“The longer these phantoms continued to appear, the more frequently did they return, while at the same time they encreased in number about four weeks after they had first appeared. I also began to hear them talk, the phantoms sometimes conversed among themselves, but more frequently addressed their discourse to me; their speeches were commonly short and never of an unpleasant turn. At different times there appeared to me both dear and sensible friends of both sexes, whose addresses tended to appease my grief, which had not yet wholly subsided: these consolatory speeches were in general addressed to me when I was alone, sometimes I was accosted by these consoling friends while in company, frequently while real persons were speaking to me; these consolatory addresses consisted sometimes of abrupt phrases, and at others they were regularly connected. “Though both my mind and body were in a tolerable state of sanity all this time, and these phantasms became so familiar to me, that they did not cause me the slightest uneasiness, and I even sometimes amused myself with surveying them, and spoke jocularly of them to my physician and my wife; yet I did not neglect to use proper medicines, especially when they began to haunt me the whole day, and even at night as soon as I awaked. “At last it was agreed that leeches should be again applied to me, as formerly; which was actually done April 20th, 1791, at eleven o’clock in the morning. No person was with me besides the surgeon; but during the operation my chamber was crowded with human phantasms of all descriptions. This continued uninterruptedly till about half an hour after four o’clock, just when my digestion commenced. Soon after their colour began to fade, and at seven o’clock they were entirely white. But they moved very little, though the forms were as distinct as before: growing however by degrees more obscure; yet not fewer in number as had generally been the case. The phantoms did not withdraw, nor did they vanish; which previous to that time had frequently happened. They now seemed to dissolve in the air: while fragments of some of them continued visible a considerable time. About eight o’clock the room was entirely cleared of my fantastic visitors.” This very interesting relation by the patient himself, is here introduced in preference to other cases which have fallen under my own experience: but all of which are inferior in interest, and accuracy of observation. Nicolai was a man of unquestionable veracity, of liberal education, and a distinguished author. Although he laboured under a delusion, by seeing and hearing those things which did not exist, yet his belief in their reality was never subscribed:—on the contrary, he knew them to be delusions, “A false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain.” These apparitions were obtruded on his vision, and their voices struck his ear. Notwithstanding these phantoms had the