An Essay on the Incubus, or Night-mareBond, John, M.D.
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An Essay on the Incubus, or Night-mare
Bond, John, M.D.
Nightmares -- Physiological aspects -- Early works to 1800
The vast oppression on the Breast, and immobility of the Body, which
are always felt in this Disorder, probably arise from the quantity
of Blood collected in the Lungs, Vena Cava, right Ventricle, and
Auricle of the Heart; nor does the Mind appear to be mistaken in this
case, as some have imagined; for it seems the same with regard to
the Mind, whether the real action of the Muscles be constrain’d by a
superior external force, or the influence of it over these Muscles be
hinder’d by an internal cause. In a fit of the Night-mare, the Mind,
conscious of the dangerous situation of the Body, in vain endeavours
to alter it, because its power over the Voluntary Muscles is some way
suspended, by the obstruction of the Blood; yet the Mind may exert
itself as much as if it strove to remove the greatest obstacle. In this
case the Mind generally ascribes the immobility of the Body to some
great weight laid on the Breast; whereas the cause is really internal:
and people judge of the greatness of the oppression, according to the
efforts nature makes to overcome the obstruction of the Blood in the
Lungs.
Besides, in heavy or profound sleep, the voluntary motions are
generally stop’d. Hence, when people awake suddenly, they are for some
time Paralytic, before the Animal Spirits obey the commands of the
Mind, and actuate the Muscles in the usual manner.
The indistinct Voice is probably owing to the same cause; for the
Muscles of the Tongue and Larynx, which form distinct sounds, are
of the voluntary class, which, as was said before, are generally
suspended in sleep.
The collapsing of the Lungs, which are, at this time, overloaded with
Blood, will exclude the air, that necessary medium of sounds, and sole
vehicle of voice.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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