Sketches of the Philosophy of Apparitions: Or, An Attempt to Trace Such Illusions to Their Physical Causes |
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Page vii
... . The phenomena , which for ages have puzzled the most learned men in the world , are not to be thus easily dealt with . I shall , lastly , remark , that the illustrations which appear in the course of this work are not PREFACE . vii.
... . The phenomena , which for ages have puzzled the most learned men in the world , are not to be thus easily dealt with . I shall , lastly , remark , that the illustrations which appear in the course of this work are not PREFACE . vii.
Page 52
... illustration of the prevalence of this belief , which extended even to modern days , is given in the Memoirs of the Duke of Berwick . A French army encamped before Saragossa , in 1707 , under the command of the Duke of Orleans ...
... illustration of the prevalence of this belief , which extended even to modern days , is given in the Memoirs of the Duke of Berwick . A French army encamped before Saragossa , in 1707 , under the command of the Duke of Orleans ...
Page 63
... illustrated in the delight expressed by the indi- viduals , who , a number of years ago , submitted them- selves to the experiments instituted with the view of ascertaining the effect of the nitrous oxide . The feel- ings which they ...
... illustrated in the delight expressed by the indi- viduals , who , a number of years ago , submitted them- selves to the experiments instituted with the view of ascertaining the effect of the nitrous oxide . The feel- ings which they ...
Page 79
... illustration of the state of a frenzied imagi- nation . There is no writer , however , that has been more successful than Burton in elucidating from well - au- thenticated instances of spectral illusions , those highly- excited states ...
... illustration of the state of a frenzied imagi- nation . There is no writer , however , that has been more successful than Burton in elucidating from well - au- thenticated instances of spectral illusions , those highly- excited states ...
Page 80
... illustrations of ma- nia will be at present sufficient for my purpose . It would indeed fill a volume to treat of the various mental illusions which may be referred to the same cause : " See the strange working of dull melancholy ...
... illustrations of ma- nia will be at present sufficient for my purpose . It would indeed fill a volume to treat of the various mental illusions which may be referred to the same cause : " See the strange working of dull melancholy ...
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Common terms and phrases
actual impressions angels apparitions appeared arise astral spirits blood body brain catalepsy CHAPTER conceived connected consciousness degree of vividness demonology demons devil divels dreams duergar Duke of Orleans ecstacy effect entertained explain external eyes faculty faint Fancy fear febrile miasma figure frequently ghost-stories ghosts heard human imagination imparted induced intense ject kind less vivid Lucretius manner ment mental excitement mental feelings metaphysicians mind morbific causes narrative nature nerves ness night nitrous oxide notion objects observed occasion opinion organs of sense painful feelings parition past feelings perfect sleep persons phantasms phenomena philosophers present principle Rabbi Rabbi Akkiva recollected images Reginald Scot remarks rendered renovated feelings retina says second sight seen sensations and ideas shew shewn sions somnambulism Soul spectral illusions spectral impressions stage of excitement superstition supposed thing thou thought tion vanished various vision vivifying influence waking writer
Popular passages
Page 45 - I know my course. The spirit that I have seen May be the devil : and the devil hath power To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps Out of my weakness and my melancholy, — As he is very potent with such spirits, — Abuses me to damn me: I'll have grounds More relative than this: — the play's the thing Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king.
Page 139 - How oft do they their silver bowers leave, To come to succour us that succour want ! How oft do they with golden pinions cleave The flitting...
Page 190 - It is the heaviest stone that melancholy can throw at a man, to tell him he is at the end of his nature ; or that there is no further state to come, unto which this seems progressional, and otherwise made in vain.
Page 461 - HAMLET. Do you see yonder cloud that's almost in shape of a camel ? POLONIUS. By the mass, and 'tis like a camel, indeed. HAMLET. Methinks it is like a weasel. POLONIUS. It is backed like a weasel. HAMLET. Or like a whale? POLONIUS. Very like a whale.
Page 268 - True, I talk of dreams ; Which are the children of an idle brain, Begot of nothing but vain fantasy, Which is as thin of substance as the air, And more inconstant than the wind...
Page 389 - A pleasing land of drowsy-head it was, Of dreams that wave before the half-shut eye ; And of gay castles in the clouds that pass, For ever flushing round a summer sky...
Page 409 - Arms, and the dusty field, I less admire, And soften strangely in some new desire; Honour burns in me not so fiercely bright, But pale as fires when...
Page 134 - Spirits, when they please, Can either sex assume, or both ; so soft And uncompounded is their essence pure, Not tied or manacled with joint or limb, Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, Like cumbrous flesh ; but, in what shape they choose, Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure, Can execute their aery purposes, 430 And works of love or enmity fulfil.
Page 139 - Therefore for spirits, I am so far from denying their existence, that I could easily believe that not only whole countries, but particular persons have their tutelary and guardian angels.
Page 209 - Europe, have given up all accounts of witches and apparitions, as mere old wives' fables. I am sorry for it : and I willingly take this opportunity of entering my solemn protest against this violent compliment, which so many that believe the Bible pay to those who do not believe it.