The Influence of Material Objects upon the Mind

The various phenomena cf dreams afford peculiar illustrations of the way in which the mind is connected with its material surroundings; and this observation may be extended, and indeed with more force, to somnambulism generally. I shall not here consider these various phenomena in a physiological manner, but merely do something towards showing how the human mind is affected by man's corporeal frame. During sleep the mind, which is never then in its reflective state, is not susceptible to external sensations. A sleeping man knows neither warmth nor cold, neither is he affected by any moderate sound, nor?and this from a physical necessity?light, inasmuch as his eyes are closed. There can be no doubt that in dreams the mind is affected by the physical frame in a manner similar to what it is by external sensations. As regards dreams?and this in common wTith every sleeping affection?it may be said that man never thinks, meditates, or reflects, these words having the same meaning. It is probable that this assertion will, at any rate at first sight, be considered erroneous, but I am persuaded that the experience of everyone will ultimately satisfy as to its truth. In the state of dreaming, men imagine that they are doing certain things, or merely that they