Sketches of the Philosophy of Apparitions: Or, An Attempt to Trace Such Illusions to Their Physical Causes |
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Page v
... given rise to the present volume . The plan of this work may now be briefly stated : - In the first place , a view is given of the various opinions , ancient as well as modern , which have been entertained on the subject of apparitions ...
... given rise to the present volume . The plan of this work may now be briefly stated : - In the first place , a view is given of the various opinions , ancient as well as modern , which have been entertained on the subject of apparitions ...
Page vi
... given rise to this undue degree of vividness . These laws , accordingly , form the subject of a long investiga- tion . Another object of this dissertation was to have established , that , in every undue excitement of our feelings , ( as ...
... given rise to this undue degree of vividness . These laws , accordingly , form the subject of a long investiga- tion . Another object of this dissertation was to have established , that , in every undue excitement of our feelings , ( as ...
Page 5
... given him to warn the in- habitants of the wrath to come , and of his dying in the pulpit when he had delivered the same ; lastly , of his burial , and of the harmonious music that was heard in the air during his interment ; " the truth ...
... given him to warn the in- habitants of the wrath to come , and of his dying in the pulpit when he had delivered the same ; lastly , of his burial , and of the harmonious music that was heard in the air during his interment ; " the truth ...
Page 9
... given rise to the first apparition ; but though I had used very excellent medicines , and found myself in other respects perfect- ly well , yet the apparitions did not diminish , but on the contrary rather increased in number , and were ...
... given rise to the first apparition ; but though I had used very excellent medicines , and found myself in other respects perfect- ly well , yet the apparitions did not diminish , but on the contrary rather increased in number , and were ...
Page 12
... the Royal Society of Berlin , on the 28th of February , 1799. The translation of this paper is given in Nicholson's Jour- nal , vol . vi . p . 161 . but also some morbid condition of the body , which 12 OPINIONS ENTERTAINED.
... the Royal Society of Berlin , on the 28th of February , 1799. The translation of this paper is given in Nicholson's Jour- nal , vol . vi . p . 161 . but also some morbid condition of the body , which 12 OPINIONS ENTERTAINED.
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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.