Case VIII

"On the 26th of December, 1830," says Sir D. Brewster,* " Mrs. A. was seated near the fire in her parlor, and was about going up stairs to dress, when she heard the voice of her husband, who called her by name, and said,' Come here, come here!' Imagining that he was at the door, she desired some one to open it, when she was astonished to find no one there. On her return into the parlor, she heard the voice a second and a third time. It was plaintive, and slightly impatient. Mrs. A. answered aloud: 'Where are you? I do not know where you are.' Not receiving any reply, the lady went back to her room.

"Mr. A. returned in about half an hour, when his wife, who was as yet undeceived, inquired why he had called her several times, and where he was. But she was much surprised to hear that he had not been in the house."

Brewster adds that Mrs. A. had suffered much for six weeks with a cold, that weakened her exceedingly. Her stomach was naturally delicate, and her nervous system very impressible; during sleep she spoke rapidly, and recited long poems. This lady had many other hallucinations, which the English author has detailed; but, from their commencement, she perfectly understood their nature, and, together with her husband, studied them, in connection with the circumstances that accompanied them, and her particular state of health.

Case IX

"When I was at school," says Mr. H., "I formed a close intimacy with a youth, whom I shall call D. The misconduct of his father brought the family to ruin, and they fell into the depths of misery. For many years I lost sight of the poor fellow, who had been sent abroad in order to be more easily got rid of. At length I heard that he had returned in a deep decline, of which, in three months after, he died. I was called in to examine the body, and it may be easily imagined how many sad reflections such a sight awakened. This event had the following effect on my mind: I was one night engaged in reading the life of Crichton, by Tittler; my family had long retired, I had closed my book, and was preparing for rest, when I saw a note of invitation to a funeral on my table. This mournful letter naturally gave a sombre color to my thoughts. I put out the light, and got into bed. At the same moment I was conscious that some one took me by the arm, and pressed it strongly against my side. I struggled, and cried out:' Let go my arm !' and distinctly heard these words, spoken in a low tone: 'Do not be afraid.' I replied: 'Permit me to light the candle.' My arm was released. I was alarmed, and thought I was about to lose my senses. I succeeded, however, in procuring a light, and, turning towards the door, recognized the unfortunate D. His features were indistinct, as though a gauze were drawn over them.

* Brewster, op. cit., p. 39.

"By an unaccountable impulse, I approached the apparition. It drew back, and descended the stairs, until it reached the door, when it stopped. I passed by to open the street door, but became so giddy that I fell into a chair. I do not know how long I remained in that state. On recovering my senses, I felt a violent pain over my brows, and with difficulty distinguished objects. I was feverish and restless during the night, and suffered much the next day. This vision appeared to present all the characteristics of illusions produced by fever, and I never for an instant looked on it as real."*