A MONOGRAPH
ON
SLEEP AND DREAM:
THEIR
PHYSIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY.
BY
EDWARD W. COX,
PRESIDENT OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN;
AUTHOR OF
_“The Mechanism of Man,” “Heredity and Hybridism,” &c._
LONDON:
LONGMAN AND CO., PATERNOSTER ROW.
1878.
PREFACE.
Some papers on the Phenomena of Sleep and Dream, read before _The
Psychological Society of Great Britain_, having excited much interest
and caused considerable discussion, I was requested to put them into the
more formal shape of a treatise. For this purpose I found it necessary to
recast and rewrite the whole.
The modern endeavour to pursue Psychology, as all the physical sciences
are now pursued, by the study of facts and phenomena, instead of by
metaphysical abstractions, consulting of inner consciousness and
argument _à priori_, has invested the subject of this monograph with
extraordinary importance, because Sleep and Dream are familiar physical
and psychical conditions, disputed by none and which cannot be ascribed
to prepossession, dominant ideas, or diluted insanity. Therefore a
profound, fearless, and searching investigation of their characteristics,
causes, and operations could not fail to throw a flood of light upon many
of the seeming mysteries of mental philosophy and psychology, promising a
solution of some most difficult problems of life and mind, and revealing
to us—as do the phenomena of dream—much of the structure and action of
the Mechanism of Man.
The marvel is that such obvious means of access to hidden springs of
that mechanism should have been so long neglected by Physiologists and
Psychologists.
In dealing with a subject so old and yet so new, I can do little
more than _suggest_ explanations of phenomena. I do not venture to
_assert_ them. Those suggestions are submitted to the reader to induce
him to think and as subjects for further examination and discussion
rather than as dogmatic assumptions of ascertained truths. The _facts_
and _phenomena_ reported are vouched for so far as my own means of
ascertaining their truth enable me; but _causes_ and _conclusions_
can of necessity be little more than conjecture until a much larger
collection of the facts be made. To the gathering of such facts I
hope this little book may stimulate many observers. I shall deem the
communication of them a valuable contribution to science, and a favour to
myself.
EDWARD W. COX.
CARLTON CLUB, _1st January, 1878_.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
WHAT SLEEP IS _page_ 1
CHAPTER II.
THE PHYSIOLOGY OF SLEEP 4
CHAPTER III.
THE MENTAL CONDITION OF SLEEP 8
CHAPTER IV.
THE SEAT OF SLEEP 12
CHAPTER V.
OF DREAM 17
CHAPTER VI.
THE MATERIAL MECHANISM OF DREAM 21
CHAPTER VII.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF DREAM 42
CHAPTER VIII.
THE PHENOMENA OF DREAM 51
CHAPTER IX.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF DREAM 72
CHAPTER X.
FALLACIES OF DREAM 76
CHAPTER XI.
CONCLUSIONS 88
SLEEP AND DREAM: THEIR PHYSIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY.
CHAPTER I.
WHAT SLEEP IS.
Sleep is necessary to the health of the human organism. The Mechanism of
Man depends for its sustainment and reparation upon recurring seasons of
rest.
The condition of sleep is probably a requirement of organic structure.
So far as we can trace it, all animal life sleeps. There is almost
conclusive evidence that vegetable life sleeps also.
In this respect organic structure differs from inorganic structure.
Minerals do not sleep. Only things that have _life_ sleep. Wheresoever
life is there is probably (it is not _proved_) a conscious individuality
that “goes to sleep.” As sleep seems, so far as we can trace it, to be an
attendant upon consciousness, a requirement, in fact, of nerve structure,
the sleep of vegetable life would appear to indicate the presence of
consciousness.
But sleep is not a suspension of vital action. The processes conducted
by the vital force continue their work in sleep often more vigorously.
The intelligence, also, is not wholly suspended in sleep. The functions
of nutrition are performed even more perfectly than in the waking state.
Rest appears to be required mainly for the muscular structure and for the
nerve system that moves the muscles. The senses are often wholly, always
partially, sealed in sleep. But it is doubtful if this be the result of a
requirement for rest by the senses. The more probable inference is that
the suspension of the senses is necessary to the suspension of muscular
action.
Sleep, therefore, may be defined in general terms as the suspension,
more or less perfect, of the action of the external senses, so that they
cease to convey vividly to the mind the impressions made upon them. The
action of the Will is likewise suspended, so that it ceases to convey
the commands of the mind to the body. Thus is the rest procured that is
required for the body.
The entire mechanism of the body and mind does not sleep, but only a
part of it. In sleep the _body_ performs all functions necessary for its
continued healthy being. The _mind_ dreams. The consciousness of the
Individual Self is awake, for we note our dreams as they occur, believe
that we are acting them and remember them afterwards.