A remarkable instance of
somnambulism was the case of a lad of sixteen and a half years
who, in an attack of somnambulism, went to the stable, saddled
his horse, asked for his whip, and disputed with the toll-keeper
about his fare, and when he awoke had no recollection whatever of
his acts, having been altogether an hour in his trance.
Marville quotes the case of an Italian of thirty, melancholic,
and a deep thinker, who was observed one evening in his bed. It
was seen that he slept with his eyes open but fixed and
immovable. His hands were cold, and his pulse extremely slow. At
midnight he brusquely tore the curtains of his bed aside, dressed
himself, went to his stable, and mounted a horse. Finding the
gate of the court yard closed he opened it with the aid of a
large stone. Soon he dismounted, went to a billiard room, and
simulated all the movements of one playing. In another room he
struck with his empty hands a harpsichord, and finally returned
to his bed. He appeared to be irritated when anybody made a
noise, but a light placed under his nose was apparently
unnoticed. He awoke if his feet were tickled, or if a horn was
blown in his ear. Tissot transmits to us the example of a medical
student who arose in the night, pursued his studies, and returned
to bed without awaking; and there is another record of an
ecclesiastic who finished his sermon in his sleep.
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