An Essay on the Incubus, or Night-mare — John Shaqi
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
However, every one knows that the harmony and connection between the
Body and the Mind are so establish’d and constituted, while they are
united, that the Diseases of the one always affect the other in a
very sensible manner; and experience daily demonstrates, that violent
passions of the mind produce Fevers, Fainting Fits, and other severe
effects on the Body; e. contra, violent shocks of the Body, acute
Diseases, &c. frequently disturb, and raise strange commotions in the
Mind, or at least excite extravagant, wild ideas in it. Accordingly we
find, that the most eminent Physicians have not scrupl’d to assert,
that these effects are often owing to Obstructions and Inflammations
of the Membranes of the Brain. If so, may not the violent distentions
of the Vessels of the Brain (which always precedes and attends a fit
of the Night-mare) make such strong impressions on the origin of the
Nerves, or Sensorium Commune, as to occasion hideous associations of
ideas, and form frightful spectres in the imagination? Are not these
monstrous dreams intended as a stimulus to rouse the sentient principle
in us, that we might alter the position of the Body, and by that means
avoid the approaching danger? Is not the horizontal posture of the
Body, which produces a Plethora in the Vessels of the Brain, and many
odd sensations, the most general cause of dreams? Do they ever dream,
who sleep in an erect position? Are not the luxurious and the plethoric
most subject to disagreeable dreams? Is not the motion and titillation
of the Animalculæ in Semine Masculino, the cause of the agreeable
dreams which attend nocturnal emissions? Have females such emissions
in sleep? Does not perfect sleep consist in a total suspension of the
operations of the Mind? May not dreaming, in general, be consider’d
as a Disorder of the Body, and justly attributed to some cause, which
stimulates the Sensorium Commune, and prevents perfect rest? Do people
that sleep after much fatigue, ever dream?
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