407 A. In illustration of the occasional heightening of the sensory faculties in dreams, I give the following case, described by Dr. Hodgson: -

July 30th, 1900. One of the most vivid experiences in my life occurred when I was eighteen or nineteen years old. It was a "dream " of music in sleep which continued to be audible after I woke for at least a quarter of an hour. So it appears in memory now. I seemed to be well aware at the time that I was listening to music from "the other world." No special melody or harmony remained in recollection, but the music was very complex, very widespread as it were, very rich, very sweet, and with an ineffable one-ness about it. I awoke during the influence of it, and lay in ecstasy still hearing it, and remember gazing meanwhile at a star which was visible through a gap in my window-blind. It was just before dawn, and the music seemed to die away as the first light grew. No pleasure that I have ever had in hearing music before or since was at all comparable with the exquisite peaceful joy which flooded me as I listened to that music then. It produced such an effect upon me that I began to learn the violin, which I practised regularly for four years.

R. Hodgson.

409 A. The two next cases are illustrative of self-suggestion in dreams. I quote the first from a paper by Dr. Faure in the Archives de Medecine, vol. i., 1876, p. 554.

A shop assistant, strongly built and regular in habits, awoke one morning in a state of fever and agitation, perspiring copiously, anxious and uneasy. He announced that all his savings were gone; he was ruined, done for. He said that on the previous day, while driving a van, he had got into a quarrel with a coachman; and that, in the confusion, his van had broken in the front window of a mirror-maker. He would have to pay for the damage. He told the story with great detail; and still saw himself caught round the neck by his adversary, who had struck him so violently that he had lost consciousness, and that they had had to carry him into a wine-merchant's shop to bring him to. His wife assured us that when he had returned home the evening before he was in his usual condition; that he had seen to his business, passed the evening at home, and gone to bed with no trouble upon him.

For three days X continued in this state of mind, unable to calm himself for a moment, although he was taken to the actual place where the imaginary accident had occurred. It was some days later before he thoroughly understood that it had been a dream. And for a whole month he would fall daily into the same confusion of memory - would sit down in despair, crying and repeating "We are ruined!" Even seven years afterwards he still had occasional crises of this nature, when he forgot the truth, and lived for several days under the shock of this imaginary disaster.

We may compare with this the next case, where " the touch of a vanished hand " appeared to bring physical relief to the dreamer - the recovery being more rapid than ordinary conditions could explain.

409 B. From Proceedings S.P.R., vol. viii. p. 374. The account is given by M. L. Holbrook, M.D., Editor of the Herald of Health, 13 and 15 Laight Street, New York, and is dated July 30, 1884.

In the spring of 1870,1 had an attack of acute bronchitis,which was very severe, and from the fact that I had had a similar attack every winter and spring for several years, I felt considerable alarm, and believed it would ultimately become chronic, and perhaps terminate my life. As I was then young, and had just entered on a career of labour which I wished to follow for a long time, I became very despondent at such a prospect. In this depressed condition I fell into a sleep which was not very profound, and the following circumstance, which is still fresh in my mind, appeared to take place. My sister, who had been dead more than twenty years, and whom I had almost forgotten, came to my bedside, and said, "Do not worry about your health, we have come to cure you; there is much yet for you to do in the world." Then she vanished, and my brain seemed to be electrified as if by a shock from a battery, only it was not painful, but delicious. The shock spread downwards, and over the chest and lungs it was very strong. From here it extended to the extremities, where it appeared like a delightful glow. I awoke almost immediately and found myself well. Since then I have never had an attack of the disease.

The form of my sister was indistinct, but the voice was very plain; and I have never before had such an experience, nor since. M. L. Holbrook, M.D.

Compare this again with Dr. Tisstés account of his hysterical subject, Albert. "Every time," said Albert, "that I dream that I have been bitten or beaten, I suffer all day in the part attacked."