sorrow.

Farther, this tendency to dreaming in animals is increased by any cause of powerful excitation to the brain.

The great variety of dreams may be accounted for by the kind and degree of disturbance to which the brain has been subjected, whether from primary or secondary irritation; each separate disorder of every organ and function of the body thus forming a source of dreaming; and all combine in establishing a groundwork capable of constant change, and of almost endless extension and variation.

There are no dreams in sound and quiet sleep, when the body is healthy and the mind at ease, because there exists no cause of organic irritation to the brain; but dreams will be found among

the very first symptoms of malady.

In sleep, the manifestation of the intellectual faculties is suspended; and therefore these do not enter into the component parts of dreaming. There is always something wanting to constitute dreams perfect mental operations, and which absent something stamps them with the character of deviation from correct thinking; consequently the apparently intellectual trains of dreams, are really and truly mere organic associations.

Dreams are not sleeping thoughts, influenced by that sinful change which has passed upon all men ; for since in this process there is no exercise of the will, there can be no responsibility: the organ of mind has suffered from the perverting influence of the Fall; its manifestations are become disordered, and dreaming constitutes one of its diseases.

During sleep, the senses are incapable of controuling the wanderings of the intellectual function: but they are capable of receiving impressions, which will irritate the nerves, and form the basis of a dream, in the course of which may be produced, according to circumstances of varied irritation, but not according to any principle of choice or selection, a multitude of ideas, thoughts, opinions, and hallucinations.

But these trains are imperfect, undefined, absurd, indifferently true or false, incoherent and extravagant.

Therefore, they are not the production of the immaterial spirit, disencumbered of its material organ; but do truly result from a continued action of the brain, after it has escaped the controul of the immaterial principle.

An impression of bodily uneasiness received during the day, will often form the germ of a nocturnal dream; and thus affords another proof, that organic irritation, not mental operation, is the proximate cause of dreaming.