An essay towards a theory of apparitions — John Shaqi
An essay towards a theory of apparitionsFerriar, John
Science
An essay towards a theory of apparitions
Ferriar, John
Apparitions; Hallucinations and illusions
“I cannot assign any other cause of all this, than a continued
rumination on the vexations I had suffered, which, though calmer,
I could not forget, and the consequences of which I meditated to
counteract; these meditations occupied my mind three hours after
dinner, just when my digestion commenced. I consoled myself at last
with respect to the disagreeable incident which had occasioned the
first apparition, but the phantasms continued to encrease and change
in the most singular manner, though I had taken the proper medicine
and found myself perfectly well. As when the first terror was over,
I beheld the phantasms with great emotion taking them for what they
really were, remarkable consequences of an indisposition, I endeavoured
to collect myself as much as possible, that I might preserve a clear
consciousness of the changes which should take place within myself;
I observed these phantasms very closely, and frequently reflected on
my antecedent thoughts to discover, if possible, by means of what
association of ideas exactly these forms presented themselves to my
imagination; I thought at times I had found a clue, but taking the
whole together I could not make out any natural connection between the
occupations of my mind, my occupations, my regular thoughts, and the
multifarious forms which now appeared to me, and now again disappeared.
After repeated and close observations, and calm examination, I was
unable to form any conclusion relative to the origin and continuation
of the different phantasms which presented themselves to me. All
that I could infer was, that while my nervous system was in such an
irregular state, such phantasms would appear to me as if I actually
saw and heard them; that these illusions were not modified by any
known laws of reason, imagination, or the common association of ideas,
and that probably other people who may have had similar apparitions,
were exactly in the same predicament. The origin of the individual
forms which appeared to me, was undoubtedly founded on the nature of
my mind, but the manner in which it was thus affected, will probably
remain for ever as inscrutable as the origin of thought and reflection.
After the first day the form of the deceased person no more appeared,
but in its place, there appeared many other phantasms, sometimes
representing acquaintances, but mostly strangers, those whom I knew
were composed of living and deceased persons, but the number of the
latter was comparatively small. I observed the persons with whom I
daily conversed did not appear as phantasms, these representing chiefly
persons who lived at some distance from me. I attempted to produce at
pleasure phantasms of persons whom I knew by intensely reflecting on
their countenance shape &c. but distinctly as I called to my lively
imagination the respective shades of three of these persons, I still
laboured in vain to make them appear to me as phantasms, though I had
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